Let's Own It.

 

Holding way too much in my arms and hands, not a finger to spare (I am a huge fan of the lazy man's load - as my husband always tells me), I try to use my foot as the lever to open the door in front of me. After the first few failed attempts I struggle to shift the weight of the many overflowing items in my arms and reach with my elbow. Somehow, almost unexpectedly the door abruptly swings open, I lose the disheveled balance of every item that I was haphazardly clinging to, and one by one they crash to the ground. "Stupid door" is my immediate and gut response. As I look back and chuckle (now), how did I not think that would happen, how can I call anything but my actions "stupid"?  

Despite my newfound clarity, after the fact, it is so hard in the moment to recognize that our own decisions are often what lead to unfavorable outcomes. Frustration, disappointment, embarrassment, and sometimes fear (during larger mishaps)  take over and we feverously search for a quick reason that this situation is just not our fault. Even in my harmless example, it became a campaign to sell why this incident was not my fault. I quickly shared my story and embellish the aspects of the sticky latch, the threshold that we should've fixed months ago, the fact that no one ever helps me, the dogs that were in my way, the next task I was rushing to, and any other "valid" or semi-related items I can conjure up.  These excuses become my truth if I let them. 

The truth is much simpler. Don't carry more than you can manage - simple, yet a semi-deep adage. 

My example is a quick reminder of the developed culture of today. Blame-shifting is a way to ease the burden we are responsible for and help spread out the failure or move it to someone else entirely. Examples of this behavior are everywhere, in every single aspect of our lives from the simple and harmless to the vast and life-altering. 

It is so difficult to just own things; our responsibilities, our failures, and our flaws. 

So what does all this have to do with recycling?  

https://www.wastedive.com/news/big-food-sustainable-packaging-goals-challenges/624351/

The article above delves into "big foods sustainable packaging goals" and if they can actually accomplish what they are aiming for (or, they seem to imply) is it just greenwashing? In the article, they list a mountain of reasons that the goals haven't come together. Some are within the control of the "big food" corporations and others are well outside their wheelhouse. It seems obvious, to me, that there are some BIG market changes that no one could have expected, controlled, or planned for. External factors such as the war in Ukraine, worldwide Pandemic, and Natural disasters led to staffing and economic fallout. So, let's ignore those items and focus on what the "big foods" corporations can control because that is really all they can be held responsible for.  

Better yet, let's focus on what our role in this whole shortfall is (because most of us cannot control or even play much of a role in big corporate decisions, or do we). 

-How much did you recycle in 2021 thus far, how much more could you have recycled?

-How much did you throw away, and why?

- Did you make the extra effort and steps necessary to carry your bottle home with you when the recreational field, concert hall, school, (insert any location) you were at that didn't have a recycling bin?

-Did you call said recreational field, concert hall, school, (insert any location) and ask how you could help to get a recycling bin/program in place? 

-Did you throw non-recyclable/garbage into your recycling bin because you wanted to recycle them but knew that the recycling program "says" it didn't take them. 

-Did you review your product options and weigh what would be left after you were done with the item, and how recyclable is the container? 

-Have you provided your feedback to corporations about how you feel about sustainability and the role that plays in your purchase? 

-Have you researched the brands you purchase and make a decision about the products not only based on whether you like their performance, taste, or look, but also on the company's environmental responsibility stance. 

I am certain that there are many more that I've missed, a list of items that every single consumer, on a very small scale and personal level can do to make a direct impact on the recycling goals of  "big food" brands. 

Everyone has a job that they need to do, to be responsible and committed to. We need to own and accomplish our goals.  We can all play such a larger and more impactful role than we give ourselves credit for. We need to stop waiting and blaming and just own it, that is how real change will happen.