I use the
word “dump” deliberately because that is still a word we use here to describe
the place we take unwanted things. We are always “going to the dump”. Our dumps
used to be piled up in one inglorious heap with everything destined for
landfill. Not so these days. Now every possible recyclable component is
directed to its special place as we gear up to reducing landfill. The dump has
become an efficient local recycling centre and every visit produces another
revelation about the potential of recycling.
The word
“dump” though has some truly awful images associated with it where barefooted children
pick over rubbish which is piled high all around them – a terrible reminder of
our consumerist lives and the wretchedness of some people’s existences.
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| Mae Sot Dump |
This picture from www2.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=16608
My first
experience of dumps though had a kind of dangerous, romantic edge to it with the
children’s book by Clive King called “Stig of the Dump”, also loved by my sons...
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| Original Stig of the Dump book cover |
What have you been delighted to find you can now recycle?
My brother loved Stig - it was his favourite book!
ReplyDeleteFor me, the best thing I can now recycle is plastic bottles. I went to Malta about 35 years ago and you had to run empty plastic water bottles under a hot tap and they collapsed completely flat. What a brilliant idea! Why can't we do that now?
I am so glad I can recycle paper and plastics.
ReplyDeleteActually, in this town we can recycle cans too but getting my family to do the above is a miracle.
~Naila Moon
http://yaknowstuff.blogspot.com/2012/04/d.html
Vermont is a rather "green" state. The school I teach in is award winning for our green initiatives. The kids LOVE the fact we recycle our paper towels...and have compost bins outside the cafeteria!
ReplyDelete