“ We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
— Aldo Leopold
FIELD NOTES: Recycling
~ by Jim Eagleman
Maybe from guilt, a sense of my own lifestyle, or because I have more time since retirement, my attention to recycling lately has increased. I want to recycle more in an attempt to live lightly on the landscape, have a low impact, and be conscious of a smaller footprint. Half-heartedly committed, I performed token efforts over the years at home and work.
This mantra of being responsible for what you personally generate was to hopefully increase awareness to state park users starting in the mid-90s. Since then, I became more aware of what I can further recycle, can do with less, and step up my home conservation efforts in heating / cooling, power, and water use.
The idea to recycle can come easy to us every time we look to nature. For an excellent example, I had to look no further than the forest floor. This we did on many of my interpretive hikes at the park over the years, inspecting leaf litter, rotting logs, limbs and other debris that collected. Due to natural forces, the act of decomposing and reducing to simpler forms came clear. Even massive tree trunks didn’ t last. We could see the wood diminish from week to week. Of nature’ s many lessons, this one of converting something into something else seemed most important, and for many, the easiest to grasp.
But unlike nature that readily converts and reuses, recycling by humans no matter how well-intended, is not without challenges. Experts call it the 4Cs: Is it Convenient? How Conscientious will I be? What is the Cost, and what is my level of continued Commitment?
40 Our Brown County July / August 2017
We learned a lot from staff experiences at the park over the years. We removed all trash cans because of cost, bees, and raccoons, and later installed recycling containers. We saw if it isn’ t easy to do, visitors, campers, and lodge guests don’ t recycle. Even with separate containers, trash accumulated. From surveys we heard we don’ t want to pay for the service even if it helps reduce massive amounts of materials. From some we heard the future will fix it—“ Isn’ t this just a consequence of an increasing population that social scientists will eventually solve?”
Accepting the challenges as a true conservationist, I would adhere and commit to an expanded recycling effort. Could I absolutely be responsible for what I personally generate? Maybe. I saw my interest and behavior changed. I found if my local recycling center didn’ t take a certain item, I’ d search for other facilities close by that did. I saw the“ 4 R’ s of recycling”, reduce, reclaim, reuse, and refuse meant to shop wisely and not willfully accept excess packaging.
My efforts could go way beyond mere kitchen or food items destined for the compost pile. I could shred junk mail, bills and work papers, buy certain detergents, batteries, light bulbs, and toilet paper. I could recycle egg cartons, all cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, newsprint, and magazines that I do anyway, but also corks, medicine bottles, motor oil, and filters. Even old appliances, tires, fabric, and clothing can be recycled. All this surprised me. The amount of plastic wrappings, Styrofoam, trays, cups, and twist ties for example, filled a 40 pound bird seed bag every month. The compost pile can eventually contribute better soil to the landscaping around the house while water from a rain barrel is used for plants. I find I even suggest to friends they can get rid of a certain item every so often by checking the local paper.
The last thing I want to be called is a“ goodie twoshoes” guy who does it all correctly— far from it. The obligation I feel to the earth may be different than yours. Mine comes from seeing, learning, and teaching all the good we get from it. Our natural resources are renewable, recyclable, and certainly marketable. How we manage them will ultimately determine how healthy an existence we have. Just as I can improve my land by periodically removing alien plant species and
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