Some reasons to recycle

I asked some of my friends why and how they recycle, and this is how they responded:
1) I recycle because almost everything I "throw away" is recyclable and because we've trashed our planet enough already.
2) I do it because I hate waste and the idea of waste and excessively putting pressure on the environment due to landfills and the like.
3) I recycle aluminum cans at school because the money goes to our school. I recycle paper at school because I love trees and try to preserve them plus, we have a recycle bin outside for paper only.
4) I recycle when the tools are in place to make it easy.
5) I recycle because it saves me money.
6) I recycle because I like the idea of doing something to help the environment. I recycle everything I can from plastic, glass, aluminum, paper, and cardboard.
7) I recycle because it's the easiest way I can do something for the environment.
8) To me, recycling is part of being a good person. By making the simple choice to put my trash where it belongs, I am doing something for myself and everyone else too.

Truth found in Aqua Veritas

In Italy, where 40 gallons of bottled water are consumed per person per year, city officials are promoting "Aqua Veritas" (tap water or "the mayor's water") to quench a mighty thirst and stem the tide of plastic bottles, according to the New York Times. In so doing, Venetian officials say, they have "reduc[ed] the amount of plastic trash over all to 261 tons a month now from 288 tons a year ago."

Here in the U.S., which remains, the world's top consumer of bottled water--and where consumption has doubled in the last decade--we might want to take a page the Italian "libro." If we did so, we might keep the estimated 60 million plastic bottles out of landfills and incinerators that wind up there each day. If city water isn't available or to taste, there's always filtering...or taking water to work in a re-usable flask.

When we do use plastic, we need better options in the Alamo City to get it to the recycling bin. You can help by signing or spreading the word about this Sierra Club petition.

If you still drink the bottled variety, I'm like you and I'm gonna commit to change.

San Antonio Can

When it comes to the humble proposal that we can meet higher goals for recycling in San Antonio, we sometimes hear, "It'll never happen in Texas...it'll never happen in San Antonio."

When inspiration runs low, it never hurts to get perspective. Today that comes in the form of a photograph. In this picture by David Gilkey (NPR website), donkey handlers are shepherding presidential ballots across a narrow bridge to reach to remote regions of Afghanistan.

Surrmounting would-be challenges to expanding recycling here, pales in comparison. There's no doubt that if we have the will, we can get it done.

My quest to find a reusable drinking container

In the fall of 2005, I decided to drink more water. I started buying cases of water bottles because they were cheap and portable. I could feel good about striving toward my eight glasses a day and throwing my plastic bottles in the recycling bin.

By the next year, I noticed several of my friends toting outdoor reusable plastic bottles. A couple of girls I knew even had cute pink ones with designs on them. It seemed like a good idea to not be contributing as much plastic to the waste stream and the bottles were bigger. So, I bought one. I used that bottle for an entire year before I discovered that these #7 plastic bottles had been recalled due to bad health outcomes in studies on animals! I said goodbye to my old friend with a proper burial in the recycling bin and began the search for a new bottle.

First, I went back to the same company. I purchased their new plastic bottles that are made out of # 5 plastic, but somehow couldn’t allow myself to get too comfortable with the plastic taste in my mouth as I gulped down my precious H20. So, I tried an outdoor stainless steel option from another company. The water from that container had a nice metallic taste to replace the plastic one I was previously experiencing. Plus, I left my stainless steel container in my car for an afternoon in the South Texas heat and ended up finding rust spots on the inside of the mouth. I returned the bottle and was graciously provided a new one . . . but I started bringing glasses of water to work and refilling them in the sink.

A few months later, the stars were aligned and heaven smiled upon me as I chanced upon a glass bottle on the shelf in the water aisle at the grocery store. It . . . was . . . perfect! The tall ones hold 27 fluid ounces! And, the water I refill in it (even after sitting over night) still tastes like water! 2 recommendations: preferred method of cleaning (shaking water mixed with soap) and remember, you’re carrying glass!

"S.A. weighs recycling for apartment dwellers"

Get updated with this article by Sarah Snyder on San Antonio's pilot to explore apartment recycling for tenants.