Ok, so at this point everyone pretty much agrees that there are some issues with the environment that are going to keep escalating if we continue our current rate of consumption. So the way I see it is that there is one question we need to answer:
What will you do?
I think the answer here is very simple. As The Green Guy pointed out previously every little bit helps. If you sit back and think about the choices you make, it can truly make a difference. My personal thoughts are start small, very small. Maybe next time you drop in the convenience store you ask them to not bag your purchase. What about walking the couple of blocks to the store instead of driving? Maybe even support a company that is trying to make a difference! It is these small tasks that multiplied by your lifetime would greatly reduce your own impact on the environment.
Maybe you decide to start (or step up your ) recycling. I know that my wife drinks at least 3 cans of soda per day. That equates to over 1,000 aluminum cans per year that she consumes. If we were not avid recyclers these cans would just sit in a landfill and take longer than our lifetime to decompose. All for something that was only for temporary satisfaction.
Did you know?
Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy that would be required to mine bauxite ore and extract alumina; the raw materials needed to manufacture aluminum.
- Activities guide to solid Waste and Recycling (1991) Sacramento County Department of Solid Waste Management
Recycling aluminum results in 95% less air pollution and 97% less water pollution than producing aluminum from natural resources.
-A Week With Waste (1994) California Integrated Waste Management Board
To make a ton of aluminum from raw materials, we have to treat and dispose of 3,290 lbs. of red mud, 2,900 lbs. of carbon dioxide, 81 lbs. of air pollutants and 789 lbs. of solid wastes.
-MOBIUS Curriculum: Understanding the Waste Cycle (1992) Browning-Ferris Industries
So now I leave it to you to decide what you are willing to do to help out our planet. Leave a note in the comments about the small steps you take that will end up making a big difference!
