Garbage Recycling Co-op

[Mike Peterson]

I just read recently that garbage collection companies and public authorities are cooperating to keep people from stealing and recycling garbage. Isn't that absurd? "DON'T TOUCH MY GARBAGE!"

So they're saying that it's better to treat garbage as private property and a proprietor's source of revenue as opposed to letting everyone recycle it as a resource unto itself, returning its wealth back into society in a much more efficient manner.

How about starting a garbage recycling co-op where 'customers' are people who decide to opt out of service with a traditional collection firm and become more self-reliant. This way, people are responsible for their own garbage rather than throwing money away, benefitting only a few people who are self-interested.

Mike

[MsTerry]

Were you thinking about making your front yard available as a collection point for usable materials?


I just read recently that garbage collection companies and public authorities are cooperating to keep people from stealing and recycling garbage. Isn't that absurd? "DON'T TOUCH MY GARBAGE!"

So they're saying that it's better to treat garbage as private property and a proprietor's source of revenue as opposed to letting everyone recycle it as a resource unto itself, returning its wealth back into society in a much more efficient manner.

How about starting a garbage recycling co-op where 'customers' are people who decide to opt out of service with a traditional collection firm and become more self-reliant. This way, people are responsible for their own garbage rather than throwing money away, benefitting only a few people who are self-interested.

Mike

[Mike Peterson]

Absolutely not.

But a co-op could figure out ways to accomplish this without becoming a profit motivated corporation, which is what a 501c3 nonprofit can achieve.

I probably don't have the time to do this but I thought I'd throw the idea out there. I believe that a Garbage Recycling nonprofit has great potential and would probably work. But like all opportunities none will come to fruition until someone or some group takes the first step.

Depending on the industry, a well organized nonprofit can replace a for profit entity and often get the job done a whole lot better. This is especially true in areas where there is tool little profit or none to be had and a government or nonprofit entity is the only way to fill the void.

There are great resources and knowledge for recycling all kinds of things and one great place to get this valuable information is at Real Goods in Hopland, California. It's a fantastic outlet of energy saving alternatives as well, including products that they sell, not just information.

Recycling is not just an outstanding idea, it's a necessity and the traditional for-profit model of garbage collection companies aren't even close to filling the needs of today's society.

Thanks for your contribution.

Mike



Were you thinking about making your front yard available as a collection point for usable materials?

[mykil]

Someone has been hitting my recycle can every week for the last few months! the day before garbage day someone walks on my deck and completely empties my can! Now that is absurd! LOL I am not sure how to take this. Are they getting close to stealing something else of value? Are they really that brave to walk right on my deck and empty the can into whatever is is they empty it in? Should I feel uneasy? Should I just let in go knowing someone might be making a living doing this? hmmmm, All those thoughts and more have went through the brain in the last few weeks. I have done nothing to prevent this, in my opinion it is more like more power to them as long as nothing else seems to disappear! anywayz...:hmmm: