Storming The Projects: Public Housing Residents Preach Recycling Gospel

nytimes.com:

Proselytizing on the issue [of recycling] in housing projects is an enormous challenge but crucial, environmentalists say, given the incentive to cut back on energy and garbage disposal costs and a housing authority's power to impose recycling rules building by building.

In New York, the incentive may be greatest of all.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[orangepetal]

I think companies should assess their packaging greeness, those who could improve should be encouraged to find council on ways that could reduce packaging.
Communal properties should have fixed standard instructions required on recycling.
-Large plastic stickers.
-Obligatory large type labels indicating what is allowed in a bin.
-Small but emphasized print what is not!
- Clear instructions on how to prepare for correct disposal, eg. washing.
-Required quaterly or semi-annual info sheet (with diagrams?) on correct disposal in communal living areas could prove beneficial. Counties could draw these up ready to print. They should be simple to understand probably be bi-lingual. Including some basic local statistics with future goals and the need to participate for effectiveness could help motivate, again short/simple and this part should of course be updated.
- New ideas/methods for improved public instructions on easy seperation for disposal of toxic/poisonous trash, medications and gadgets.
-Compost trash for pick up by the aggriculture sector could be nice but may present public hygine issues.
I think incentives by government to industries that melt metal/ plastics/ glass for use as a raw material in industry could help to jump-start this beneficial way to recycle. I'm not sure if we are there yet, but we will be, and it can start to develop and improve on systems for future generations who may really lack ways to dispose effectively. It could already be beneficial in highly populated centers that struggle with resources for disposal.

[SamKnause]

My mother lives on a fixed income. She wanted to start recycling. She called the company who picks up her garbage and they explained to her that each bin would cost her $13.00 per month. The garbage company makes money from recycling and they are already there to pick up the trash, so why do they charge people extra? People on fixed incomes and the unemployed can't afford extras. How come every time some one wants to do something good it costs them money and makes money for corporations?

[truthartbeauty]

I thought cheap wine came in plastic.

[PhilipB]

What a great post!