Sustaining Ability

I have been paying attention to how the world is responding to "going green." I tend to use it as a topic of discussion in some of my classes. I usually show them this short movie - "The Story of Stuff" (storyofstuff.com) and discuss the impact on people and cultures. I think if we get the younger generation on board, teach them this is the way to think about waste, then positive, elaborate impact is more likely to happen.

As often, it is difficult to get everyone on board, so some of the responses have been positive while others just want to bat a blind eye to the whole problem. While I admit I slip up sometimes with recycling, but I have made a big effort at school to not hand out papers and other assignments when I can put the information online. In fact, I think I have cut my paper copies by about 60 percent. A very, very small contribution.

Still thinking about reducing waste is not enough anymore. The next new thought in this area is "Zero Waste." Eliminating ALL waste. I thought it would be impossible, then I read this New York Times article and I was so encouraged (http://tinyurl.com/yzr4j7c).

Yesterday I had lunch at one of my favorite places - the Big Bowl Express - really great, Thai and Chinese fast food. I commented to the guy who served me that I noticed that they have changed their containers. He said yeah, they cut the amount of plastic down 40% to make it more eco-friendly. So, what's new, I thought, everyone is getting on that bandwagon these days, so people feel good about their products. Then I saw the label on my plastic cup - Do not recycle this with other clear plastics - THIS PRODUCT IS 100% COMPOSTIBLE - Made from CORN!


That made me feel really good! I hope we are getting somewhere...