The trees were mistaken.
*April 30, 2008
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not exactly Suzie Recycle. I mean, it's important and all, and I do have a stash of plastic bags under my sink to last through roughly, I don't know, seven hundred takes of that scene in American Beauty. Not that I think it's okay to send plastic bags flying away in the air, even if it's art. I use 'em for dog poo.
And I do try to avoid obtaining these plastic bags at all costs. More often than not, you'll find me leaving a grocery store attempting to juggle several items in my arms. The sane thing to do would be to invest in a canvas grocery bag, but meh. No bag at all? Even better, right?
I've got my pet issues, but we don't even have a recycle bin at our house. However, through a series of twists and turns, a series that mostly involved my making a big stink about how unacceptable it is for a large advertising agency to have Styrofoam cups in its kitchens (did you know that Styrofoam never biodegrades, EVER?!), I've somehow ended up the head of the Green Committee at TracyLocke. So now I'm in charge of finding a cost-effective solution for the Styrofoam cups. Among other things. And by "other things," I mean it's now my job to collect plastic and glass bottles from four floors, rinse them out, separate them, load them into my car, and drive them to a recycling center.
All this, and I caught myself drying my hands with a paper towel this morning instead of the perfectly good dishtowel we keep beside the kitchen sink for that very purpose. And let's ignore the 200 milk jugs I've thrown away in the past year, yeah?
I suppose it's about time I contact the city of Dallas and let them know that I guess those blue thingies? I'll be needing one. Ideally before my hypocrisy is exposed. Like, say, on the internet.
Here's the thing. The paper towel can be recycled and probably was recycled. It carried no germs. The towel is teaming with bacteria from other people's hands especially the part they really didn't wash off.
And the Styrofoam can be recycled just like the paper. It's all very silly to me.
~Jef
- Posted by Edge | April 30, 2008 2:07 PM
I've lately started filing complaints about my workplace's use of styrofoam as well... and about the gratituitous use of the word "lady" in corporate publications.
- Posted by le | April 30, 2008 4:29 PM
I'm on the same committee at my work and also was in charge of the Styrofoam issue. Sadly, I learned that unless your eco-friendly cup is recycled it faces the same fate as the foam cup. Most landfills inhibit waste from biodegrading in order to keep toxins from the soil. So paper/plastic/Styrofoam cups probably won't breakdown. Let me know if you find any good solutions to this problem!
- Posted by DG | April 30, 2008 4:58 PM
My supervisor nearly had a seizure when I threw a used envelope in the trash rather than in the recycle box.
- Posted by Ann | April 30, 2008 5:48 PM
Spring,
You are not alone in the whole "not Suzie Recycler". Yes, I save the bags and take them back to the store when I get too many - did you know the have a place to put used ones to recycle?
But aside from that I suck, totally suck, except at work where I freak out on my boss for throwing food tainted items in the recycle without washing first.
Um, bipolar much?
Anyway I hope you find a solution to your styrofoam debacle.
- Posted by Kandace | April 30, 2008 11:52 PM
And you just learned a very important lesson regarding on the job. NEVER make loud noises about anything. They will immediately put you on a committee to deal with whatever you are bitching about. Welcome to the world of "bidness."
- Posted by Alice | May 1, 2008 6:37 AM
Yup I am prob. the most anti-green person ever.
- Posted by Emily | May 1, 2008 8:55 AM
When I worked downtown, our building participated in glass and bottle recycling but there wasn't a company that came and picked it up. The building management would actually give the bag of recyclables to a few homeless men who would recycle it at a grocery store that pays back. Not sure if this is an option for you in Dallas, but if it is, it's definitely better than you hauling the stuff home, plus there's a bit of social justice mixed in.
- Posted by Nicole | May 1, 2008 9:45 PM
if you decide to get some bags to do your grocery shopping. I'm really happy with mine - Go Again Bags. Just goggle it.
- Posted by Kim | May 1, 2008 10:59 PM
My office has entirely stopped buying plastic cups altogether. What they did instead was pass out a nice branded coffee mug and plastic water bottle (34-oz. size) to all employees. We were instructed to write our name on them, and those are what we use for drinks now at work.
It works pretty well.
- Posted by my life is brilliant | May 9, 2008 4:53 PM