Talkin' Trash

A Blank Slate

Beginning to write, I spun a yarn in my head of spiritual practice, related it to basketball, and gave witty examples of the fun that is Elgin. Then I scrapped it and started over. Why? Because it was too much, too broad, and no one likes basketball.

I started reading Bill Bryson's Made in America last night. It's a quirky (as only Bryson can be) history of America's version of the English language. The first story Bryson tells is of the first Thanksgiving, which is quite fitting this week. Did you know that the natives that met the Seperatists at their colony spoke English? Well, not fluently, mind you, but the English language in one form or another had been in America for hundreds of years.

I'm telling this story to relate it to the experience of being a BVSer in Elgin. I think our house is pretty darn special, and not because of some new carpet in one bedroom. Our house in the middle of our street has a rich history of volunteers, including a few traditions handed down. Most importantly, through the years there has been wisdom and advice passed down generation to generation on how best to act out the simple, challenging life of a BVSer.

Without the knowledge and effort of past volunteers, we be missing out on so many things:

• Woodmans: a local grower focused grocer that is also employee-owned. It's a bit far to get to, but the prices are worth it.
• Attic parties: the attic at the BVS house is quite large. It is also scary. Which makes it perfect for Halloween parties. Pictures forthcoming.
• Van etiquette: Who knew that parking in a garage eliminates the need for scraping your windshield in the morning? Also, if someone wakes up and decides that they are just too excited for work to contain it, they can start the van early and warm it up for the rest of us!
• Recycling: Our house has, at times, obsessed over this.
• Patience: It is always easy to get upset at housemates for being late in the morning. It's better to wake them up yourself! It's easy to get upset at housemates for not washing their dishes. It's better to wash them for them! It's easy to get upset at housemates for talking loudly in the other room. It's better to talk with them! Most of all, it's better to be patient with each other, for patience is a fruit of the spirit (in the NLT, at least. In the NIV it's "forbearance," which makes me think of student loans.

Of course, with any living organism like a house (quiet, you know what I mean) there is room for change and growth depending on the personalities present. I can easily recall many new ideas that have come up since I moved to Elgin.

• Family Photos: Last year, we took a photo at Christmas time. This year, we are upping the ante. I'm not allowed to give details, but let's just say season's greetings!
• Composting: This isn't really a new idea, since the house has composted in years past, but it was reinstated this summer. This time around, we're trying not to get in trouble with the authorities. Yes, it's smelly, especially if one of us forgets to take our compost outside in the evening.

That last point brings me to the original topic I had in mind. Trash.

Talkin' Trash

According to the Clean Air Council, the average American is pathetic. More specifically,

• (s)he produces 4.39 pounds of trash per day and up to 56 tons of trash per year.
• (s)he throws away 73 plastic bottles every year.
• My personal favorite, (s)he receives more than 26 pounds of junk mail every year. 
• During the holidays, (s)he will produce 30 pounds of trash, 25 of which is wrapping paper and packaging. Gross!

Now, average statistics aren't all you need. For example, the average American also will use 60 disposable diapers each year.Obviously, that doesn't make sense. What does make sense is recycling and composting (good segue, Don!) They are easy, and in most places recycling can be picked up by the trash company. Composting can be more involved but is well worth it, especially if you or someone you know gardens. (I mean, if someone you know gardens who lives nearby and wants to pick up your putrid decaying compost. I would not advise mailing the stuff).

In Elgin, you can recycle any of the following:

• Glass containers
• Aluminum containers
• Aluminium containers for the Brits
• Alumnimum containers for the spelling-impaired
• Cardboard
• Paper (even junk mail!)
• Plastic. Any plastic. Plastic milk jugs. Plastic packaging from electronics. Plastic magazine wrappers. Plastic this. Plastic that. Plastic dog. Plastic cat.
• Batteries
• Electronics
• Anything that looks recyclable
• Anything you think should be recyclable
• Anything that ever touched one of the above
• Jehovah's Witnesses tracts

You can already sense that we recycle a lot. It's true! Add to that the fact that we compost 99% of the food waste we produce, and let it stew for a minute (don't let the compost stew, it smells). We don't produce much "trash" at our house. And all because we have 2 plastic bins: one for recycling and one for composting. It does not take that much effort. 

So I'm pretty proud of our little setup. Anyone interested in taking our compost?

-Don