The Recycling Investigation

This is the Miramar Landfill in San Diego, visible from google earth. It is getting bigger everyday. It is expected to be filled up by 2019 according to the city of San Diego. I am a new comer to being green as a lot of us are, so where do we start? We have to make little changes.

Step One: Recycle. We are a very busy family so the easiest and fastest route is usually the road most traveled. In the past, in my house we recycled some cans, but not all and not all the time. It wasn't a high priority. Which meant, if it wasn't convenient, perfectly good recyclables were doomed for the landfill.. Well, no more. To make it convenient and easy to do, I bought a medium sized $3.99 trashcan. Now we have two trash cans, side by side, one for trash, and one for recycling. It makes it easy to recycle and my kids can participate. They now put plastic and paper in our recycle trash can and are learning valuable habits for later in life.

We live in a townhouse and have a recycle dumpster outside for the complex. If you live in a house, you should have the labeled recycle containers that you can cram full of recyclables. The City of San Diego has phased in recycling mandates. If you live in a home or business that has blue recycle trashcans it is the law to recycle. If you live in an apartment/or townhouse you should have a recyclable dumpster like the one I have. If you do not have a convenient recycle trash can at your residence, you can collect your recyclables and drop them off at a recycle center.

Furthermore, it is of importance to note that some plastics or other items are not recyclable. When recycling you should look to this reference list of what is and is not recyclable. Also it helps to know tips of the trade, or instructions and descriptions for recycling. Other items that are not recyclable in the regular old containers may recyclable elsewhere. Computers, cell phones, or other e-waste items can be recycled at various locations. Also, plastic bags can be recycled at your local grocery store. There are many options and ways to help. Through the website, I love a clean San Diego, you can find a local recycle drop off center using your zip code. More important than the logistics of recycling, is the attitude we should have. We need to realize we have the control and power to make a difference. That attitude and combined voice of the people can power the bigger changes we need to help our planet. 

Recycling centers:

http://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/recycling/miramarrecycle.shtml

E-Waste Recycling Information and centers:
http://www.supereco.com/glossary/ecycling/

Where you can recycle other materials, carpet, etc:

http://citymaps.sandiego.gov/imf/sites/cdf/index.jsp

The map of locations:

http://citymaps.sandiego.gov/imf/imf.jsp?site=cdf&cert=true

Climate Change is Happening-Time for Action

  

Incorporating my whole family in our change for environmental preservation will root the changes and pass them to my kiddos!

Certain little factual pieces of information I have learned this past year have forced me to take on a moral stance that I am encouraging others to do. The facts are clear. We have one earth and we have all been taking it for granted. Fresh water is limited, population is rising, and our carbon dioxide levels are the highest they have ever been. Scientists do not argue this. There has been, and still is, denial of these facts. Thus, we as individuals, need to address them and make changes. A great talk by by University of California San Diego, Sixth College Provost Naomi Oreskes, on American Denial of Global Warming gives a clearer picture of the facts. Also, National Geographic gives a nice synopsis of current facts of global warming. I am a normal busy student/person/mom who works and tries to have a life, but can't ignore my impact on the environment. I want a future for my planet. I want my grandchildren and great grand children to have a world that includes the things we have taken for granted. Fresh water, beautiful forests, these will be gone unless we make changes. Through this blog, I will move towards greener pastures through simple steps. When we change our lives in little ways and put the future of our planet in higher priority we can influence bigger global change. Its does matter what the people want and what they believe is acceptable. People can be a strong force if we work together towards a common goal. The tricky part is implementing all of this. I am the busiest of the busy, so if I can incorporate changes and make it happen so can you! I will try my hardest, as I am not the most environmentally savvy person in the world, which is why I am the perfect example! Lets learn together! We can find the easiest route to making it a part of life. This blog journey will begin in my community in San Diego and see what I, little me, can change and what positive consequences I can have.