It is so refreshing to be in a country where recycling is regarded as a must and not a maybe. I must admit, I was stunned (in the good sense of the word) to discover that Korea has a mandatory recycling program (and they take everything - styrofoam to the hard-to-recycle yogurt containers). Growing up in the States, recycling is not as accepted or practiced, and I have never understood why.Thanks to my mom, I was raised with a "green" mind. I don't remember a time when our family did not recycle, thanks to Mom's efforts. She ensured that anything and everything recyclable was not wasted. I was shocked when I went off to college in Columbus, leaving home for the first time, to find that no recycling program was available on or off campus. Luckily, my roommate, Genevieve, is as green as I am. We saved all of our recycling products, and whenever one of us went home, toted them off to our parents. I'm sure our moms loved the extra work to take it curbside come trash/recycling day! However, Gen and I felt good about our efforts, knowing we were doing a small part to ensure a better life for tomorrow.
I am a true believer that Americans need to be more self conscious about trash production. My realtor explained the Korean trash and recycling pick-up, but then interjected that most Americans living in Korea just take their trash on-post to a dumpster. I guess separating trash from recyclables is too much work for some. I felt so embarrassed when she told me this! No wonder other countries form opinions that we are wasteful!
I read some disturbing news while in Hawai'i about plastic and trash in the ocean. I get sad and very upset when I read/hear new like this: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/10/19/SS6JS8RH0.DTL&type=politics
I took action and invested in some "green" grocery bags. They are reusable cloth bags, and at least I know I am doing my part to reduce plastic garbage. Plus, they are so much stronger. They hold 2-3 times the amount of groceries, and for $.79 apiece, they were a great bargain! I highly recommend you try them :) Plus, I recycle EVERYTHING here. Recently, I filled up two 13 gallon-sized bags with recyclables and only one with trash. I saved 66% of my "trash" from going to a dumpster! Think if we ALL did this!
There are still improvements I want to make in my "green" life. I want to drive less, walk more, use public transportation more, and take shorter showers (for those that know me, this will be a HUGE sacrifice). Plus, I recently looked at the Honda website, and a new hydrogen-fueled car is for sale. The car's emissions are clean and clear water. I am so excited for the things Honda is doing to improve the planet! I hope other companies follow in their footsteps.
I challenge you to think and be "green." I know we can make the world a better place for tomorrow if we change our lifestyle. Think of the impact - especially on and for our children!
