I was in NYC for a few days this week and I was struck by the complete lack of public recycling bins. I saw plenty of trash bins, but not a single recycling bin. Not even one for newspapers in the subway (where they have a few in DC). I saw bus ads that said New Yorkers throw out enough paper each year to fill the Empire State Building, but I did not see one paper recycling bin. I went to the Museum of Natural History, where there was a huge exhibit about humanity's impact on the Earth and our need to reduce our carbon footprint, consume less and RECYCLE. When I was leaving the museum, I asked a guard where I could recycle the newspaper I was carrying. He said they didn't have a bin, but he'd throw it out for me.
This is from the museum that prints its maps on recycled paper that is originally certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (lauded by Jarad Diamond in his really good book Collapse).
Needless to say, I was upset when it came time for me to throw out the newspaper because I could not find a recycling bin in my journey (I acknowledge that residential recycling might be widely used, but I was in very touristy parts of the city and there were no bins. Tourists need/should recycle too).
I was so perturbed by this that I had a wonderful dream that I found a recycling bin and magically had all the recyclables I had to throw out in the city so I could recycle them... Yeah, my eco-nerdness has seeped into my subconscience.
Comments