Ultimate Environmentalist!

Green is everywhere these days. From electronics to household cleaners, everyone is trying to influence the way you act and what you buy by uttering this simple word. The problem is that the more "green" is used to describe everyday items and activities, the faster it loses its true meaning and becomes just another advertising ploy.

The truth is that being green is relatively easy, you just have to think about it and then implement your thoughts. Luckily, I've thought of "Green" actions so you don't have to :P
The way I see it, being environmentally conscious can fall into 4 Categories: Recycling, Smart Consumption, Activism and Giving Back. I shall begin with recycling.

Recycling, at this time, is probably our best chance at conserving materials and keeping harmful products out of landfills and the natural environment. This process hinges on a country's willingness to pay for recycling plants and their operations, as the process is not cost effective. It costs more to recycle materials than to mine or create the same material, brand spanking new!

In most parts of the world, there is no incentive for people to recycle besides the obvious "it saves our planet" reason. For example, in Quebec people can recycle their pop cans and get some money back for doing it. This is surely a way to increase the rate of recycling and provides do-gooders with some nice pocket change.

Another setback for recycling is the lack of availability or access to depot. In some towns, a recycling plant may not be near so their waste is sent straight to a landfill. In other towns, a plant may be nearby but it may not be able to recycle specific materials. For example, in Thunder Bay(the town I live in) our recycling plant is not able
to recycle a few of the types of plastics found in bottles and containers. Depots for recycling material like electronics and batteries can be hard to come by and the effort of storing them at home causes many owners to simply discard these items.

The list of materials that can be recycled continues to grow all the time. But I thought I would list some of the major players so that you may have a better idea of what you can do:

1.Paper - Everyone uses paper for something so it is essential to recycle this material. I would recommend something I like to call "Giving Paper a Second Life". This is to simply use it as scrap paper for anything you need to do like doodling or math homework calculations :P Then give it a third life by sending it to the recycling plant.

2. Plastic Drinking Bottles - More or less, plastic water bottles are a big scam. All it is is bottled tap water sold to you at a crazy high markup. Also, oil is used in the creation of these bottles, causing us to further rely on fossil fuels. I recommend buying a reusable drinking bottle and filling it up with tap water. The chemical BPA has been phased out of these bottles, so they should no longer be hazardous to your health. If you are a fan of the flavoured water, why not just add flavouring of your own to the water in your reusable bottle. Please take note that the caps on the these bottles are often non-recyclable and it is better if you simply take them off and throw them away.

3. Cans - My first recommendation would be to cut down on your consumption of pop :) Think Healthy, be Happy. Recycle your pop cans after your finished. I believe that Beer Stores will take your beer cans for 10c/can so there's some incentive for ya!

4. Beer Bottles - It's a common occurrence to see long lines at the Beer Store of people returning their empties from the night before, so keep up the good work! And if you didn't know this,now you do.

5. Creative Construction - I will admit I have not tried this but it is quite an interesting idea. Instead of throwing things out that can not be recycled, why not use them to create something cool and interesting! For example, this CD lamp;





6. Sand/Dirt from the Winter Snow - This one may sound strange, but just go with me here. During the winter, I put sand on my driveway to make sure I don't slip. When the snow melts, it is left there. I know we have no shortage of sand or dirt but simply sweeping it up and storing it in a box for next winter is a good way to keep your street clean and to save a little money.

7. Electronics, Batteries and Ink Cartridges - I have included all 3 in this one as they all have the depot problem. Finding a place to recycle these items can be tough, but it is important you do. Electronics contain rare metals that are expensive to mine and simply recycling them will help. Batteries leak acid, so it is obvious why they must be disposed of safely. Ink cartridges are expensive, so why don't you try refilling them first. Then when they are past their usefulness, find a depot.
I have tried to come up with some ways recycling can be done and I hope you find my list helpful. My last recommendation would be to set up a "depot" of sorts in your house for your own to-be-recycled items. Glass, plastic, paper and the other items I have mentioned can be stored quite easily in containers and having these at your house increases the likelihood of you recycling.

So remember those 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

Come back and visit next time for Ultimate Environmentalist: Smart Consumption.

Part 1: Recycling
Part 2: Smart Consumption
Part 3: Activism
Part 4: Giving Back