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The state of humanity
In 2023 we’re all pretty aware of the downfall of humanity and earth’s dwindling resources as our consumption steadily rises.
Old adages
Post WWII, private and federal campaigns such as “Keep America Beautiful” and “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, started picking up awareness and action in efforts to recycle as single use bottles and cans were quickly becoming the go-to beverage packaging of the future.
Making the paper
To date, 10 states and Guam apply a tax on cans and bottles. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Vermont. This allows residents of these states to drop off empty bottles and cans at recycling centers for money in exchange.
Thankfully, I happen to live in one of these states.
Tired of people
In addition to the decline of resources, in-person social interactions in society are also decreasing as technology advances.
Personally, I’m tired of people in general. Pleasantries and social graces in any given interaction is a hit and miss. More so, a miss. The downfall of humanity just seems to be thrown in our faces everywhere we go despite a positive outlook on life.
There’s one place though, exposed to the elements of the outdoors, where people of all ages, ethnicities, and social statuses gather for a brief moment to do their effort in keeping our land clean and making an extra few bucks. The Recycling Center.
At the recycling center
The Process
- Set up a recycling system at home
- Usually a separate trash can for glass bottles, cans, and plastic bottles
- Rinse out your cans and bottles
- After a couple of full trash cans of each, bag ’em up and take them to a recycling center
- Grab the plastic trash can looking bins with the holes in them and fill them up, like with like
- Wait your turn
- When it’s your turn, the attendants will take in all of your bins and weigh them
- Depending on where you go, return prices vary but is usually by the pound
- Collect your money and off you go
A Mexican woman, a white man, and a homeless woman walk into a recycling center
What makes recycling at a Recycling Center so beautiful is the process with people together. Most if not all of my experiences there have been pleasant and memorable. Seriously. It’s like the one place where process and humankind join forces for the greater good.
All who attend, jump right into the routine of getting their recyclables situated and wait. Here is where the magic happens. As the line moves forward along with everyone’s personal bins, more times than not the person in front of you will automatically turn around and help you pull your bins forward, offer you straggler recyclables that didn’t make it in their batch, help fellow recyclers with the process when help is needed, and begin to shoot the breeze for the briefest of moments. A sort of recycling etiquette.
The Benefits
If you look at this life activity in a positive light, there’s so much you get out of this.
- Doing your part to take care of the environment
- The frequency in which you go to a recycling center is up to you. From household recycling to going around and collecting recyclables at work, picking a can up off the ground in front of you, it’s up to you. It can be as little or as much as you’d like.
- This includes how much extra money you want to make.
- This can easily become a part of your monthly routine.
- It’s a great opportunity for positive social interaction.
- If you’re looking for an activity for your children, of all ages, this is it. Teach them some responsibility along with all the points above.
Great activity for those with anxiety and depression
Okay hear me out. If you’re familiar with my blog, you know I struggle with anxiety and depression. I’m the first one who overthinks the act of going to the recycling center. Every time. Will somebody be rude? Will a man be inappropriate? The answer to those questions are yes, that is a real possibility. It’s a possibility anywhere we go. It’s the society we live in. Which is probably one of the reasons you continue to struggle with anxiety and depression.
Now if you’re like me, part of your treatment is to continue to get out more. You have to. Life is beautiful even through the ugliness in the world.
Maybe make it your goal to track your positive interactions and where they took place.
Your safe spots to go to when things are getting tough again. The recycling center is one of my safe spots.
Amidst all the dirt, and grime, lingering sticky liquid (I use the $1.25 store gardening gloves), and used recyclable materials, there’s hope. Hope for a better environment. Hope for human kindness. And hope for those little wins of pushing yourself through anxiety and depression to complete a task.
There’s still hope for humanity. And yes, to be that person, that hope lies in each and every one of us.
Okay, I can’t be the only one who has found this gem of an activity? Anyone out there that has had the same experience? Or have you given this a try after you’ve read this article and you agree? Doñas, let me know in the comments below!