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It's all about commitment, and commitments are easier to make when there's a reward. So here's a reward to work for: your Glorious Garbage Moment.
Many people avoid changing towards a greener lifestyle because, they think, it's a pain in the ass, and they can't see the results. And I understand that--400 parts per million less of CO2 in the air is not something you're gonna sense the second you wake up.
But I have had many people take our greening advice in the past few years, and I hear this next story pretty frequently:
You start to look at your garbage, your waste habits. Not necessarily to change how you consume (that will come with time) but just how you sort what you consume. It starts slowly: all the plastic soda bottles actually make it into the recycling. You start looking for the recycle number on the bottom of items. You realize there's a lot more you could put in the recycle bins.
You bought a shredder because if identity theft--you start to use it more, and shred your junk mail with your bank statements. Then your drafts of stuff you printed. Then the annoying little things that fall out of magazines. Then all your little notes to yourself.
Maybe you get a composter, or at least begin thinking more about organic waste. You realize that you can just put five apples into your grocery cart; that you don't need that plastic bag. You buy carrots held together by a rubber band, and not in a bag. Surprisingly, they taste the same...maybe better.
And then it happens. It's been a few days; it must be time to take out the trash. You head for the closet where you keep your garbage and recycling bags or bins. You grab your bag of cans and bottle. You grab your bag of shredded paper. And you see it: the garbage bag...
It's almost empty! There's almost nothing there! What the hell?!
This is your Glorious garbage moment: Welcome.
Even mild efforts at understanding and sorting your garbage will reward you with this wonderful moment when your recycling is more than your garbage, and your garbage doesn't need taking out all that often.
Want to know what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint? Find out on Planet Green TV's Wa$ted.
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