gnukid - 11-28-2009 at 09:32 AM
Here is a flyer from a community effort to improve the neighborhood through localized scheduled recycling of plastics and cans, litter clean-up and
fun celebrations with classes for example in composting and planting.
Instead of complaining about the problems, we put energy into improvement, this is an effort to "do it ourselves" and "benefit the community".
In only a short time, cans, plastics and garbage have been changed from worthless into something considered an opportunity, which has resulted in a
clean space, new fields for soccer and volleyball and tons of new seedlings sprouting up.
Now all garbage is divided into organic and non-organic with separate cans, organic is composted in a variety of methods (which is very valuable to
us) cans earn money for sports gear and the garbage has been reduced.
This program is something we are proud of participating in and its changed our neighborhood not only esthetically but it gives us a reason to have a
celebration once a month too.
I am posting the flyer here as a template or example of something that is working, at least in this moment.
[Edited on 11-28-2009 by gnukid]
shari - 11-28-2009 at 09:38 AM
so nice to finally see some recycling and eco education happening...thanks for your positive input and helping your barrio...is there a recycling
center near you? I sure wish the government would set one up here....there is a new government program to clean up our village but all the hundreds of
costales of basura just go to the dump.
gnukid - 11-28-2009 at 10:03 AM
There are many places to sell aluminio and metals in La Paz and of course the trucks will come to you too, the plastics are more difficult to
recycle-especially those which are not marked as recyclable (are any truly recyclable?) But generally by recycling the cans and metal then separating
plastics from organics, we have very little garbage left.
Compost is anything organic including things like egg shells, crab shells, fish bones etc... and either buried or put into a drying bag then buried.
The remaining garbage must be dealt with in a traditional manner, gathering it and burying it in a dump maintained with a tractor. Here the city comes
by twice a week so that reduces exposure of waste to animals and bugs reducing our risk of infection.
Being aware of the problem with garbage especially plastics helps us make decisions about what we buy and how we use it, so if possible we actually
keep and reuse the plastics and buy as few plastic and paper products as we can. Using wash rags really reduces waste of paper napkins and paper
towels and saves money for example.
Generally, this effort means you should carry cloth bags for shopping and use containers or bags for gathering garbage at the beach etc...
Of course there are many philosophical arguments about each of these aspects, such as are bottles better than cans? These are great topics for
discussion among children and adults without clear answers though the general result is awareness.
What is absolutely amazing is, a simple effort has resulted in fun and profits turned into sports gear and massive beautification and community
building clean-up in a very short time. It has been easy, of course not everyone joined up but those who did are having lots of fun, now we have
cilantro, basil, tomatoes, corn, sunflower, beans, lettuce, peppers, etc... growing everywhere in gardensm on rooftops, in hanging pots and plastic
containers.
woody with a view - 11-28-2009 at 10:06 AM
good job, Gnu!
gnukid - 11-28-2009 at 10:13 AM
I am just playing along!
Now off to the Paella contest on the Malecon!
here's photos from our celebration party!
[Edited on 11-28-2009 by gnukid]
wilderone - 11-28-2009 at 10:15 AM
Wonderful - I hope the success of this effort will quickly spread and become the norm for most towns. Good work.
Mexitron - 11-28-2009 at 11:52 AM
Nice job!
wessongroup - 11-28-2009 at 02:34 PM
Thanks for sharing.... good story and good ending