We shouldnt own a trashcan.

[Grape]

Well, I had been contemplateing the enviornment and wasteing for awhile, and I know the very fact that much of my country even recycles is a huge progress, but it's still a much smaller step then we should be taking in our situation. Of course, I am just as much a 'criminal' in this whole situation as anyone else.

Everything has a use, the problem is over produceing and manufacturing has caused many to take the lazy route. We take oh so for granted that every little thing thats thrown out, we could have done something with instead. The other problem is, many of us dont have the right amount of time during our days to figure out what to do with everything. Like, as an example, we generally only recycle glass bottles, pepsi cans, or water bottles. Really though, glass is glass, and plastic is plastic, what about broken window shards. It can still be broken down, though would have to be handled a certain way. Worn out pens could be melted down, and the last of the ink could be taken out and used for new pens.

And, because the reality is obvious that most people wont put effort into every last detail in what I just described, we would simply ask people seperate food waste, and everything else. Then the municipal money now used on garbage truck workers can be funded into people who pick up the complete set of recycled items then seperate them. Problem would it, it would cost much more to fund, for it doesnt just require people to just drive the garbage to a landfill and dump it. Now, we have people seperating all the items, melting them all down. Not to mention not everyone is going to give a damn about the well being of others and put god only knows what in there. So clearly the workers will have to be payed a more than deacent amount to do such a grosse job, for good pay though I am sure tons of people are willing.

As well, to all those people who leave full furnature items on their lawn to be disposed of (these people get under my skin). The material could be stripped, boiled, and washed for any infections or insects, along with the stuffing, and used for new sewing projects, scraps possibly. And, if the material is in really poor condition, would simply have to be burned. Then, the wood of the furnature can be used as firewood.

Anything you guys have to add to this? Any loop holes, flaws, suggestions?

[fred]

It is a very good thought though I am not sure if brought up by those that make the choices how far it will get. More on the note that it would cost more in the start rather than the end. Many places want cheap things done to save money for other things, very well written though!

[Soozie]

it's awful to see how nobody cares. i almost can't believe what i'm seeing, every time i open my eyes for a shot at reality. i think a very important stept towards this would be some campaigns with what to do and what no to, with tv ads, banners in cities, radio ads, concerts, teachers in schools telling children how they can help and everything. and make it sound cool. mtv could help. it would start a pretty healthy trend.

[Cecelia]

I have always striven to throw out as little as possible. My parents lived through the great Depression in the US and as a result strove to live like this. It helped we had a small farm, but anyone could live this way if they so chose. The only difference between then and now is the availability of recycling.

Cans/bottles/jars go to the recycling center. Food scraps/lawn clippings/yard waste goes in the compost heap. Paper either gets shredded for the compost heap or made into burnable logs. String is saved, plastic bags are washed and reused, tin foil is saved. Even with three adults they may produce a trash bag a month of actual trash, normally less.

[fred]

Does it still count of you burn your own trash? I know some places in the country if your far enough from town will let you do this, but it is helpful or hurtful?

[Belgarath]

To the OP - you cannot burn the wood from most furniture or reuse the materials generally. Furniture, unless it is handmade, has to be treated with fire retardants that make them hazardous to burn. Stuffing and other things are usually treated as well. Instead, we need to get back to the quality workmanship that is so sadly lacking in today's goods. If they were of better quality, they would last a lot longer.

To Fred - burning trash can be hazardous, releasing poisonous fumes into the atmosphere. Plain paper or cardboard is okay but many packages and stuff are now coated and treated so may not be burned safely.

[inspireme]

I believe in most areas, burning trash is illegal. It is also very harmful to the environment. I know around here if you are caught burning trash the fire chief will present you with a pretty hefty fine.

[Eilt Druin]

Sometimes, prevention is better then a cure, and in this case I think it holds true. First off, there are simply far too many products that are over packaged, that just don't need to be. Toys, stationary, and many other consumer goods don't need to be wrapped in so much paper and plastic as they are, for example. A lot of other processed foods could be sold with a lot less packaging as well, if people could live without all the advertising on them. Also, I would like to see newspapers eventually phased out for good. We have the internet now.