Instructions?

So many of us are ecstatic that recycling in our neighborhood is improving.  Adding glass is a huge plus.  And  it will be less physically taxing for those of us who have been dragging exceptionally heavy bins of paper to the curb, as rolling bins are utilized.

Many neighbors, however, did not read the instructions about relinquishing our old bins, and starting the automated pick-up on a different day.  Just because the new bins were present, it didn't mean that they were immediately available for use.

We have become so accustomed to seeing and accommodating new things that we don't always stop to read the instructions.  This was a reminder to me that multiple modes of communication are important when a big change is afoot.

My Trash (Recycling) is Another's Treasure

My family razzes me a bit with my interest in putting unwanted or unneeded items into the hands of others who can use them.  Yes, I've plucked many recyclable items from the wastebasket.  And, I've never regretted, but often rejoiced, at giving items new life at Goodwill and Dress for Success.

My best friend brings her magazines to me. And, after enjoying them, I love passing them on to others.

Perhaps the least expected recyclables are canceled stamps.  Because of my friend's collection, I notice postage on all incoming mail, and have alerted others to save and share these oft overlooked delivery tickets.
And, this makes me far more aware of  the array of postage options.

Many of us are incredibly blessed.   A double blessing inures when we share our bounty.

Shred, Recycle and Nourish

There are many experiences that excite us, and Comerica Bank's First Shred Day Houston event on April 6 exceeded my expectations by every measure.  This event originated in Michigan, migrated to Dallas 3 years ago and debuted in Houston last Saturday.  Comerica Bank partnered with Iron Mountain to offer free shredding and recycling. We partnered with Houston Food Bank to encourage grateful recipients of secure shredding and recycling to contribute food to Houston Food Bank   Houston delivered beautifully on all fronts!  We welcomed 1,757 cars, shredded and recycled over 103,000 pounds of paper (a mere 8,000 pounds shy of the Guinness record) and collected 7,276  pounds of food (which will provide 5,597 meals) and raised $6,842.70 in monetary donations (which will provide 20,528 meals for hungry Houstonians).

Each of us has the opportunity to make a difference for others every day.  I'm thrilled that I had a chance to be part of the team that helped prevent identity fraud, kept over 50 tons of paper out of landfills and provided the equivalent of more than 26,000 meals for our hungry neighbors.

Rubber Band Balls

We now have a rubber band ball that is larger than a softball.  Edgar started it, and I've kept it going.  It's wonderful to have an automatic destination for the many rubber bands that arrive around the mail packets that our friendly mail carrier delivers.  And there's a quick place to turn when a rubber band is needed.

We usher at church every 9 weeks and encounter rubber-banded stacks of service bulletins each time we are on call.  Nine weeks ago, I started a rubber band ball with the discarded rubber bands that had accumulated in the drawer of the entry table.  Yesterday, when we were on duty again, I was pleased to find that my golf ball sized rubber band ball had not been discarded.  However its size had not increased, and from the dozen or so strays to be added, it was apparent that many rubber bands had been discarded. 

It will be fun to see if this simple little green experiment is any bouncier eight weeks from now.

Rubber Band (Wo)man

How often we discount the value of staples until they are unavailable.  I've seen so many rubber bands abandoned and tossed into the trash.  As an ultimate recycler this pains me.  I love achieving multiple uses for available resources. 

I actually use very few rubber bands.  Staples and paper clips fulfill most of my needs.  However my rubber band consciousness was heightened when Edgar started a rubber band ball.  His ping pong ball sized starter project has grown to a grapefruit sized bouncer.  It's been fun to contribute to this growing bouncing ball. 

In addition to the satisfaction of knowing that these rubber bands won't be trashed, I've enjoyed another family visual for recycling.  And I love the reality that rubber bands are the ultimate example of stretching without losing our identity.  So another identity I'll readily embrace is rubber band (wo)man.

Who's in Charge?

There's nothing like spring cleaning to make us assess our blessings and the required care and feeding of our possessions. I finally understand why some older friends choose to downsize.  The daily, weekly, monthly and annual maintenance required for things we own can feel like these objects own us.  We need to ask ourselves, at least annually, if we still derive enjoyment from high maintenance things in our lives.

We need to keep things that give us pleasure, benefit or positive expectation.  If we can't anticipate any of these positive possibilities, why keep these possessions?

I know that my continual recycling of things I no longer need creates benefits for others who will enjoy them and will give new life to these items.

I choose to be in charge!

Recycling

We are fortunate to have curbside recycling in our neighborhood.  It amazes and distresses me how much we offer for recycling every two weeks.  But it pleases me to know that our junk mail, plastic containers, newspapers, shredding and aluminum cans are being recycled.   We've almost eliminated plastic water bottles, with our use of filtered water and reusable water bottles.

Because I work for Sterling Bank, our sensitive information must be destroyed.  However, I receive much more non-sensitive information at the office that can be recycled.  I keep a separate box in my office that I fill and take to a non-profit recycling center adjacent to our office.

We take clothes, shoes and household items that we no longer need to Goodwill or Dress for Success.  And toiletries are always welcome at the Way Station at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church.  The Houston Food Bank distributes our contributed food and highly leverages monetary donations.

One of my mottoes has long been, "Out of my life and into yours."  When we share our un-needed blessings with others, we all reap the benefit.