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The eminent political philosopher Michael G. Tyson, once opined: "Time is like a book. You have a beginning, a middle and an end. It's just a cycle." Just a cycle? That's like saying Exxon-Mobil is justa polluter. Life's cycles are complex and crucial and sometimes odd. FDR reminded us, "There is a mysterious cycle in human events," but it's unknown if he was referring to freecycling.
Life is all about cycles and that goes double for the green life. So, if H.G. Wells was correct when he declared, "cycle tracks will abound in Utopia," get ready for Shangri-La.
9 Ways to Green All Your Cycling
1. Recycling
We all know the four R's: reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. But as you'll see below, the practice of recycling has come a long, long way in the past four decades.
2. E-Cycling
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2005, out of approximately 1.9 to 2.2 million tons of used or unwanted electronics only 345,000 to 379,000 tons were recycled. That's where e-cycling comes in. With the never-ending creation of new electronic products, the temptation to consume and dispose is increasing. Even those aware of e-cycling, must learn how to partake in the greenest manner possible. "One of the best ways to get clean recycling is simple: just ask questions," writes Colin Dunn at TreeHugger.com. "A reputable recycler should be able to tell you where hardware is sent, and if the company exports or uses prison labor."
3. Precycling
This has nothing to do with Lance Armstrong's routine before a race. As the gang at TreeHugger.com explains: "Precycling represents the stage before recycling and, unlike recycling, it expends little energy. Precycling happens at the point of purchase, and entails you choosing the product that comes in the least packaging."
4. Freecycling
Let's say you have something you no longer want (or more likely, never wanted). It's still usable and you just can't bring yourself to doom it to a landfill. So, you find someone who does want it and you pass it along to them, free of charge. Congratulations, you just freecycled.
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5. Grasscycling
What if you could reduce your mowing time by 50%, add nutrients to the soil in your yard, and reduce the need for fertilization? Slam dunk, huh? Welcome to the world of grasscycling . And here's the complicated set of instructions: after you mow, leave the clippings behind.
6. Upcycling
This term was coined by William McDonaugh and Michael Braungart in their book, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, upcycling is "the process of converting an industrial nutrient (material) into something of similar or greater value, in its second life. Aluminum and glass, for example, can usually be upcycled into the same quality of aluminum and glass as the original products."
7. Downcycling
During the recycling process, most materials lose viability and/or value and are thereby downcycled into a material of lesser quality. The most common example is plastic. A DIY example of downcycling is when you remove old batteries from your digital camera and get more use out of them in your remote control.
8. Bicycling
We already know bicycles are the world's most energy efficient vehicle so let's focus on how to get two cycles out of one entry: Recycle-a-Bicycle (RAB). At RAB, kids and adults alike learn how bikes work and how to fix them when they don't work.
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| China Photos/Getty Images |
9. Tricycling
We're not talking about that plastic Big Wheel you rocked as a kid. Today's tricycles are cutting edge green technology and good exercise...but please be careful.
Related Posts
How to Go Green: Recycling
Green Glossary: Grasscycling
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