Today (now yesterday) marks 50 years of Earth Day! Earth Day sparked the environmental movement as we know it, and as our world continues to grow and the desire for fast, cheap and easy products grows with it, it is more important than ever to ask ourselves some crucial questions about our own waste practices and what we’re doing each day to help or hinder the cause.
“Earth Day was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, a staunch environmentalist who hoped to provide unity to the grassroots environmental movement and increase ecological awareness. ‘The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy,’ Senator Nelson said, ‘and, finally, force this issue permanently onto the national political agenda.’” - History Channel
One of the easiest things we can do for the planet is keep track of our trash. How often do we use/buy throw away plastic? How many reusable options are in our kitchens and bathrooms? What do we throw away most and how can we cut back on that waste?
Today I invited my good friend Maggie Hansen from Hillside Solutions to bust a few myths about recycling, give you a little more info on composting, and some tips to help you generate less trash. To get started, Maggie gives us a look at what happens with our recycling in Omaha after it leaves the bin.
“Omaha has a few places: River City Recycling, Nebraskaland and the creme de la crop - First Star Fiber. I did an adult field trip here a couple years ago and it was so legit! They have miles of conveyer belts & use all types of methods to sort. They have a 1•D vs 3•D printer to separate paper/cardboard from plastics/metals. They have conveyer belts that use velocity to shoot the heavier stuff out - plastics vs metals. Their bales are shockingly clean. They have people pretty much every step of the way, picking product out & making sure it's going to the right place. And from there, they ship a lot to Minnesota to be remade into plastic lumber for decks, outdoor furniture, stuff of the sort. There's also a place they ship to down in Kearney that makes fence posts & railroad ties. Cities on the coast are a little broken right now, but the stuff in Omaha actually stands a chance.” - Maggie
As Maggie briefly notes, there are a LOT of steps in this process, most of which involve transportation. Now, that’s not to say that there are too many steps in the process to make recycling worth it, BUT it does mean you should be wary of your disposable consumption in general. Always seek out reusable options whenever you can. Water bottles, paper towels, ziplock bags, Saran Wrap, cotton pads and even q-tips come in reusable forms these days, just to name a few.
But when we DO make a purchase that has any kind of packaging involved, it is important to properly recycle that waste and ensure that these materials are clean when we do. Maggie mentioned earlier the 1D v. 3D printers used at First Star Fiber and points out that the separation process used here doesn’t allow for soft plastic recycling, as it can damage the machines. So instead of “wish-cycling”, do your research, find out what goes where and try and avoid buying products with excess packaging whenever possible!
Maggie also points out the trouble with recycling glass, as many of us in Omaha I’m sure are familiar.
“There's also Ripple which is a program created by Boulevard Brewing. It started in KC and has expanded to Omaha/Des Moines. They come collect glass and remake it into bottles for beer! When people say Omaha glass doesn't get recycled, they're probably right, but when taken to the purple bins, it actually does.”
Artist: Hollie Fuller
So we’ve taken a look at recycling, now let’s debunk some composting myths. A lot of people believe that yard waste and food scraps will break down in a landfill, but Maggie points out that that’s not possible without oxygen.
“There's this common misconception that lawn debris will "return to earth" in a landfill, except a landfill isn't natural earth so there's no oxygen & therefore, no decomposition. It turns into Methane gas & toxic sludge.”
Maggie also notes that yard waste/compost is a valuable resource that is commonly viewed as a hassle. If you’re interested in composting at home, Maggie suggests checking out Compost Club from Hillside Solutions.
“The very best thing people can do is try to limit the amount of stuff they use in the first place - no bottled water, ask packagers to not be douchebags, be aware at the store because a clerk is going to automatically bag stuff, buy yogurt in a big container and use reusable Tupperware instead of single use containers etc. The recycling industry is a 'guilt free' way for Americans to enjoy convenience. The best way to make a difference, right here, right now is to compost.” - Maggie
It seems like more appropriate a time than ever to consider our waste when most of us are staying at home. From takeout containers, to plastic grocery bags, to spring cleaning around the house, waste can pile up.
“Almost everything we consume comes in plastic wrapping and containers. And determining what can or cannot be recycled is a labyrinth of confusing rules and regulations. In the end, we contribute more to the problem than to the solution. More often than not, the most common items in shared public spaces and waterways are not the car mufflers or fishing nets, but rather small food wrappers that wedge themselves between rocks. The same applies to our choices at home: Small choices, amplified enough times, have big impacts.” - Earth Day Network
SEEEDLINGS
greeting cards
Handmade in Massachusetts, all Seedlings cards are paired with a plantable seed paper envelope which is embedded with non-invasive wildflower seeds. When planted, the envelopes compost away leaving only flowers behind. Blank inside, these cards are accented with foil details and are made in the U.S.A.
Resources: History Channel, Earth Day Network, Maggie Hansen with Hillside Solutions