The true meaning of recycling
Meghan Kincheloe
Sedona Recycles
Each month I tell you the secrets of recycling: what is recyclable and reusable, how recycling centers and global recycling markets function, and what the impacts of recycling are on the planet.
Despite all the facts and figures and helpful bits of information I share with you, there are surely more than a few of you who still don’t recycle, or perhaps you only recycle when it is convenient, such as recycling only the small range of items accepted by local curbside recyclers.
For those of you who are still in doubt that recycling is worth your effort, I encourage you to think about the true meaning of recycling.
For me, recycling is the easiest, cheapest form of philanthropy. By taking just ten minutes a week to deliver my recyclables to the recycling center, I am giving back. I am giving back to my community by supporting the people that work at Sedona Recycles, and, most importantly, I am giving back to the Earth.
Recycling isn’t just statistics and business tossed together with a little bit of dirt, it is something that every person can do to save precious resources, reduce pollution, and support a green economy. And it is truly infectious!
Once you start recycling in earnest – actually caring about each item you recycle – you will begin to do even more for the Earth. Soon you will be taking home your soda can when you can’t find a recycling bin, finally remembering to take your reusable bags into the grocery store, and reducing the amount of stuff you bring into your home.
Cans and bottles won’t be enough anymore; before you know it you’ll be recycling electronics, packing peanuts, wine corks, batteries, and household items. You will start wondering what else you can do to stop all this waste. You’ll talk to your friends and family and infect them with your enthusiasm for recycling.
It might sound silly, but I’m not making this up. If you really begin to think about recycling as something wonderful that you can do to help the world, it won’t seem like an inconvenience. You won’t mind driving your glass or Styrofoam to the recycling center when your curbside recycler doesn’t accept it.
And for those of you who are physically unable to recycle, please ask us to help you. Call us on your way to the recycling center and we’ll unload your car, or tell your caregiver that you want to recycle and we’ll help you get started.
Recycling is so much more than just tossing garbage in a bin; it’s about animals, air, water, food, soil, and all the things we often take for granted on this planet. It’s about humanity and leaving a positive legacy. I know that each and every one of us wants to give and improve the world we live in. Recycling is one of the easiest, most gratifying, and impactful ways to do this.
I hope you all continue to learn from this column each month about the what, where, who, how, and why of the three Rs. But more than any other information I can give you, please take this to heart: recycling is giving and it will make you feel like a million bucks.
For more information about how to start or expand your recycling efforts, please contact Sedona Recycles at (928) 204-1185 or visit www.sedonarecycles.org.