Recycling Rant

When people come visit our house, they are really perplexed by the recycling bins.  It's not hard.  Like goes with like.  Paper goes in one bin.  Cardboard in another.  Plastic and aluminum in the one outside.  They don't recycle glass around here any more, so that has to either get washed out for a reuse or you throw it away.  Every time, I wind up having to pick through our bins, rearrange, and throw out non-recyclables.  One of the worst mistakes people make is putting used paper towels or paper plates (with the food still on them - gross!) in the paper bin.  Our recycling company won't take that stuff.

The reason that people have issues with this is THEY DON'T RECYCLE!!!!! It's 2010 and most of my area DOESN'T RECYCLE!!!!  We pay a private company, but it's only $20 a month.  Times are tough and all, whatever, but seriously! It's $20 a month.  

Family members who visit act like this is some cute hobby of mine, recycling.  They say things like "You're so good!" about our recycling.  We don't recycle to make ourselves feel good.  We recycle because it's the right thing to do.  Who wants more landfills?  Who wants more stuff just hanging around taking up space?  Why the hell not recycle?  Answer: Laziness and not giving a crap.  Boo on those people.  

And if you live in the NOLA area: Phoenix Recycling