Things that make you go Hmmm….

things that make you go hmmm

I’m starting a new series – THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMM for any topic I may come across that I find odd or just plan dumb (in my opinion of course).  I am unsure when the next blog post will be regarding this topic, but every now and then a new ‘Things that make you go hmmmm” blog will appear.  

Our town has switched recycling companies.  We now have a yellow bin and a blue bin. The blue is for paper products and it goes out one week and the yellow is for plastics, which goes out the alternate week.  All of that is find and dandy; easy to understand and follow. What boggles my mind is what cannot be put in the bins as of last week – what is NOT acceptable as recycling:

  • Napkins
  • Paper Towels
  • Pizza boxes
  • Starbucks/Tim Horton cups
  • Take out containers
  • Glass
  • Only shredded paper will be allowed in a recycling bag

The majority of these items were recyclable previously and are major household weekly items for households.  

Where my mind got even more boggled was at our business, where daily we use medical type paper and (because of Covid-19) extra paper towels due to frequent hand washing.   We were not given one of the yellow boxes so I guess businesses are not required to separate the recyclables each week.  We did our normal procedure of putting all paper products in a recyclable bag and put it curbside for pickup.  

When we returned the next day, the bag was still curbside with a sticker note attached. This note stated that we did not dispose of the bag properly.  Quickly, phone call messages were made to our town recycling department as well as the new recycling company that had its contact info on the sticker.  When we received a phone call back, they stated only shredded paper could go in the bags.  Puzzled, we explained that it was paper, but we were unable to shred it.  She said that was unfortunate and that the medical paper and paper towels would then just have to be disposed of in the normal garbage.

NORMAL GARBAGE?????

I’ve been recycling since sometime in the late 1980’s.  Paper products, plastics, and cans all went in the blue box to Recycle – Reuse – Reduce.  Remember the logo? Remember being taught in school about how we can reduce our garbage?  I believe there was even a song about it although that is slipping my mind at the moment. (Found this little jingle although not what I remember)

This just seems backwards to me?  Not only are households no longer able to put in their paper towel, coffee cups, pizza boxes or takeout containers, but businesses; like fitness centers, medical offices, or health care facilities can no longer recycle their medical use paper products.  

Why are we stepping back in time?  I thought we were trying to decrease what gets ‘dumped’ into our landfills?  I thought we were teaching our youth to be mindful of what we throw away?  

Most of these questions are rhetorical.  It is just me asking anyone who is willing to listen (or reads my blog) because it makes me think of… “Things that make you go hmmmm”.  Sometimes life can be strange and authorities will come up with questionable new rules, outlines, or steps to follow, but don’t ever let that stop you from questioning or thinking differently.  Be the leader you were born to be and start following your path to greatness. Question the “Things that make you go hmmm” and if you are able to do something about it,…DO IT!  Change can only happen if you take a chance.  That may be a phone call, a letter, or a simple conversation with a friend.  It’s never too late to make a change.  Little by little and step by step change happens.  Maybe our phone call will make a difference and cause the company to make some variances to their recycling steps.  Who knows? But we took a chance, made the call and voiced our concerns. It was worth a try.  

Have you experienced this in your town? Or do you have a similar experience?  If so, click the link below to email me your experience and how you are handling it.  

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Stay tuned for future “Things that me you go Hmmm”.  

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