Recycling turns habit for many
Recycling turns habit for many in city

By Bryan Painter

Published: April 22, 2008

Earth Day or daily life?

Earlier this month I asked readers to share their recycling efforts — either at home or at work — for an Earth Day column.

On Earth Day 2008, it's clear recycling is a daily commitment of many readers.

Take for instance Carolyn Dalbow of Kingfisher. She provided estimates of the recycling efforts of her family through the last 36 years.

In that span, Dalbow said her family has recycled about 8,600 pounds of paper, 17,000 pounds of glass and 4,500 pounds of aluminum. Narrow that to about the last 15 years, and she estimates they have gathered about 2,100 pounds of plastic to be recycled.

"Today, I store recyclables in containers, some of which we transport 25 miles to a recycling center,” she wrote. "This might sound obsessive to some; to me it is a way of being a good steward of the Earth. Imagine what effect there would be on our economy if even half of individuals followed suit! To all companies who implement recycling programs, I say ‘Fantastic!'”

Cherrie Zaidi said recycling is a habit in her family; once it becomes a part of your day, it's not difficult or even a pain. Zaidi wrote that her family separates the different materials in order to make recycling day more manageable.

When that day comes, they drop the items off at their community event in Piedmont on the first Saturday of each month.

"Any time I see someone putting a recyclable item in the trash, I ask them why they cannot collect that and like items and participate in the city of Piedmont's recycling program?” she wrote. "I teach my children daily that this is our Earth and we do not get a new one when it goes bad.”

June Tate also wrote about recycling efforts at the community level. She said when Mustang's Community Recycling Center opened Oct. 21, 2006, they served 34 customers. Now they average 100 customers each Saturday. Her husband, Brian Figgins, is the coordinator of Mustang Recycles, the volunteer agency that staffs the community recycling center.

"We are staffed entirely by dedicated, unpaid volunteers,” she wrote.

The responses came from the metro area, as well as other communities in the state.

There were complaints by those who want to recycle but are frustrated by either the total lack of recycle bins or centers in their area, the distance they have to travel to find one or even the operating conditions of machines in place.

Tom M. King said his home consists of two senior adults who don't "produce mountains of recyclables like large companies do, but there would certainly be a huge savings accomplished when all the small inputs of individuals were added up.”

So what do you do if a collection site isn't available? Well, maybe tips from those such as Diane Coe can help.

She wrote that for wrapping gifts, she saves all kinds of boxes, including cereal, cracker and cookie boxes, soda, etc.

Sue Tarr wrote that more than 200 teenagers are involved in Environmental Clubs in Oklahoma City, Putnam City and Edmond schools.

She also mentioned the Earth Day celebration and Recyclathon awards scheduled Saturday at the Oklahoma City Zoo's Rosser Conservation Education.

An example of efforts in the workplace includes Mercy Health Center. Leo E. Paquin, vice president of mission and ethics for Mercy, wrote that the hospital has taken several steps with "Mother Earth in mind” through the years. Recent efforts include Mercy switching from Styrofoam plates, bowls and take-out containers to a biodegradable product. In any given month, Mercy uses 6,000 foam bowls, 5,500 foam plates and 10,000 take-out containers. Mercy also is changing out all Styrofoam cups to a greener option in the next 30 days.

So as you see, even though today is Earth Day, for many being environmentally responsible is a part of their daily lives.

Your thoughts!