Showing posts with label recycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recycling. Show all posts
Global Warming
To those who aren’t convinced of global warming, what are you fighting for? The right to remain irresponsible? The right to refuse change? The right to continue to pollute the earth we live on, the air we breathe, and the water that becomes a part of us? If we conserve, reuse, and so on, what is there to lose?
Let’s say global warming isn’t so and that this is a natural cycle. We have had natural resource shortages before. It was scary and hellish. So we continue to consume and abuse and refuse to change our ways. And we have faith that there is enough for us Americans for nothing tragic could every happen to the world’s superpower. No worries. We use like there’s and endless supply. More is more, bigger, better! We take the risk of the unknown.
What I'm Learning at State College - "We can't change global warming"
My advertising professor starts every class period by telling us how he can remember riding the horse and buggy to school. He said the man who owned the Weather Channel has convinced him with scientific proof that the said effects of Global Warming are merely natural occurrences and that those who believe in Global Warming have yet to prove otherwise. He further said that even if we did change our ways "we can't stop China or India who make up half the world's population".
What I have realized about retired now adjunct professors is that not only are they set in their ways but they have closed minds and a negative perception when it comes to change. Would it be so bad to believe in Global Warming? I mean all that would result is humans taking responsibility for our waste and excess. Shouldn't we care about the environment and in effect ourselves? Those who strongly oppose the idea of Global Warming simply don't want to take responsibility for the destruction of the planet and are unwilling to change their spoiled ways – give up their SUVs, reduce, reuse, and recycle, and so on.
Maybe I'm too hopeful or optimistic. But I think we should be taught ideals along with reality and that change happens and so can we. I didn't pay for the college of Can Not.
What I have realized about retired now adjunct professors is that not only are they set in their ways but they have closed minds and a negative perception when it comes to change. Would it be so bad to believe in Global Warming? I mean all that would result is humans taking responsibility for our waste and excess. Shouldn't we care about the environment and in effect ourselves? Those who strongly oppose the idea of Global Warming simply don't want to take responsibility for the destruction of the planet and are unwilling to change their spoiled ways – give up their SUVs, reduce, reuse, and recycle, and so on.
Maybe I'm too hopeful or optimistic. But I think we should be taught ideals along with reality and that change happens and so can we. I didn't pay for the college of Can Not.
Recycling Made Easier, Exciting Even
We all want to go green and reduce, reuse, and recycle. However, the recycling process can be very inconvenient and sometimes more costly for consumers. Local Solid Waste Authorities and Waste Management needs to facilitate ease and convenience for customers trying to recycle. Recycling can be much more difficult to follow than simply discarding materials in the trash. The mountain state prides itself on natural beauty and an “almost Heaven” atmosphere. Who wants our beautiful valleys becoming landfills after the existing ones overfill and they begin looking for new places to dump? Rivers and creeks polluted to the point that summer swimming and boating are undesirable. I hate to go walking, taking in all the natural majestic scenery and all of a sudden stumble across litter or worse -- old rusting appliances in the middle of the woods.
Incentive-based recycling programs are necessary to increase the number of residents recycling their waste. Such programs offer innovative ways to facilitate convenience and compensation for recycling. Many West Virginia residents would be more motivated to recycle with such programs available.
Recycling can be very difficult, especially for the many West Virginians living outside city limits and in very remote, rural areas. For those trying to participate, the process can be a hindrance. The most accessible method is curbside collection of recyclable materials. The service is not available to most West Virginians living outside of city limits. Therefore, if a such a household wants to participate in recycling, they must increase their carbon footprint by driving and hauling their recyclable materials to a drop-off location. The seemingly simple task of finding a proper place to drop off these items within a reasonable distance can be frustrating.
Recycling is vital in West Virginia. Landfills are overflowing. Creeks and rivers are being polluted by excessive waste. Much of our garbage, especially electronic waste is shipped to third world countries where people will scavenge for scrap metals exposing themselves to many types of hazards.
The West Virginia Solid Waste Management Board (the primary authority for the funding and operating of solid waste in the state) has conducted and compiled extensive studies and research regarding waste and recycling efforts. According to a study completed nearly a decade ago by the West Virginia University Regional Research Institute and the Solid Waste Management Board by GAI Consultants of Charleston, WV, projected municipal solid waste tonnage in Kanawha County alone is estimated to be at 11,382 this year. A more recent study would probably foresee a far greater amount.
West Virginia is falling behind its own recycling goals. Based on a study completed by the WV Recycling Measurement Committee, it was indicated that recycled waste was at a rate of only 16%. According to Legislative goals, WV should be recycling at a rate of 30%. With solid waste management's current lack of recycling resources for consumers, the WV Solid Waste Management Board has declared it almost impossible to reach the recycling goals set forth by local legislature.
We could use more jobs: green jobs. West Virginia’s recycling centers employ almost 1000 people and provide an annual payroll estimated to be over $23 million. Employees range from drivers, collectors and processors, office workers to coordinators and managers. Establishing more recycling facilities and programs would create many more jobs that are greatly needed. The need for more accessible recycling facilities would increase if the rate of recycling increases.
Incentive-based programs such as Pay As You Throw (PAYT) and RecycleBank offer convenience and compensation for recycling participation. PAYT allows residents to pay for their garbage collection based on volume as opposed to the standard flat fee. This encourages consumers to waste less, reuse and recycle more. RecycleBank actually rewards its participants for recycling. By collaborating with cities and garbage collectors, RecycleBank attaches a radio frequency identification tag to the participant's bins. The collection truck then reads these tags when the bin is weighed. The weight of recyclable materials is converted to points redeemable online for a wide range of goods and services. RecycleBank proudly states that households receive $200 to $300 a year in rewards through their program. Imagine gift shopping without money but instead with environmental acts of kindness. The company claims to have helped cities save millions of dollars in landfill disposal fees, as well as saved millions of trees, and millions of gallons of oil.
Residents will be more willing to recycle if they are motivated with incentive-based programs. With such a program, Solid Waste Authorities could make recycling easier for consumers and help preserve our beloved natural landscape while creating more jobs in the Mountain state.
Recycling Should Be The Only Option
The garbage collection industry needs reformed to facilitate recycling. Recycling can be much more difficult to follow than simply discarding materials in the trash. The collection companies could turn landfills into recycling centers. Waste would be minimal. Instead of collecting garbage, the companies would be collecting sorted materials to be recycled. The garbage companies could provide bins that were designed with dividers to properly sort plastics, paper, glass, etc. While the garbage collectors could do the necessary sorting and dividing of the multiple types of plastics and paper to meet recycling specifications.
How I'm Trying To Be A Philanthropist
“The life of the individual only has meaning insofar as it aids in making the life of every living thing nobler and more beautiful ”, said Albert Einstein. In trying to be a philanthropist, you must be empathetic and have a deep concern for humankind. It is by definition a person who works for the well-being of humankind, often through charitable aid or donations. It sounds like almost anyone could accomplish this. However, I believe one must take an active role in such a practice. One usually like me has been brought to a breaking point. My frustration with our economic and social repression has made me decide to be more conscious and more involved in such matters as the environment, politics, and social equality. These are the matters in which I have chosen for how I will try be a philanthropist.
"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day", said E.B. White .When Hurricane Gustav came ashore, I looked the internet over for local food collections. I like most people have unopened, nonperishable food items that would better benefit someone else than the mice that would eventually feast. I couldn’t afford to send money and that was all the organizations seemed to want. A news story about a local puppy mill prompted me to gather the goods they requested like newspapers and old towels.
I try to get people involved in fundraisers and charitable events. However, time and money are not things people have much of to give away these days. I asked a friend of mine to join me in a walk that benefited those who suffer from heart disease. That was foolish. He doesn’t want to walk his dog in the evening so I don’t know why I thought he’d be excited about walking for a good cause at eight o’ clock in the morning.
“Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can’t eat money”, says an ancient Cree proverb. I’ve always hated wasting things. I am trying to go green as much as I can. Recycling is very inconvenient for those of us living outside city limits and transporting the goods myself increases the size of my carbon footprint. I do hope going green is not just a trend. People always say to start at home. But, I always say start in your own neighborhood, as it is much easier to preach than to practice what you preach. However, this sort of confrontation can be difficult. Such philanthropy and a green attitude can offend some people. Green may go down for replacing red as the color of anger instead of being the color of envy.
“While we live, let us live”, said Lawrence. Human rights are fundamental to me. I recently joined and donated money to the Human Rights Campaign. This is an organization that promotes equality through education, encouraging positive images of minorities in the media, and frequently insisting fair treatment from our lawmakers. I have always been quite liberal and I think many changes in our country need to take place.
In what should seem like a liberating experience while trying to be a philanthropist and a better citizen of the planet, there are struggles. It is very difficult as an average citizen in today’s economy with limited funds, time, and resources to be pragmatic. I worry about alienating friends and family by persistently requesting donations and activism from them. I’m sure they all think I’m just a tree-hugging, green, millennial hippie. I also run the risk of remaining in a state of anger over the state of today’s world. I hope that you, me, and the rest of the world can make the necessary changes in our lives to try to be more caring, more aware, and more involved. Anyone who tries to accomplish this deserves to be called such a lofty title as philanthropist. “All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make our world”, so are the words of Buddha.
"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day", said E.B. White .When Hurricane Gustav came ashore, I looked the internet over for local food collections. I like most people have unopened, nonperishable food items that would better benefit someone else than the mice that would eventually feast. I couldn’t afford to send money and that was all the organizations seemed to want. A news story about a local puppy mill prompted me to gather the goods they requested like newspapers and old towels.
I try to get people involved in fundraisers and charitable events. However, time and money are not things people have much of to give away these days. I asked a friend of mine to join me in a walk that benefited those who suffer from heart disease. That was foolish. He doesn’t want to walk his dog in the evening so I don’t know why I thought he’d be excited about walking for a good cause at eight o’ clock in the morning.
“Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can’t eat money”, says an ancient Cree proverb. I’ve always hated wasting things. I am trying to go green as much as I can. Recycling is very inconvenient for those of us living outside city limits and transporting the goods myself increases the size of my carbon footprint. I do hope going green is not just a trend. People always say to start at home. But, I always say start in your own neighborhood, as it is much easier to preach than to practice what you preach. However, this sort of confrontation can be difficult. Such philanthropy and a green attitude can offend some people. Green may go down for replacing red as the color of anger instead of being the color of envy.
“While we live, let us live”, said Lawrence. Human rights are fundamental to me. I recently joined and donated money to the Human Rights Campaign. This is an organization that promotes equality through education, encouraging positive images of minorities in the media, and frequently insisting fair treatment from our lawmakers. I have always been quite liberal and I think many changes in our country need to take place.
In what should seem like a liberating experience while trying to be a philanthropist and a better citizen of the planet, there are struggles. It is very difficult as an average citizen in today’s economy with limited funds, time, and resources to be pragmatic. I worry about alienating friends and family by persistently requesting donations and activism from them. I’m sure they all think I’m just a tree-hugging, green, millennial hippie. I also run the risk of remaining in a state of anger over the state of today’s world. I hope that you, me, and the rest of the world can make the necessary changes in our lives to try to be more caring, more aware, and more involved. Anyone who tries to accomplish this deserves to be called such a lofty title as philanthropist. “All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make our world”, so are the words of Buddha.
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