Why Recycling is Rubbish

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

William Morris

If we were to apply William Morris’s words to all the things we buy, would we need a recycling bin?

I hate recycling. The recycling bin makes us feel all comfy and smug about throwing stuff out. But it is a lie. A spoon full of sugar. Why are we bringing things into our houses that we KNOW we are going to have to Throw Out.

Because recycling is still throwing stuff out! But into a bin that gives us a wee patronising pat on the head as we close the lid. It’s like picking something up from one counter and putting it down on another, then expecting someone else to deal with it while we walk out the door, telling everyone we did the housework.

Because now it is in a box and abandoned at the gate – AND THEN WHAT happens to it? I have no clear idea.

The more I research this the more I am convinced that we have been sold a crock of shit.

But what do we do? Where else are we going to throw the wine bottles! The garbanzo beans tins!

Because recycling is big business. The market size, measured by revenue, of the Recycling Facilities industry in the U.S. is $10.2bn in 2023.(Random google search gave me three slight variations on this figure). Suffice to say: Recycling is Big Business.

The saying “out of sight, out of mind” means that if these companies can keep their activities hidden from us, they can continue to make big profits without us questioning it. And I know something is being hidden from me. Because I know for a fact that much of what we put in the recycling bin cannot be recycled at all.

But what can we do? Well you and I do plenty already. Right?

Below are a few of my thoughts in a large nutshell: Add your own in the comments so we can get this super polished for The Sustainable Home. (which will be launching in a month or so). ‘So’ being the operative word.

HOW TO AVOID THE RECYCLING LIE: Try to think of our purchases as a cycle.

1. PRECYCLE: Apply ‘AND THEN WHAT’ to your purchases. What happens to (insert article) when you no longer use it? What is going to happen to the packaging? What happens when it is old and ugly. If it will end up in either bins (recycling or trash) look for alternatives. Is it VERY BEAUTIFUL or VERY USEFUL. Cloth napkins, rags, refillable water bottles, and washable containers for leftovers all for the win. What else?
2. COMPOST: Set up a compost bin or pile for food waste. Composting can help to reduce the amount of organic waste that goes to the landfill (read methane gas) and can provide nutrient-rich soil for your garden. But many of you don’t have a garden for compost. So what are you doing? Have any of you tried the Lomi Composter? I have pigs and chickens. Food to garden is the cycle.
3. DONATE clothing very carefully. The clothing bin is just another BS recycling bin. Don’t donate worn out clothes, they will be graded out and thrown away to burn. The donate bag is not a rubbish bag. Only donate good wearable items. Instead – RAGS are the answer. Turn those old fabrics into rags. Which means try not to buy fake fabrics that don’t absorb anything because your rags should end their lives in the compost. And fake fabrics made from oil do not compost. See the cycle happening?
4. CLEANING PRODUCTS Use Vinegar sprays for cleaning and grated Castile soap for laundry and dishes. More on that another time.
5. BUY PRODUCTS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME: Before making a purchase, ask yourself all those important questions and never ever say Just This Once. Not anymore.

For Kate:

Here is the snow fence. John puts it up half way across the field so it stops the snow blowing into the driveway. It needs to be far back so the snow can pile up on either side.

We have had no snow though so it has just hung there all winter feeling useless!

Have a lovely day out there!

Cecilia

PS! NEWS! Today a friend of mine has added her new book to The Library. It is a meal-kit cookbook for busy cooks.

From CJ – My NEW plant-based mealkit book has just been released. If you are curious about plant-based meals, I invite you to take a look.

I am very much looking forward to my copy! You know how much I love my veges!

And while we are on the subject of books don’t forget to read The Bonne Chance Bakery by our darling Charlotte Rains-Dixon. The link to that is in the Library too!

The Library is busy lately – don’t forget to add any books you have been reading or writing – anything that you think we might like.