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People are finding their voices and rallying for many causes. These causes are VERY important but there is one that needs to stand in front of all else: Earth. This place we inhabit is the one thing that unites all living creatures. We depend on Earth for life, vitality and health. Sadly we have fallen into a pattern where we are supporting systems built on greed. Systems that treat Earth like a dumping ground for their chemical waste. This waste is making us sick. It's polluting all the things we rely on to live: natural resources, plants, animals & water. Of all the causes, of all the things to take a stand and fight for, Earth should be the first priority - don't you think?

Let's replace the heaps of garbage drowning our planet with meadows that support bees, healthy toxin free air and life!

China Refusing Our Garbage

In January China stopped being the “world’s garbage dump,” and have put a ban on various garbage imports. That's right - a lot of the recycling you put in your blue bin ends up in other countries. Before the beginning of this year China was dealing with about half of the globe’s plastics and paper products. So now what? Plastics are piling up EVERYWHERE! Here are a few of the stats on how it's impacted us so far.

Calgary, Alberta, used to send 50 percent of its plastics and 100 percent of its mixed papers to China. Since the ban in January 5,000 tons has been collected and stockpiled with nowhere to ship it. This is just one city in Canada. Add Toronto, Calgary, Saskatoon ... plus the rest of the country. What's up with that Canada?
Britain was sending China enough recyclables to fill up 10,000 Olympic-size swimming pools every year according to Greenpeace U.K. An overpopulated island with that much garbage laying around. What are they going to do now? Create a new island out of the plastic?
The United States was exporting more than 13.2 million tons of paper & 1.42 million tons of plastics to China each year. Hey, maybe send it to Canada - Trudeau won't mind.

I just read this article titled "Plastics Pile Up as China Refuses to Take the West’s Recycling". It's a worthy read. You'll find more statistics and see just how concerning and out of control this really is.

Recycling Systems Are Insincere.

Recycling systems are the final link in the mass consumerism, corporate greed, supply chain. As people carefully wash and sort the plastics from all the items they purchase into blue bins, it makes them feel better about their wasteful purchasing. It's supporting the economy after all. A big vehicle burns fuel to drive around to all the houses and collect that garbage! The garbage is then transported somewhere else and gets moved around and transported until eventually it ends up on an ocean polluting ship. This ship is destined for ANOTHER country. Is it just me or isn't this one of the most insane things you've ever heard of?

Photo by Bas Emmen on Unsplash

The Solution

People have to take responsibility for their role in this situation and become more mindful of the garbage that they create. We change, the system has to change with it. We make demands, the system has to adapt to our will. Blue bins are not the answer, they mask the problem. They enable this unsustainable practice to continue.

Eliminating the use of plastic in every possible manner and reusing and caring for the plastics that we do have IS the answer.

Here are a few ideas

Take a few steps in the right direction. Each step empowers us to become more in control and more passionate about safeguarding our world.

Buy in bulk using your own recycled bags and containers. You can take your glass jars to stores and have them weighed before you fill them.
Buy used items that don't come with packaging.
Make it yourself. Condiments, yoghurt, bread, soda, juice ... all kinds of things are easy to learn and it takes no time to become passionate about making them. It's one of those things that once you get a taste there's no turning back.
If you don't want to make it yourself buy it from a farmer market or someone local. You can even return the jars.
If you sell home-made preserves offer a discount on the next jar when they return your reusable jars. You'll save money because buying new jars cuts into your profits.
Support manufacturers that use either no packaging or completely biodegradable packaging.
Don't buy things you don't need. Use things until they wear out or stop working. Don't be such a consumer! I really mean it. Less spending makes people happier and less stressed out.
Support local when it comes to purchasing fruit, vegetables and meats. Request that they use paper packaging rather than plastics (you can even supply your own packaging).
Wear natural fibre clothing such as cotton and hemp. Avoid fleece and and other fabrics that use plastics because that stuff is getting into our oceans and lakes!
Cook meals from scratch. You'll thank yourself in a few months when you start realizing your food tastes better than anything you can buy in a package or order in a restaurant. You'll soon be able to whip up a meal faster than waiting for delivery.
Reuse all the containers that you do end up with. Many things can be used for seed starting, gardening, organization etc. They'll be around long after we are gone.

Out of sight - out of mind. Let's stop this in it's tracks and become mindful.

You can also find me at: walkerland.ca

Photo credit: unsplash

Let's Stop Drowning Ourselves In Garbage & Recycling Is A Sham.