http://waukeganpl.org/taxonomy/term/166611/0 en http://waukeganpl.org/go-green/friend-brings-over-trash <P>In thinking back to all that may have started me on being more “green” conscious at home I would have to say it all started when a friend brought over a recycling bin that he got from trash picking.&nbsp; It is kind of ironic that a receptacle that is used to prevent items going into the trash was in fact in the trash.&nbsp; Before you jump to any conclusions let me say that simply getting a recycling bin was not all it took for me to start recycling.&nbsp; After my friend gave me the recycling bin the bin sat on my porch for over two months unused.&nbsp; One day during that two month period, my friend came over and asked if I had started using the bin and I told him I hadn’t.&nbsp; He asked, why not?&nbsp; I told him, I don’t know what I can recycle.&nbsp; He then proceeded to tell me examples of items that are recyclable.&nbsp; Now with some knowledge of what I could recycle I still did not begin recycling.&nbsp; It is hard to explain why I was hesitant to do something that is truly beneficial for the planet.&nbsp; Perhaps, I thought it would be too much of a hassle having to use two different receptacles for my trash, or maybe I event felt a little foolish about recycling.&nbsp; In retrospect I admit those two thoughts as well as others prevented me from recycling.&nbsp; On a second occasion when my friend was visiting he asked if I had started recycling and I still told him I had not.&nbsp; Once again he asked, why not?&nbsp; This time I told him I wasn’t sure if I had curb side recycling and the bin I had was not even issued for Waukegan.&nbsp; His response was, put out the bin and see if it gets taken.&nbsp; His suggestion was a simple one, yet one that changed the way I perceive trash from that day forth.&nbsp; Shortly afterwards I took my friends suggestion and placed the bin on the curb, and to my surprise a recycling truck came by and took everything in the bin.&nbsp; I had started recycling at home, and it turned out to be simpler than I had expected.&nbsp; As I mentioned in my previous blog it is small steps that have added up to make me more “green” conscious, and this was the first small step I took at&nbsp;home.&nbsp;</p> David recycling Wed, 02 May 2012 13:46:37 +0000 Rose C 305756 at http://waukeganpl.org http://waukeganpl.org/go-green/wow-i-am-turning-greenand-i-it <P>Just a year ago, I never took stock in the idea of “Going Green.”&nbsp; There was nothing in my lifestyle that prompted me to consider “Going Green.”&nbsp; To me the words green, sustainable, and even recycle meant nothing.&nbsp; I was comfortable throwing all my waste in a trash can.&nbsp; I told myself: “I don’t have a recycling bin, so I can’t recycle.”&nbsp; Sometimes I would use a recycling bin at a store I was at, with emphasis on sometimes.&nbsp; Now, the idea of “Going Green” is taking a strong hold of my conscience, and when I look around I think about how much waste can be recycled.&nbsp; When I am at a store I seek out a recycling bin.&nbsp; If the store doesn’t have any recycling bins I wonder: “Why doesn’t this store recycle?”&nbsp; I find myself grimacing when I toss something in a trash can which is a far cry from my mentality a year ago.&nbsp; For me “Going Green” was, is, and will continue to be a process.&nbsp; Like many things in life change starts with a simple step.&nbsp; Whenever, I take on something new I tell myself: “You always got to start somewhere.”&nbsp; Now, in keeping with being “green” I recycle as much as possible and even compost.&nbsp; I wish to use this blog to show the small steps that have added up to make me more “green”&nbsp;conscious.&nbsp;</p> <P>&nbsp;</p> David green recycling Wed, 02 May 2012 13:42:31 +0000 Rose C 305755 at http://waukeganpl.org