Turning Green Judgment into Green Lessons
By BETH TURNER
Certified Tulsa Master Recycler
“Go green!” It’s the new catch phrase, the “in” thing to do. But how the heck do I do this? I love the ideals of living a more sustainable lifestyle. I believe I have a certain stewardship to uphold for getting to be a part of a society. I understand the “why” of why going green is a good thing to do. But I am absolutely overwhelmed by the never-ending “how” of this concept.
In 2007, I moved to Tulsa and like many overzealous, idealistic newcomers to the green movement, I felt appalled by the city’s lack of recycling outlets. With my propensity for picking up aluminum cans wherever I go, then finding a recycling center for them, and my fascination with recycling programs in our city and at our events, I began to develop a bit of a “green complex.” I found myself offended by fellow Tulsans who seemed oblivious and wasteful in their trashy ways, and started to wonder why others weren’t as smart and hip as I. However, after enrolling in classes offered by Tulsa’s Master Recyclers Association, I quickly learned that these issues aren’t as black and white (or green) as they appear.
America as a whole has had a hard time acknowledging its waste problem. In a very abbreviated waste history lesson, according to the TMRA manual, “throughout the 19th century many cities passed antidumping ordinances, but…landowners and merchants resented ordinances which they considered infringements of their rights. Many coastal cities began to take their refuse out into the ocean, although much of it washed back up on shore. According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, before the turn of the 20th century, the old economy, although not without its own solid waste issues, had more prominent elements of a two-way system, a natural closed loop. In the late 20th century, economic trends undermined this locally based cycle of reuse and created a one-way flow of materials from producer to consumer to garbage dump.” We’ve been trying to clean up ever since.
The next thing I learned in class is that Tulsans are incredibly generous. Actually, what I was taught is that Tulsa’s garbage rules and ideals are based on an antiquated system, allowing for few things to be banned from our dump and incinerator plant, and our dumping rates are among the cheapest in the nation. I learned that industrial waste consumes our landfill without a second thought to the three R’s of reducing waste first, reusing if possible and recycling as a last resort.
From big business to family dwellings,there are no incentives to change other than the changes in our hearts. And amazingly, that is what is happening to T-Town. Currently, more than 13,000 residents pay to receive curbside recycling service. Businesses such as Eloté and Jo Mammas pay for recycling pick-up. Class participation in Master Recyclers has more than doubled since its inception three years ago. Tulsans care about our city’s future.
We desperately need improvements across the board pertaining to trash laws and actually, we are required by law to choose a new trash contract by 2012 so contact your city counselor today and tell them you want recycling added to our trash pickup as a rule, not as an extra cost. In fact, tell them you should receive a lower rate if you do recycle because you’ll be creating less waste than your neighbor! In the meantime, I want to thank you, Tulsa, for offering education that teaches me to quit being so judgmental towards others while learning to improve my own life one day at a time. With this attitude, maybe along the way I can continue to learn the “how” of the 3 R’s and maybe even re-learn my own reasons for “why.”
For more information on Tulsa Master Recyclers Association, go to www.tulsamasterrecyclers.org. To put in your two cents in on the topic, go to www.gtrnews.com.
The thoughts and opinions expressed in “Trash Talk” do not necessarily represent those of Tulsa Master Recyclers Association.
Updated 07-30-2010
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