Green Rage (#3)

Contrary to what you may think what the Green Rage may mean, I actually mean something else. If you were thinking I'm employing some kind of association with a jealous rage, but this entry is a lot more boring than that (though I must admit to the fact that I do have bouts of jealousy here and there).

I'm talking more along the lines of the third in the 7 Things You may not Know about Me.

I try very hard to suppress how pretty adamant I am about being environmentally sound.

I think I'm at my worst is when I personally think I'm failing in the cause.

Don't get me wrong...I think I'm doing a decent job, but if I had my way, I'd be drinking water out of a PBA-free water bottle I'd take with me everywhere so I can put my drinks in there, along with reusable utensils and eating surfaces, particularly ones that can store food should I have any leftovers (because I do not like throwing away food, either). Yes, I do think when I go out to eat, if I know I'm taking something home, I do consider taking my own Tupperware with me.

Sure, recycling is good, but it takes a lot of energy consumption in order to re-process something. Reusing is better, with a particular emphasis towards upcycling, which is most often miscategorized as "recycling." Of course, the best thing is to reduce, which means trying to consume a little less.

I could get more detailed about it, but I don't know...I find it rather strange or crazy myself. I suppose, trying to save the earth is not such a crazy thing, but maybe I'm just a little shy about trying to tell people to try doing better, especially when I can't fare so well myself.

Here's another example:

At my first real job, doing the whole Office Space way of life, I had a collection of different kinds of cups and bottles behind my computer monitor. I did have my UCLA Library mug, which I used for coffee and tea, but I also had a bunch of other cups, used for various things at various times. The reason they were all there is because I had used them at one point or another, and kept them knowing full well that the things had another use or to out of them before they had to be thrown away completely. Unfortunately, I did have to throw some away from time to time, because the collection would be on the brink of getting out of control, but I thought it was good trying to delay the inevitable for even a little bit.

Okay, that's it. I could go on forever. If you're ever face-to-face with me, you could bring up the subject, and I could go on and on about how I sometimes obsess over trying to reuse or recycle a myriad of things, how giddy I get when I get a frozen dinner and see that most of those plastic trays are now made of more commonly recyclable plastics (check with your city's standards to see which plastics they recycle - not every city can process all plastics).

You can also double check with your city if it recycles styrofoam. Yes, it's a little friendlier now, but oftentimes, the process needed to recycle the stuff is still pretty gnarly, so trying to reduce is key.

Okay! I'm going to STOP!