The Valuable Individual
By Lillian & Dave Brummet, Fri Dec 9th

The Valuable Individual (413 words)

How can we, as individuals, participate in waste management?Because some of us are so overwhelmed with Earth’s problems, wefeel that our contributions have no real consequence in the end.For others, social barriers can be an issue. A lady we once knewconfessed that she did not want to be seen buying used items orbeing concerned with power use. She was worried people would seeher as cheap – a scrooge – when the family was so affluent. Yet,she was very careful to be seen with recycling bins out on thecurb on pick-up day, because that was thought to be the thing todo socially. Now is a good time to put an end to these negativethoughts and feelings of false pride. Waste reduction is notabout ego - it is about the health of the planet and of ournation.

Communities would be wise to look at Nova Scotia’s wastereduction success and try to emulate it in their area. With thehighest waste reduction rates in Canada, Nova Scotia has reducedlandfill contributions by 46% - saving about $31 million peryear - simply by making the most of the organic and recyclablematerials. Curbside recycling service (Blue Box) is available to99% of its residents and 76% now enjoy curbside organic service(a.k.a. Green Box).

With better management of organic and recyclable waste,

Schleck ousted from Tour of Spain
Two-time Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck is sent home from the Tour of Spain for breaking team rules.
Laws secures breakthrough victory
Britain's Sharon Laws wins the first major race of her career by sprinting to victory in stage one of the Tour de Ardeche.
Tour of Spain latest standings (external)
Manxman Mark Cavendish is among the riders at the Vuelta a Espana, the third of the year's three Grand Tours.
Blyth out to fulfil Olympic dream
Leeds' Anna Blyth wants to emulate the success of her team-mates at the 2012 Olympics
Team Sky withdraw from Spain Tour
Team Sky pull out of the Tour of Spain following the death of masseur Txema Gonzalez.
Millar replaces Thomas in GB team
David Millar replaces Geraint Thomas in Britain's three-man team for the road cycling World Championships in Melbourne.
McLaughlin smashes trial record
James McLaughlin smashes the Guernsey Velo Club's five mile time trial record by 20 seconds.
Cavendish beaten again in Spain
Mark Cavendish is beaten in a sprint finish for the second time in three days in the Tour of Spain.
Tour legend Fignon dies aged 50
Two-time Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon dies of cancer at the age of 50.
Ill Team Sky riders abandon Tour
Two Team Sky riders quit the Tour of Spain during the third stage having been left sick by a mystery illness that has swept through the team.
Cavendish loses in sprint finish
Mark Cavendish retains the leader's red jersey in the Tour of Spain, despite being edged out by Yauheni Hutarovich in a sprint finish to the second stage.
Team hands Cavendish Spain lead
Mark Cavendish takes the leader's red jersey in the Tour of Spain after his HTC-Columbia squad win the floodlit opening team time trial in Seville.
Storey included in England team
Multiple Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Storey is named in England's cycling team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
GB duo join Cavendish at Worlds
Geraint Thomas and Jeremy Hunt are named as support riders for Mark Cavendish's bid to win the World Championships road race in Melbourne in September.
Hoy and Pendleton set for Poland
British Olympic champions Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton will head to Poland in November for the European Track Cycling Championships.

we willfind we do not have to put the trash out as often because theodors and volume are greatly decreased. As a fiscal incentive,many garbage collection companies offer discounts to homes withreduced waste.

We can also help the waste management industry run moreefficiently. For instance, when only full garbage bags and Blueor Green boxes are put out on the curb, the garbage truck doesnot have to stop as often and burn fossil fuels inefficientlywhile idling. (Incidentally, vehicle idling is responsible for3% of the air pollution problem.) Similarly, by collapsing boxesbefore recycling we are ensuring that space is used moreefficiently, thereby reducing the number of bins needed fortransporting materials.

Recycling, alone, has a huge impact on the environment. A studyof a 100-unit apartment building practicing maximum recyclingfound it would save 21.93 thirty-foot trees, 26.86 cubic yardsof landfill space, 8,389 kilowatts of electricity, and 77.4pounds of air pollution in just one year!

So you see, these seemingly small choices and efforts towardswaste management really do make a difference.

About the author:-- Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based on the concept ofthier new book Trash Talk. The book offers useful solutions forthe individual to reduce waste and better manage resources. Aguide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on theenvironment. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)