Elizabeth Conlon

When you start to get serious about trying to recycle and reducing your waste, you begin to understand how broken up the system is. Recycling is definitely not putting everything in the recycling bin. If I need to recycle the steel in the mini propane tanks for my grill, that is a specific recycling center for hazardous waste. If I need to recycle batteries, I go to Batteries and Bulbs, if I want to recycle broken electronics, that is Best Buy, plastic bags? That is at Winco. I understand how people could get fatigued trying to do the right thing and being sent in different directions all across Portland. Recycling is a lot more than bottles and cans, and for those who are serious about trying to keep chemicals and metals out of the water table by keeping these items out of landfills, there is an investment of time and research. Batteries and Bulbs even requires you to pay them to recycle your batteries. Best Buy requires you to wait in line and a sales associate has to document each piece you are recycling. None of this promotes sustainability and makes trying to be considerate feel like a chore. I still do it though, because I care.

Today I picked up a tofu banh mi on campus, which not only was a vegetarian option, but supported an immigrant owned business, and a campus business.