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BANG FOR THE BITE
Weird idea, we know, but truly, showing kids what happens to their trash can make a consumption-lowering mark that could help countless future generations.
COCKTAIL FACT
Before Peter Pan, the term Never-Never Land referred to uninhabited regions of Australia.
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home › tip library › Outings at the Dump
Do kids think trash disappears to a place second-star to the right, and straight on 'til morning?
The Bite
Not if they've been to a landfill. Rubbish doesn't end up in some imaginary, far-away place; most of it ends up nearby in a garbage dump. Peter Plan a trip to one with the kids for a down-'n'-dirty (but enlightening) daytime outing.The Benefits
- Teaching kids that trash doesn't just disappear - especially important since each of us creates about 4.6 pounds of trash per day, and 55% goes to landfills (the other 45% is recycled or incinerated).
- It's 99% cheaper than a trip to Knott's Berry Farm - and you might even come home with some used car parts...or something.
Personally Speaking
Heather's dad used to take her to the dump occasionally as a kid, where she'd watch him chuck garbage over the side of their truck and into dumpsters, always thinking that those dumpsters must be magic since they never ran outta room for more garbage.Wanna Try?
- To find your local landfill, just contact your garbage company.
- Story of Stuff - kid-friendly, 20-minute online video that explains all about consumption and where our stuff goes when we're through with it.
May 30,2008
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Dump Me Up
When I was a kid, I used to get sooooo excited about going to the dump. My dad and I would sing along to Johnny Cash's "Five Feet High and Rising" on the way there, and all the while I'd be dreaming of exactly how I was gonna toss all that crap off the back of the truck. Would I drop back and hurl a spiral, Joe Montana-style? Pretend I was Jean-Claude Van Damme and kick it off the tailgate? So many decisions to make.
But it did sometimes cross my mind...what were we gonna do once that big pit got filled up (with all the stuff I swatted in there with my awesome Reggie Jackson swing)? I remember asking my dad once, and he got kinda quiet and said simply, "I don't know." It was rare for my dad to not at least attempt to make up a random yet vaguely plausible answer to any question he was asked, so I knew it had to be serious. Years later, I'm not sure we much more of an answer than that. Reuse really is the way to go - so long as you don't go too far.
SF Editor Mike...off to practice roundhouse kicks...
Biter Comments...
This is an awesome tip. I would also add that a trip to the local recycling center can be really enlightening, both for kids and adults. Last year I toured a recycling facility and found out that some of the things I was regularly recycling were being thrown out at the recycling center because they didn't have a buyer for the material - I was just getting a good feeling putting it in the green bin, but it was the same as me putting it in the trash. This definitely made me more aware of my consumption.
When I was a kid we were going somewhere in the car and drove by a giant hill. Living in southeastern Kansas, this was pretty remarkable. I asked what it was and my parents told me it was a landfill and explained how it worked. I was horrified. Even as a kid, I couldn't believe that we just took our trash and buried it in the ground like a dog. Ever since then, I have had a huge aversion to throwing things away -- almost to the point of neurosis!
I remember a segment from Sesame Street way back in the day that showed all the trash getting trucked to a city dump. It definitely made an impact!
My girlfriend recently hosted her 3 year old's birthday party at our local dump. The reason, initially, was just that her son LOVES garbage trucks (they had called to see if one could come to her house for the party and Waste Mgmt said, no, but the party could be at the dump.) Although the purpose of the party was so the kids could climb in the trucks and sortof glorified trash hauling, we also had a tour of the dump and the older kids (and adults!) got to see first hand what happens with all that stuff. Pee -ew! Not sure how WM would feel about a party that really was anti-trash but if they really believe their slogan that they are green, why not? (BTW, the party was free!Def. cheaper than Chuck E Cheese!!)
We also used to make trips to the dump. Mostly for grass clippings and yard waste, but it was always a fun trip. One time I even came away with a cute little white kitten someone had dorpped off there. And of course we named him....Dump!
Lucky me! I live in an area where there is a great program to capture and use the methane from decomposing garbage at our county landfill. They use the methane to power a glass-blowing studio, a pottery studio, and several greenhouses. It's an amazing project. We live in a very poor, rural area, and I just don't understand why others aren't following suit. Check it out at : http://www.energyxchange.org/mission_ex.html
Some of my favorite memories of my dad were our dump adventures. Back in the 70's,and early 80's dumpster diving was groovy fun! My dad would pick me up and put me inside the dumpsters to hunt for treasures! We found allot of great stuff! Like made in occupied Japan dishes,a full set! They were beautiful,and I still have one small flowered plate my dad let me keep that day. Me and dad would go on n on about how wasteful people were throwing away perfectly usuable wonderful things! And he'd always say one mans junk is another mans treasure. Mom would always say waste not,want not. I've often missed those dump outings,and the surprises that would thrill us! Now they don't let anyone dumpster dive,how sad!
It also disgusts me that businesses throw out so much edible food,especially with the economy going funky,and people right here in the USA going very hungry. What a shame to be so wasteful! We always got food from big stores here in town,first from their dumpsters,then they would hand you old produce,but they stopped all that because of regulations,health n safety,etc. All cause of being sued cause a vegetable is wilted,oh lord! So now it just goes in their dumpsters,with a lock on it!
In a lot of cities nationwide there is an online group called Freecycle - you sign up in yahoo groups and anything you would send to the landfill that someone else might be able to use, put it up for grabs for free. Then you can watch the site for something you might need also! I have seen so much go through there that might have ended up in the dump and was recycled instead.
I think tours of recycling centers and landfills are a great idea. I worked a couple of summers as a quality assurance tech with a landfill construction company and a couple of days in a recyclable center. Not the most glamourous jobs but now I think twice about buying items with nonrecyclable packaging and I'm more deligent about composting.
when we lived in humboldt county, one of the field trips was to the recycling center in Arcata...then we'd go to the Fire and Light studio and see how they used the recycled glass to make their gorgeous...very popular...glass ware.
You should look into Fire and Light in Arcata, California. It would be a good one for a topic on here...from trash to treasure!
Also...have you heard of the Banana Slug String Band? Children's music with an environmental twist out of Santa Cruz, Ca. They have a great song from one of their first cd's (I think it's on the Dirt Made My Lunch CD). It's called Where is Away? It talks about trash and where it goes.
Check it out!!
Sorry, I have to say,I know it's shameless and self promoting,but, if you love talking about landfills...Monsoon Vermont or www.monsoonvt.com is a company that makes goods like backpacks, laptop bags, umbrellas and more, from plastic, non-recyclable garbage picked at landfills, out of waterways, etc in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Also, a comment earlier from Danielle about dumpster scavenging, check out the organization, Food For Free Committee in Cambridge, MA. They have organized surplus food pick ups to max. Businesses actually get to claim the value of the goods they donate on their taxes as non-profit donations. And there are indemnity clauses that most places will sign if you regulate your pick ups and save them the cost of throwing food out. Garbage disposal is expensive.
I too remember going to the dump with my dad as a child. Back then you could take reusable stuff away with you if you wanted to do so. At least in the area of Michigan that I call home, that is no longer allowed. If we are truly serious about reducing the amount of "stuff" in landfills, that attitude is counter-productive. Landfills should welcome people who want to remove instead of add to the pile!
That "Story of Stuff" video is one of the most fascinating I've seen. Most of my email addresses where notified of it.
I hope it has an impact on someone who is not in the environmental/sustainable loop.
Thank you very much.
Recently we were driving down the highway and my 5 year old said..."Mommy what is that mountain with grass growing on top?" Which then was a great way to have an in depth discussion about landfills and that they are the reason mommy and daddy are so strict about recycling and reducing...etc....they were shocked and sobered by the size of the landfill....it got them thinking and awakened them in a different way even though we are very mindful about our impact on the planet as a family.
www.greengirlfriend.blogspot.com
Where I grew up they made a ski hill on the landfill. Could that be considered re-use ;-)
Craigslist here has some good citizens who post 'curb alerts' when they see reusable stuff put out for trash. Then people looking for that stuff go by and get it.
I furnished my whole first apartment out of trash finds (dining room light fixture, sofa, 4 kitchen chairs + table). The chairs were still in the original plastic wrap!
What I can't stand is these home reno shows, where they rip out perfectly good fixtures, cabinets, tile, walls etc and it all goes in a huge dumpster on the lawn. What a huge waste, just because someone wants to change the style! It makes me sick to my stomach.
I agree with Evelyn. The least they can do is donate the stuff they rip out to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore or similar place. That way someone else can reuse it.
I live in an area where there is a great program to capture and use the methane from decomposing garbage at our county landfill.Toronto lofts
I think, bjmoomey is right. Donate the stuff and that way someone else can reuse it.
fairings
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: ashley | May 30, 2008 at 07:06 AM