Give thanks, recycle!

With thanksgiving right around the corner, all Americans should be thankful for what they are fortunate enough to have; and realize that the everyday luxuries we take for granted are having devastating impacts on the health of our planet and our own personal health. It is crucial that we spread awareness of the impact that our everyday actions have on this planet, and hopefully convince people to decrease their energy consumption. Little things that individuals can keep in mind will add up if enough people are persuaded. Unplugging electronics when not in use will save wasted electricity, and reusing and recycling bottles are some small things that every American can participate in. Personally I’ve taken the initiative in my suite to make sure all plastics are recycled and power strips are unplugged at nighttime.
The American lifestyle has evolved into one of mass consumption. Its blatantly obvious just by walking around a town. Advertisements tell us that we aren’t happy because we aren’t eating a cheeseburger or taco or because our iphones don’t have the latest 3g network so we need a new one. Bottled water is a luxury that so many Americans enjoy, we spend 10 billion dollars a year on it. I personally find this number outrageous. If everyone bought a brita water filter and their own water bottle, the amount of energy saved would be enormous. Not only would we be saving energy but cutting down on polluting our planet as well. Some companies have started giving incentives for employees who bring in their reusable water bottle or show other ways to cut back on energy consumption which I find to be a great idea. I think that more incentives should be given on the local level to expand on these ideas.
The amount of plastic bottles wasted and not recycled from my suite alone this semester is probably enough to start its own landfill; I would not be surprised if this was the case for many other suites on campus. Recycling is a sure way to decrease energy consumption and pollution, but we need people to realize the importance of doing so. One possible ideas for campuses across the country is to see who’s students can recycle the most plastic. Turning it into a competition may increase awareness and participation, and some sort of reward would give the school a sense of accomplishment. Recycling isn’t fun and it takes some conscious effort to sort trash, so people typically wont do it on their own.
So on this thanksgiving, give thanks by recycling!