Recycling and Enlightenment

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“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

Seattle has great recycling. I know that’s probably not on the list of things that makes you want to come visit but I think it’s pretty cool. We don’t have to sort things into separate bins for aluminum, plastic and cardboard anymore and it’s free.

Also in 2015, Seattle declared that food waste was no longer okay to put in the garbage. They improved the composting capabilities so that food waste can be put in our yard waste bins for weekly curbside pickup service. The estimate was that a third of food in America is thrown away. When put in garbage, it rots and produces methane but if composted, it can become rich material to facilitate growth.

Here’s the complication – it makes it awkward when we travel. We’ve been on Whidbey Island for a week. One of my favorite places in the world. But they don’t have composting and they don’t pick up recycling.

To be fair, there are big garbage dumpsters at the place we are staying so there’s plenty of space to just throw everything in to go out with the garbage service. Except that I can’t do it – and none of my Seattle friends can either. We make our little piles of recyclables and create schemes to haul them away.

I find this incredibly hopeful. Just like the Maya Angelou quote for this post. Because as we up our game, whether it be in how we dispose of things, or our relationships to others and the world, it becomes very hard to go back.

Isn’t it interesting that when you stumble on enlightenment, that you can’t unsee it? Perhaps this is a stretch but I’m recycling the analogy – it’s kinda like self-awareness. Once I notice that I see something through a lens of fear, greed, or selfishness, it’s harder to maintain that lens.

It means that when we know better, we do better. Also, that progress can be sticky and have an impact. We just need to keep upping the game.

(featured photo from Pexels)

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram @wynneleon

I host the How to Share podcast, a podcast about collaboration – in our families, friendships, at work and in the world.

I also co-host the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast, an author, creator and storytelling podcast with the amazing Vicki Atkinson.

68 thoughts on “Recycling and Enlightenment”

  1. What a great post to read the first thing on Monday morning. As I was reading, thoughts came into my present saying, “I can’t go back.”. Whenever I observe life being lived on “autopilot” it no longer fits with the way I choose to live and be. I love Maya Angelou’s quote, it’s become a sort of mantra for me. Have a great week Wynne.

    Liked by 4 people

  2. I sure agree with the sentiment. But I still haven’t fully recovered from learning a few years ago that most plastic recycling in North America gets sent to Asian countries on very large barges, because it’s cheaper. Out of sight, out of mind shouldn’t be good enough. Sigh.

    Liked by 4 people

  3. I know what you mean Wynne. Over here in Cheshire, UK we do much of the same but it’s hit and miss country wide dependent on the specific local councils. I love the way in which you always manage to reflect on the wider implications to our lives though. So useful! I love the quote too. 😊

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  4. It is a hopeful message. Our Chicago suburb also helps with voluntary composting and takes affirmative public positions on behalf of the national tragedy of unwanted humans. If you follow the news this morning you will read about the Governor of Illinois and what he has done on behalf of preserving democracy. Thanks, Wynne.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. It’s true that when we travel we have to adapt to new recycling systems (if any, depends on where you go) and for me it’s weird if I don’t find a dedicated bin for plastics, paper and glass. For “wet trash” (that’s how we call it here) we started a couple of years to put it separately. When the local government started to inform citizens about the system the also gave aways bins for free, to facilitate the “wet” recycling”. They also organized an event and that’s where I found out what Bokashi was. It’s an amazing process that converts food waste and similar organic matter into a soil amendment which adds nutrients and improves soil texture. And it differs from traditional composting methods. I don’t do it because I live in an not very big apartment, so I want to avoid another bin. Maya Angelou’s quote is fantastic!

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    1. Bokashi sounds amazing. I love that your local government gave away the bins for free. Love hearing that these efforts are worldwide. I know it’s not everywhere but it gives me hope that the tide is going up! Thanks, Cristiana!

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  7. “Isn’t it interesting that when you stumble on enlightenment, that you can’t unsee it?” . . . thanks for the ‘uncomfortable’ reminder Wynne . . . I’m gonna’ go grab my V-8 juice can back outta’ the paper trash bin I just hastily just tossed it in.
    Keep on recycling . . . our planet deserves and needs it., and . . .

    Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!

    Liked by 2 people

  8. …”schemes to haul them away…” your recyclables, that is…not the kids…wanna be clear!
    I love that phrase — it reminds me of the grand idea of making “good trouble”. Go, Wynne! 🥰

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  10. I’ve been on the road a lot lately and seen some different ways that different places are making an impact on our world. it’s not that we can’t see it, it’s that maybe we might stuck. In Europe all Starbucks restaurants in France and the Netherlands use compostable cups for cold and hot beverages! Also, I noticed this past weekend in Boston it was much easier to find recycling and trash receptacles as I explored the city. But our waste facility at the lake in Michigan doesn’t accept glass containers she we have to pack them or toss them…. change takes time and we are making progress. I am hopeful. Peace and happy Monday!

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  11. Does it help you to know that much (most?) of what you put in your recycle bin just winds up in the landfill anyway? I suppose that might not be true for Seattle, but it’s true for the US in general and I’m certain it’s true where I live. This hefty chunk of cynicism allows me to bypass recycling when it’s just too hard to do. Define hard? I’m not going to listen to clanking bottles and cans in the back of the car for 8 hours on the way home from vacation. Yes, I recycle and compost with the best of them, but I don’t sweat it when I can’t. Compared to national debt, global heating, and an administration hell-bent on white-washing america, the handful of soda cans I didn’t recycle last week as I traveled up and down the east coast is small potatoes. Bracing myself for angry responses.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. No angry responses here, Jeff. You’re right – there are bigger issues and the system is far from efficient. But I think it’s heartening to see any movement – even if it’s incremental. Progress over perfection. As for the bottles – those are the ones you give to someone else to drive home. Or maybe leave them on the doorstep of the local public waste utility to make a point 😉 But seriously – sometimes it isn’t doable and we live with that until the system improves.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. I read your post today Wynne and it reminded me of the phrase “and a child shall lead them.” Children really do help us grow with the times. Our recycling efforts globally might not be up to Seattle’s standards, but thankfully our children really are leading the way!

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    1. That’s so true! And it’s funny to think that Miss O and Mr. D were born into a world where we didn’t throw food into the garbage. That perspective makes me realize that progress is happening. Thanks, Brian!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. I like that you/we can and are doing all our parts to make this world a better place, Wynne. Hopefully the rest of the world catches up with the more sophisticated and humane way of waste management!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. It’s been a few decades since I was in Seattle, but my impression at the time was that it was remarkably clean for a big city. I decided to ask AI if this was still true. Here was the response:

    AI Overview

    Seattle has a mixed reputation for cleanliness. While it’s known for its efforts to maintain cleanliness through programs like Seattle Public Utilities’ Clean City initiatives, and actively engages volunteers in neighborhood cleanups, it also faces challenges related to homeless encampments, discarded needles, and other forms of waste

    Liked by 1 person

  19. The quote is pretty awesome. We definitely need to do the best we can and continue to improve. Iowa has a great recycling program, but Illinois (at least where I live) not so much. I restarted my compost project this month now that I finally have the right tool to stir it. We’ll see what happens.

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  20. once you are aware and live it, you can’t unsee it. and when you are in different circumstances you find a way to make it happen, even if it’s using baby steps.

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  21. “Because as we up our game, whether it be in how we dispose of things, or our relationships to others and the world, it becomes very hard to go back.”

    No truer statement, Wynn. It becomes very hard to go back. As you decided to do, we must keep moving forward with progress in hopes that others will continue moving forward too.🙏🏽💕

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Wynne, I love this so much. It’s so true that once you start doing better (with trash or life stuff), it’s hard to go back. Totally cheering for those little recycling piles and the big inner shifts too.

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  23. It warms my heart to hear of the effort you’re willing to put in to save waste from the landfill. We’re very fortunate to live in a community with excellent recycling and food waste programs. But now the provincial government is involved which is a big step backwards. 🙁

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Oh my, I relate. We look for places to recycle when we’re on trips. Fortunately, in the LA hotel there was a recycling bin. But the compostables did trouble me. In Madison, we have to pay for a compost service and we choose to do it. Our city needs to take Seattle and Minneapolis’ cue.

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  25. I was pleased when we moved to our current home that this midwestern city takes every plastic with a triangle to recycle, as well as glass, tin, aluminum, paper, and cardboard. Our previous location was more limited in what they’d accept. At the other end of the spectrum is the small town where our younger son and his wife live. NO recycling! / Love your statement of wisdom and hope, Wynne: “When we know better, we do better.” May that be the case in matters even more important than recycling.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Ah, isn’t that interesting about locale. I love your closing comment, Nancy! May that be the case in matters even more important than recycling!

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  26. I’ve spent weeks with my kids in the Bay Area and they have composting too, of course. It hasn’t hit Arizona and with temperatures over 100 degrees it might be a smelly prospect. If I have food items to throw out in garbage, I freeze them until trash day. Otherwise the whole side of our yard smells.

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  27. My daughter lives in TN. and I don’t think they do composting, or even basic recycling. It’s sad that not all states are on the same page. All we can do is our small part. I love your attitude, Wynne! 💞

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  28. You guys recycle food waste too?! That’s huge!! I hope other cities follow your lead. I totally hear you about not being able to go backwards- but I wish it applied to our politics as well 😅

    Liked by 1 person

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