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Dear Helena,
My roommate is really lazy about recycling. She eats yogurt every day and just throws the plastic containers in the trash. I then have to dig them out, wash them, and put them in the recycling bin. I’m afraid if I confront her, it’ll seem like I’m judging her and she’ll get angry. But I don’t want to keep washing her damn yogurt containers. Maybe she has a right to make her own choices and I should just leave her alone. Or is there a polite way I can change her behavior? —Garbage Cop
Dear Garbage Cop,
Asking your roommate to recycle a yogurt pot is not like asking her to sell her car and buy a hybrid. You’re not suggesting she part with cash or even give up extreme amounts of her time. All she has to do is rinse her container and take it to the recycling bin, which probably is no more than a few steps away. So don’t hesitate to address her ecoslacker behavior.
That doesn’t mean you should lecture her about global warming. She is doubtlessly aware of it, and that knowledge isn’t changing her behavior. Instead, concentrate on the specific behavior you want to correct.
The best way to tackle an ecoslacker is to “assume ignorance on their part,” says Thomas Kostigen, coauthor of The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time. For instance, you could simply tell your roommate, “You can actually put yogurt pots in the recycling.” If she is unaware of this, she’ll be pleased to find this out. If she’s tossing the containers in the trash because she’s lazy, then acting like her behavior is due to simple ignorance allows her to save face.
Jason Voigt, a computational linguist at the University of Chicago, suggests going one step further and feigning ignorance yourself, “so as not to appear self-righteous and judgmental.” Voigt’s neighbors dump wine bottles and plastic milk jugs in the trash can he shares with them. “I’ve resolved to tell them about the recycling bins our landlord puts out back under the pretense I was never informed about them after moving in and only discovered them recently.”
Pussyfooting around the issue like this might seem silly. But a diplomatic approach is best. If you’re too admonitory, says Crissy Trask, author of It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living, “you could inspire a backlash.”
Once you’ve got the attention of the ecoslacker, explain exactly what he or she should do with the item. Often when people trash recyclables, they’re aware the item can be recycled, but it’s too much effort for them to figure out how. Josh Handy, an industrial designer for Method, a manufacturer of ecofriendly home cleaning products, says: “I have a five-second rule. If I can figure out where it goes in five seconds, I do it. If not, it goes in the trash.” So when you confront your roommate, Kostigen advises, “break it down step by step.”
If you’re in your home or workplace, you could also adjust your recycling system so it’s immediately obvious where to put what. If you don’t already have them, create labels to clearly show what can and can’t be recycled. Words are OK, says Handy, but “people are much more visual, and pictures would be better.” Also, make sure your recycling bin is roomy. “Big trash cans really make it easy, so you don’t have to empty a tiny bin every other day,” Handy points out.
Finally, feel comfortable tackling your roommate’s trash faux pas. She’s getting off lightly, compared to some. At Method, Handy says, the penalty for ecoslacking is harsh. “If you get busted throwing away something recyclable, you get shamed. The person who catches you will reach into the trash, pull the thing out, show it to you, put it in the right bin, and then give you a look to make you shrivel up. They may even bring up what you did in front of everyone at the Monday morning meeting.”
Table Manners appears every Wednesday. Have a Table Manners question? Email Helena.
The problem I usually see both at work and in the neighbourhood is people putting EVERYTHING in the recycling bin. I had an awkward moment with my boss while she lectured me for trashing something I know for a fact wasn't recyclable in our program. In the end I gave up and put it in the blue bin even though it didn't belong there.
I have two housemates and their partners who have deliberately ruined Earth Hour for me on two separate occasions. I don’t mind if they don’t want to participate in Earth Hour and they can do whatever they want in their own rooms, but when it comes to turning on lights that my friends and I have specifically turned off in the main area and ruining the atmosphere of our Earth Hour party...+READ
I have two housemates and their partners who have deliberately ruined Earth Hour for me on two separate occasions. I don’t mind if they don’t want to participate in Earth Hour and they can do whatever they want in their own rooms, but when it comes to turning on lights that my friends and I have specifically turned off in the main area and ruining the atmosphere of our Earth Hour party intentionally to make some kind of 'anti-environment' stand, it is just pathetic. There were plenty of candles so it is not like it was too dark to see – the lights were completely unnecessary. It’s just like going to someone else’s party and turning the music off. It is one hour per year, why can't they be more considerate? Why are they so hostile towards people who care about the environment? Even if you don't believe in the possibility of Global Warming, you can't dispute that fossil fuels are finite resources. The same goes for recycling – one of these housemates also refuses to recycle, even though he has been told that it is compulsory in this building. He eats baked beans EVERY DAY and throws all the cans in the bin. It is disgusting.-COLLAPSE
I'm having a similar experience, although there's no question of whether or not my roommates KNOW to recycle. I have a recycle and trash bin in my room, but we also have a trash bag in the entrance way that everyone in the apartment uses. For a long time I was using bags I paid for (as broke as I am) to put in the hallway so that my roommates would recycle. I eventually stopped providing bags (I...+READ
I'm having a similar experience, although there's no question of whether or not my roommates KNOW to recycle. I have a recycle and trash bin in my room, but we also have a trash bag in the entrance way that everyone in the apartment uses. For a long time I was using bags I paid for (as broke as I am) to put in the hallway so that my roommates would recycle. I eventually stopped providing bags (I couldn't afford to be buying garbage bags for myself plus my three roommates and all the friends they have over, including the trash they bring). I noticed that the recycling stopped abruptly - things that were clearly recyclable went back in with the trash bag. I'm now kicking around the idea of just using their own bags that they buy as recyclable, but would feel tacky doing this. I can't think of a way to bring this up without sounding like a bitch (especially since I have asked them on a couple of occasions to quiet down, since they habitually stay up until 11 and later on weeknights and are very loud with their friends).
Obviously they know HOW to recycle (they do it - more or less - when I provided the bag), the problem is that they just don't care, and unfortunately I don't know that there's a whole lot I can do about that. But having seen how many bags they quickly and regularly filled up with recyclables, I'm inclined to just be a "dick" and take their own bags and designate them as the communal recycling bags (since, again, I have my own bin and bags in my room).
What's most frustrating is that I attend Arizona State - the first university in the country (probably the world in fact) that offered a School of Sustainability. You can hardly enter a room without there being two options - recyclables and trash. When taking out my trash and recycling, I frequently have to consider which direction I want to go, since going out one hallway leads to one area recycling/trash dumpster and the other direction leads to another. They could not make it easier for us to recycle here, and to NOT recycle at this school essentially equates to being willfully disrespectful of the environment and others, as far as I'm concerned.
The saddest part is that I'm not even what I would consider an "eco-warrior". I care that the planet is being destroyed for practical purposes (it's where we live and we have no other option), but past that, I don't identify with "tree people", per se. I just think it is straight up retarded not to recycle, especially when it couldn't be easier, and, to basically re-iterate my original point, I have no idea how to make my roommates less wasteful.-COLLAPSE
The green movement has become very cult like. Question the validity of An Inconvenient Truth or global warming and you're a pariah. Of course recycling is good and we should encourage each other to do so. However, if we want to save the planet, we should find a way to fix the global economy.
I had a terrible experience related to recycling/roommates. I lived with a roommate who was very messy and quite careless. We shared a large trash can in our kitchen area- and unbeknownst to me, he was throwing a ton of recyclable products in that trash can. We didn't have a recycling bin in our kitchen at the time because our kitchen was tiny, and there was a large recycling can right outside...+READ
I had a terrible experience related to recycling/roommates. I lived with a roommate who was very messy and quite careless. We shared a large trash can in our kitchen area- and unbeknownst to me, he was throwing a ton of recyclable products in that trash can. We didn't have a recycling bin in our kitchen at the time because our kitchen was tiny, and there was a large recycling can right outside the front door of our apt building.
Anyway, because the aforementioned roommate was quite messy and careless, it was often I who took out the trash when the bag was full (not knowing exactly what was in the trash bag, except for the things I threw in there)
I noticed that the superintendent of our building began to treat me quite harshly. He'd linger outside the building and when I would throw out the trash, and then he'd go look through the bag after I had walked away. He'd also stand outside my window in the mornings, where the building's trash cans are and curse and holler and break glass (from the glass recycling bin) as he was bagging up the trash to be left on the curb for the garbage men. Finally one day he left a bag full of garbage outside our front door (in the hallway of the building!) with a note addressed to me only- reprimanding me for not recycling. He also shut our power off for about 5-10 minutes whenever he was particularly pissed (this happened at least once every two weeks). My roommate called him once, playing dumb and saying "strange thing..our power went out..can you look into that?" And the super responded by telling my roommate to "tell your (insulting word) roommate to recycle."
So, was my super an eco-warrior? Or just really pissed that he had to separate the trash from the recycling himself to avoid getting fined by the city?
Just curious if anyone else who lives in an apartment building has had any issues with building managers and recycling?-COLLAPSE
Since when does anyone HAVE to wash someone else's recycling? Or wash anyone else's anything for that matter. Besides which....why would i start washing my own recycling when i've got a OCD individual in wait to jump on my containers as soon as i toss them? She won't stop if you're doing all her work for her.
I try to sort things as much as i can but i admit to occasional laziness in not...+READ
Since when does anyone HAVE to wash someone else's recycling? Or wash anyone else's anything for that matter. Besides which....why would i start washing my own recycling when i've got a OCD individual in wait to jump on my containers as soon as i toss them? She won't stop if you're doing all her work for her.
I try to sort things as much as i can but i admit to occasional laziness in not washing and instead tossing into the regular trash. I use the dishwasher idea regularly.-COLLAPSE
When I go out to Starbucks with a friend and she is about to throw away the recyclable drink or food container because there is no recycling bin, I ask her to give it to me so I can take it home and recycle it. I think you can lead by setting a good example for ecoslackers. Some ecoslackers are not lazy or irresponsible; they are just unaware of the recycling opportunities out there.
In the case...+READ
When I go out to Starbucks with a friend and she is about to throw away the recyclable drink or food container because there is no recycling bin, I ask her to give it to me so I can take it home and recycle it. I think you can lead by setting a good example for ecoslackers. Some ecoslackers are not lazy or irresponsible; they are just unaware of the recycling opportunities out there.
In the case of the roommate throwing out yogurt containers, I would feign innocence and, as I take one out of the trash, say, "Oh, I just learned that these containers are recyclable!" Big smile as I say that.
About washing out yogurt containers:
You will not waste water if you just put the containers in your dishwasher on top of cups and dishes you'd be washing anyway, not taking up space you would have used for cups and dishes. You'd be using only the amount of dishwashing detergent and water you would have used anyway.
If you wash dishes by hand, just leave your yogurt container under the faucet or in the rinse water as you wash your dishes. The containers will be clean enough for recycling without extra water or work on your part.-COLLAPSE
So let me get this straight. The only things she does not recyle are yogurt containers? Get over it.
If it is really important to you and you are sure they can be recycled, ask her to leave the containers in the sink and you will take of them. If she sees you are willing to do that, she might just do it herself.
PlatypusJ, I wondered the same thing at first. Apparently they did. The study was done in a male dorm so the model would demonstrate the behavior in the guy's bathroom. It's in this excerpt: http://books.google.com/books?id=7m9DT4YdrDoC&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=aronson+%22o+leary%22+modeling&source=web&ots=kHjDvJDvnv&sig=vlWIBIwSKjWWtfs8M6Rd9eBjKV4#PPA98,M1
If they have a lid, I tend to re-use my yogurt containers. Of course, instead of wasting plastic and buying the little single ones, I buy a big container and serve myself out of that. The containers are great to re-use to store cold salads and such.
I use less plastic and less water washing them out. it also saves on Tupperware.
Of course, I'm probably now getting deadly toxins leaching out...+READ
If they have a lid, I tend to re-use my yogurt containers. Of course, instead of wasting plastic and buying the little single ones, I buy a big container and serve myself out of that. The containers are great to re-use to store cold salads and such.
I use less plastic and less water washing them out. it also saves on Tupperware.
Of course, I'm probably now getting deadly toxins leaching out of the plastic.-COLLAPSE
We can recycle cardboard at our place and all big boxes must be recycled, but the bf will put fridge packs that held soda cans and the big boxes that held goldfish crackers in the trash, even when he sees me put them in the recycling pile. He told me they don't "have" to be recycled. I told him I didn't mind because it really bugged me and he still didn't seem to get it. Finally I told him it...+READ
We can recycle cardboard at our place and all big boxes must be recycled, but the bf will put fridge packs that held soda cans and the big boxes that held goldfish crackers in the trash, even when he sees me put them in the recycling pile. He told me they don't "have" to be recycled. I told him I didn't mind because it really bugged me and he still didn't seem to get it. Finally I told him it really bugged me and I know to him it wasn't a big deal, but it was to me so if he just put the m on top of the recycling bin I would tear them apart and take them down. This has met with moderate success.
Good luck, but def investigate if her yogurt can be recycled, our condo won't accept any yogurt containers.-COLLAPSE
Jeffreak, what did the shower models do? Shower in front of the rest of the dorm?!
Hmm, the yogurt cup might not be the best example. Like momdqp pointed out, it is not universally recyclable (I can't in my area), so before Garbage Cop confronts the roommate, s/he should have all the facts. I've recycled items that I later found out are not recyclable. The rules are very convoluted and they don't make it easy for you to recycle. Lots of confusion involved, and it's enough to...+READ
Hmm, the yogurt cup might not be the best example. Like momdqp pointed out, it is not universally recyclable (I can't in my area), so before Garbage Cop confronts the roommate, s/he should have all the facts. I've recycled items that I later found out are not recyclable. The rules are very convoluted and they don't make it easy for you to recycle. Lots of confusion involved, and it's enough to make people with the best intentions give up.
Having said that, however, I've "indoctrinated" recycling in my household by constantly pointing out things that are in the regular garbage that shouldn't be and that could be recycled. I'm sure my husband would use another word ("nagging"), but it works so well that he's now even more of a recycling fiend than I am!
Not sure if this tactic would work with people outside of the immediate family though. Hate to say it, but sometimes, depending on the relationship you have with the person, you just have to let go--unless you want to be stuck washing other people's cans all the time.-COLLAPSE
I actually do this kind of work for a living and I'm so glad people are doing something about this. I think one of the keys is to stay positive as much as possible. Understanding but not condoning the behavior makes you a friend rather than an enemy.
Other things that may help:
-I know convenience is one of the biggest problems so making sure that the recycling bin is right next to the trash...+READ
I actually do this kind of work for a living and I'm so glad people are doing something about this. I think one of the keys is to stay positive as much as possible. Understanding but not condoning the behavior makes you a friend rather than an enemy.
Other things that may help:
-I know convenience is one of the biggest problems so making sure that the recycling bin is right next to the trash can make a huge difference.
-Many recycling companies will have a poster with what goes where so look up your vendor's website.
-Modeling behavior helps more than you know. One study showed that people a sign encouraging people to save water in a dorm shower only caused 6% of people to do it. With one person modeling the behavior, it jumped to 49%. With 2, it went up to ~67%.
Good luck!-COLLAPSE
I live in the desert. How much water do you use in washing all these containers? We pay roayally for our water.
I will not wash items to recycle. Fortunately because of the dry conditions we do not have many bugs. So we do not wash. If we are required to wash... forget it.
And I do try to be as "green" as we can be.
I'm compulsive about recycling but I'd be hard pressed to find yogurt containers that are recyclable and I live in an area where most things are. People who put inappropriate things in the recycling bug me more than people who don't recycle! I realize this isn't the point of the article but it was the first thing I thought. Before you confront your roommate, make sure you're right! (it's really...+READ
I'm compulsive about recycling but I'd be hard pressed to find yogurt containers that are recyclable and I live in an area where most things are. People who put inappropriate things in the recycling bug me more than people who don't recycle! I realize this isn't the point of the article but it was the first thing I thought. Before you confront your roommate, make sure you're right! (it's really hard to feel superior when you're wrong).-COLLAPSE
Recycling the yogurt cups may depend upon the recycle number on them and where you live. My town, for example, only accepts plastic with the numbers 1 and 2. The brands of yogurt I eat have the number 5. Sorry, but I buy yogurt based upon the quality inside the container, not the quality of the container. Neighboring towns have their own rules, but they do not accept outsiders' recycling (and you...+READ
Recycling the yogurt cups may depend upon the recycle number on them and where you live. My town, for example, only accepts plastic with the numbers 1 and 2. The brands of yogurt I eat have the number 5. Sorry, but I buy yogurt based upon the quality inside the container, not the quality of the container. Neighboring towns have their own rules, but they do not accept outsiders' recycling (and you can be busted if you are caught leaving "gifts" outside the recycling center).-COLLAPSE