I’m a believer in the power of small actions, collectively done.
I work in a small software company (30 people) in a red state and a distinctly crimson part of that state. As the resident “liberal” this means a certain amount of ridicule, but nothing odious.
In the trash in the break room I saw any number of recyclable items but, I have to admit, was reluctant to try to have it recycled for fear of enduring a period of “Oh, he’s a tree hugging liberal trying to prevent non-existent climate change.”
So months went by when I would furtively take a few of the clean cans (predominantly Red Bulls and diet cokes…this is a software house, after all) and bring them home to our recycling bin.
Two months ago I took the leap and bought a separate trash can, labeled it for recyclables and put it in the break room. WOW! Not only did no one say a ridiculing word but everyone immediately starting putting in their recyclable materials. I take the bags home (2 full bags/week) and have noticed that the 2 regular trash cans, that were routinely full by the end of the week, are now half empty at the end of the week. That much less to go to the landfill.
Two lessons are learned from this experience: first, the general public has embraced the utility of recycling and are willing to make it a part of their routine even if they still question the validity of human effects on global warming; second, there must be many more opportunities to take meaningful, small and collective actions to save energy and protect our world. It gives me a measure of hope.
What stories do you have of a similar nature that others can adopt to keep alive these collective actions?
