Garbage Glitters – Salvage, Reuse, Recycle

Compost, recycle, reuse. Even in a flailing economy the obsession to shop for more is pandemic. Resident’s are paying $60 or more  for waste and disposal… maybe you’ll think twice about our tons of dumping.  www.LiveGreenDream.com has tips for families to go green.    I haul umpteen bags of clothes to the mission or Goodwill, books, trinkets. But that doesn’t assuage the insatiable desire for more, new, better, bigger that is perpetrated daily in ads that reek havoc in our psyche. Following the herd consumptions, to fit in, not to be left out, or to look cool -is a  feeble ego-image attempt to build self-esteem.  Stuff doesn’t fill up an emotional hole, nor does stuffing our bodies with excessive comfort food. Self worth is truly another issue, but the connection to needing something material outside of our self to feel whole is illusionary, a temporary fix, and disappointment.

What we have forgotten: When anthropologist, Sara Harper was in the rainforest she discovered there was no such thing as garbage. The villagers took a tin can she discarded and turned it into a lamp.  When she tossed a rotten tomato into a grove of coffee trees, a woman ran to retrieve it. “But it’s rotten!” she cried, pointing to the disgusting worms that were crawling in and out of the dark and bitter spots of rot. “There’s nothing on it that’s edible!”  ”But the seeds are still good!” the villager scolded her, “Why would you throw away perfectly good seeds? People need food here.

A shopping list that is well planned saves money, time, and food waste. Left over’s from a meal can be delicious mixed with other food choices. Creating meals as a family affair is a great teaching of  team play, bonding, responsible spending and consumption. Parents, learn to say ‘no’ to every toy or gadget children want. Have a garage party with neighbor and friends and trade toys, books, clothes,etc. Have creative projects, repurposing a toy, make collages, instigate the imagination

Green Lesson: someone else’s garbage, refuse, compost, rubbish, junk, waste is another’s treasure,  usable, and sustainable.

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