Posts Tagged ‘garbage’

Mangue Seco is about 200 km northeast of Salvador da Bahia. We'll be here for 6 days total. It's wonderful--not much to do but enjoy the mangroves, palms, endless white beaches, fresh fruit, fresh fish, and the best ice cream ever. We do not want to leave. I cannot wait to write more about it! It is hard to get here. You basically have to hire a car and then a small boat takes you to your pousada (inn). Lack of infrastructure has kept this place prestine--for the most part.

While I still have 'net connection, I do have to say that our biggest disappointment is the garbage. Trash collection is haphazard at best. The views are splendid, but the plastic bottles and bags can spoil the mood. Some of it washes ashore from elsewhere, but too much of it is because of the locals. Our innkeeper, Ives, does what he can, but it's an uphill battle. If you're old enough to remember paper straws . . . I wonder what you have to say if I opine that we should bring them back, especially to a precious spot like Mangue Seco.

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I’ve been to most large North American cities, and I have to say Ottawa has one of the more impressive recycling programs.  The city of Ottawa is hard on its citizens:  according to its data, Ottawa residents are in the middle of the pack, behind Halifax and Edmonton but ahead of Calgary and Montreal.  Here’s where I give Ottawa high marks: (more...)

It happened again Wednesday morning, infuriating me:  someone had gone through our garbage overnight, taking about our bottles and cans from the recycling bin . . . and putting all the paper and cardboard in our blue bin into the black trash bin.  Once again, I had to separate my garbage, and I was seething.  I care enough to make sure we recycle far more than we waste, but having to dig my torso into a reeking garbage bin can make a cynic out of anyone. (more...)

Every Tuesday night when I put out my trash cans, I’m clench my teeth when I see the amount of trash that’s going to end up either in the Inland Empire or South Central—or wherever LA’s garbage ends up.

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I grew up in the 70s, and one commercial or PSA I still remember is the “Don’t Be a Litterbug” campaign.  American highways up till then were NASTY.  Just gross.  Despite Lady Bird Johnson’s best effort, many of our country’s roads were strewn with trash. We’ve gotten a lot better.  Oh sure, cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco can’t seem to keep their trash in the cans, but the litter situation has definitely improved . . . Which is why I found London mayor Boris Johnson’s little mishap so amusing . . . admirable, but let’s just face it, trash is a problem, and being afraid of the paparazzi shouldn’t dissuade us from picking up our mess! (more...)