Lately there’s been reports of poll data citing that American’s worries about environmental issues have hit a twenty year low.  At the same time, a record number of respondents say economic growth takes precedence, even if it hurts the environment (Gallup Poll – March 2010).  A Gallup spokesperson says, “The economy is swamping everything.”  

Well, no duh!   When you ask a thousand people about their concern at any one moment in time, this is what you get, especially in the worst economic period in our history.  Does this really surprise anybody?  I’d be floored if these folks said environmental concerns are higher than finding a job, paying a mortgage, caring for family, or putting food on the table. 

Gallup says global warming concerns have fallen dramatically since 2007.  I think this makes sense – wasn’t that about the time Al Gore’s movie and promo campaign was in full swing for ‘An Inconvenient Truth’.  Our collective attention was captured and this topic was on the minds of many mainstream Americans.  Of course this was before the economic meltdown and that has taken root in most of our lives today.  In good times people have the luxury to worry about non-basics, in bad times we don’t.  Add that polarizing politics of present day America is also a factor, and there’s been a wave of denial propagated by those who are vested in the status quo, mostly as a rebuttal to Al Gore’s message. 

I mention this as backdrop in the context of my recent experience signing up for the Master Recycler Program that is administered by Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability office.  http://www.masterrecycler.org/

This program’s motto is “Bridging the gap between awareness and action by motivating people to reduce waste in their homes and workplaces.”   The eight-week training program is rotated alternatively between the three Portland metro area counties:  Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas.  You must reside in the county that is hosting, so when I heard that Multnomah County was beginning their 2010 class on April 7, I immediately signed up online – and that was three months ago.

I was told in March that I couldn’t get in, too many people signed up ahead of me, but they’d keep me on the waiting list for the next class in 2011.  

Somehow this doesn’t jive with this Gallup Poll data.  Huh, maybe they didn’t poll anyone in Portland, Oregon?!

This popular Master Recycler training provides instruction in topics such as waste prevention, recycling processes, alternatives to hazardous household products, composting and deconstruction and green building.  Classes are taught by professionals from the public and private sector who are working on innovative solutions to environmental challenges.  The eight-week program consists of eight weeknight classes and two half-day Saturday field trips.  A $50 course fee includes all materials.

Course graduates agree to volunteer 30 hours putting their skills to work to help others learn the three Rs: reduce the amount of natural resources used in the first place, reuse material and recycle what cannot be salvaged.  Master Recyclers volunteer to staff information booths at community events, make presentations, and work on special projects in their neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.  

Gallup obviously didn’t poll the citizens of Japan …

When Noriko and I visited Japan last September, we noticed a dramatic increase in recycling from our previous visits.  Clearly the people of Japan are now taking recycling very seriously.  At one bus stop, we couldn’t help but notice a long line of recycling containers and the fact that they were being tended regularly by white gloved custodians.  I’ve never seen such a thing in America.

Japanese bus stop - 2009

I was told that Tokyo residents have eleven different recycling categories they must sort through – which is a contrast to the one big blue bucket we use in Portland metro that takes just about everything (except for glass and hazardous items).  I believe Americans would never go for a recycling system that put this kind of responsibility on individuals. 

We just wouldn’t do it. Generally speaking, Americans will only do something if we make it ‘convenient’ to do so.   Japanese citizens are different and their discipline and commitment as a society is evident in the fact that most abide by these conditions. 

I was told by one Tokyo friend that not to do so would be very costly as a trash container that has not been sorted accordingly results in a huge bill and a possible fine. 

Okay, so local government added the stick, but what is wrong with that idea? 

What do Master Recyclers do?

To date there are about 1000 Master Recyclers from the Portland program alone and they collectively volunteer more than 20,000 hours.  This concept is spreading and eight other Oregon counties now have their own successful Master Recycling programs in place.  I assume cities all over the West Coast now offer this same kind of program … and if not then this may be a call to action for you, dear reader. 

Here’s some of things Master Recyclers do:

• Speak to local groups about waste prevention and recycling
• Create educational resources and displays
• Staff booths at local events including farmers’ markets, hazardous household waste roundups, and other local events
• Design and implement waste reduction plans at home and at work
• Stay current on solid waste trends through newsletters and follow-up events, and
• Have FUN while making a difference in the community.

Yeah, this sounds good to me and I want to get this training and experience, so I’m willing to wait until next year to do so.   I’ve got plenty of other things to work on in the meantime. 

In our daily lives, we are what we do.  Indeed, many Americans have put environmental concerns on the back burner in order to tend to more immediate needs, but the fact of the matter is that we can care for both, for the long-term sake of our country and our planet. 

Here in the Portland and in Japan too – this is being proven every single day regardless of what the nay-sayers, oil companies, and some media moguls want you to believe.

Share on Facebook