iTrash: Out with the Old

These numbers are almost too large for me to understand, the scale of our consumption is mammoth. But what I can see is my old VCR, HP printer, and half of my CD collection (only halfway through an uploading project) sitting dormant. All of these items work, kind of. But I have upgraded to replacements that are more reliable, faster  and shinier. Part of me would like to deny my responsibility for my bygone appliances.  

I've been looking at them for nearly a month now, and responsibly disposing of them keeps getting placed somewhere in the bottom half of my to-do list. 

My plan is first to place them on Freecycle in case someone in the neighborhood is looking for a VCR or old CDs (Stevie Nicks, Dar Williams anyone?!). My next step is to check out Earth 911 to find organizations who will recycle or re-use them. I am also planning a trip to Chicago's Goose Island Household Hazardous Waste facility. While they cannot take everything, they have a computer take-back program in addition to their chemical and paint drop offs. 

But I realize that these actions don't address the larger issue: consumption. When I find myself feeling stuck and/or sucked into our current not-so-perfect cycle of spending and wasting, I try to watch the movies The Story Of Stuff and the new Story of Electronics to keep me inspired. Furthermore, we at The Green Mama check out what other countries are doing about these same issues to see that people everywhere are striving to make a difference. 

I support the suggestion that the 3 "Rs" (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) adopt a fourth: RETHINK!