Carolyn Grant
Alright, the holidays are over and we are now well into the first full week back to work. The tree has been taken down and sits on my back deck for removal. The company is gone — glad to have them, not entirely sorry to see them go. Now we only have to get through the long, long stretch of winter, mercifully broken this year by the new BC Family Day holiday on February 11, 2013.
So as I peruse my house — now back in a certain order — I am satisfied. Until my eyes fall on the recycling piling up in my carport.
Yes there it sits — three bags of evidence on just how naughty I was this holiday season. Sidebar: I do not claim I was naughty all on my own. I had help, it's just that the evidence has been left at my home for me to deal with. Although I was plenty naughty.
The recycling is neatly bagged, but uncounted. It sits there, mocking me.
I want to recycle. I do. It's just that I don't want to count it. Not just don't want to — hate to. I hate counting those bottles. There is a list longer than my arm of things I'd rather do than sort and count recyclable bottles and cans. I'd rather clean my bedroom closet and I hate doing that. I'd rather wash walls and I don't think I have to tell you how much I enjoy doing that. I do not want to count bottles.
I'd gladly give my stock of recyclables to whatever community group is doing a bottle drive, but they don't have a lot of those in the winter, and even in the summer they don't hit every neighbourhood.
So here is a new year's wish. I wish that there was a communal bin for returnable bottles — a place where we could dump our bags of evidence... er, recycling. Local charities and organizations could take charge of the bin or go into partnership to make sure it was always emptied. And they keep the proceeds. It's a win win situation. Less work for bottle drives, less counting for me. More money for Minor Hockey, or Scouts, or any other organization wishing to get involved.
While the messy work of the bottle drive, that is the sorting and counting, would still have to be done, a group at least wouldn't have to cruise around town knocking on doors. They would simply go to the bin, say once every month or so and check the level. If it's full, time to get together a counting party.
There are plenty of charity recycling programs out there to explore and plenty of other communities in Canada have similar programs.
So what do you say, Kimberley and/or Cranbrook? Couldn't we find a way to make something like this happen? I think it could be a great program. I think a lot of local sports organizations and charities would benefit greatly.
As would I.
Meanwhile, those bags are sitting in my carport. Mocking me.
Carolyn Grant is the Editor of the
Kimberley Daily Bulletin