There is no place called “Away.”

It doesn’t exist.  Throw something away and it ends up in a landfill or floating around the ocean.  I recently read there is a giant mass of floating garbage twice the size of Texas in the Ocean.  Think about that for a moment.  It’s huge.  10 million miles of trash.

I hear people speak of throwing things “away” and there just isn’t such a place anymore.  Whatever you buy will one day either end up being used by another, recycled, in a land fill, or worse yet in the ocean.  There is no “Away”.

There is an increased awareness world wide of recycling bottles, cans and bottles; but it’s not enough.  Thinking seriously about what you’re holding in your hand on the way to the trash has become a necessity.  Our planet is only so big and our environmental problems are out in the open these days, so let’s not beat around the bush.

Consider what you buy!!
I stood in Target the other day looking at kitchen shears; the packaging was so huge and plastic encased that I realized I needed scissors to just get into the package holding my new scissors.  It was ridiculous!

Buy bulk when you can.  Instantly you spare the planet on packaging, AND it’s usually cheaper.  Storing your bulk goods in big glass jars not only looks nice, but it’s easy to see what you have in the pantry and when you’re running low!

Borrow. Does every neighbor on your block really need their own ax?  Hedge trimmer?  Shop vac?  Weed wacker?  Consider buying some of these items together and sharing.  A snow blower for your neighborhood makes a lot more sense than each home owner having one for their individual plot!

If it’s a piece of clothing you’re tired of…donate it, sell it, swap it, or have it altered into something you do want.

If it’s plastic, glass, paper or aluminum, put it in a recycle bin.  In my city the trash company picks up our recycling.  If that isn’t happening in your city…ask why not?  If they won’t pick up, take a trip to your recycling center once a month.  If you don’t, you’re just contributing to our landfill and ocean troubles.

If it’s equipment, consider selling or giving it away to a school or other organization that would use it. At the very least, someone may want it for parts.  Check with your local handyman or town’s repair shop. Most communities have a free ad paper and remember that advertising online with social media sites has become a breeze.

Buy quality.  I blasted through five $89 vacuums over a span of 5 years before breaking down and buying a quality one.  It’s been 10 years now without a problem.  My father used to say “we’re too poor to buy cheap.”  His saying had nothing to do with our income level.  We’re all too poor to buy cheap.  Our planet can’t take it anymore.

I could go on and on but I won’t…  I just ask that you consider what’s in your hand on the way to the cash register, and on your way to the garbage can.  Where will that packaging and product end up ultimately?

Boulder, Colorado is where I live.  It’s a charming town that backs to the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains.  Here there are hippies living next door to millionaires and while this makes for an interesting community with lots of charm,  tacky isn’t allowed.  In fact, neighbors would revolt upon one another if tacky showed up near their home values! Yet when someone is ready to get rid of something, there is an unspoken rule of putting it on the curb for 2 days.  Any longer would be tacky; yet 9 out of 10 times, it’s taken and reused by another neighbor.

I’d been thinking about purchasing some landscape rock recently only to come back home after work to  find my neighbor pulling 4 perfectly sized rocks out to the curb.  Done deal!

An old pine chair that I don’t want anymore?  It’s in my neighbor’s backyard being used on a regular basis.

Remember, everything is going to end up somewhere and that somewhere is one of 2 places;
a land fill, or the ocean.
There is no such thing as throwing something “away”.
Please choose wisely!

xo

Image Courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net by ThePhotoholic.