| Question:What inspired you initially to begin your | | | | process, as well as providing statistics throughout |
| Trash Talk venture?Answer:As a society, we are | | | | the book. |
| bombarded with negative information | | | | It is focused on providing the reader with a sense |
| about the environment and our resources constantly. | | | | of hope |
| | | | and the knowledge that their actions have a direct |
| Feeling powerless because we cannot afford to | | | | impact on |
| donate | | | | their own pocketbook as well as the health of the |
| cash or time to a cause, we begin to feel | | | | community. In fact, many chapters close with a list |
| overwhelmed by | | | | of the |
| the immense environmental problems our world | | | | direct benefits attained by taking the suggested |
| faces. | | | | actions and |
| Psychologists know that simply performing one | | | | the chapters can be read in any order.Question:Why |
| positive | | | | should anyone care?Answer:We think it is vital that |
| action helps to define a positive outlook on life and | | | | people recognize the volume of waste |
| will | | | | generated in homes and businesses. Each bag sent |
| inspire further participation from the | | | | to the |
| individual.Question:How long did the Trash Talk column | | | | landfill increases municipal costs and the need to |
| run?Answer:The articles began in 1999, and were | | | | create |
| published for about 4 | | | | new landfill space. The ideas in this book will help |
| years. For the last couple of years, we have | | | | individuals and businesses to not only manage their |
| focused all our | | | | waste |
| energies towards compiling the articles into a book | | | | and resource consumption, but also purchase |
| that | | | | less.We show readers how to turn their yards into |
| matched our expectations and the publisher's | | | | organic, |
| deadline.Question:Why the title?Answer:We talk about | | | | wildlife paradises. Individuals will learn how to increase |
| trash so we simply called it Trash Talk. It was | | | | the |
| an eye-catching title for readers of our column, so | | | | value of their real estate. Employers will learn new |
| we kept | | | | ways of |
| the title for the book.The concept of the book is to | | | | decreasing sick days and increasing staff production. |
| reduce, | | | | Communities will learn how to reduce smog and |
| reuse or recycle items that were formally destined | | | | waste |
| for the | | | | issues. Each - and every one -of these things we |
| landfill. The idea of refusing to buy products with | | | | just |
| excessive | | | | mentioned can have a huge effect on the financial |
| packaging is another key element discussed. You are | | | | state and |
| | | | health of people within our |
| sending a powerful message to manufacturers when | | | | communities.Question:What makes this book so |
| their | | | | enjoyable that people keep |
| sales figures decrease.Question:What kind of book is | | | | referring back to it?Answer:The hands-on reuse |
| Trash Talk?Answer:Firstly, Trash Talk is meant to | | | | ideas make it easy to start right away |
| inspire participation from the | | | | with simple projects around the home or office that |
| individual in easing the world's environmental strain. | | | | make a |
| The | | | | difference. The positive approach gives the feeling |
| entire book is focused on bringing the reader | | | | that there |
| inspiring facts, | | | | is hope and that no matter how small you start it is |
| useful ideas, and a real sense of hope. We show | | | | just that - |
| how | | | | a start. In no time the inclination to look at anything |
| recycling benefits us all and discuss how the 4-R's of | | | | twice |
| waste | | | | before discarding it will be a reflex action. Because |
| management are implemented. By treating waste as | | | | readers |
| a | | | | learn of the direct benefits of each action they |
| resource, the reader will save money and better the | | | | make, we |
| | | | hope they will find the courage to further their |
| environment.Question:Where is the likely readership? | | | | management |
| What type of person would | | | | journey. This book could very well be one of the |
| be attracted to this book?Answer:Anyone that | | | | best tools |
| creates waste, that likes to save money and | | | | for individuals and businesses to meet Zero Waste |
| who would like to lessen their personal impact on | | | | goals.Question:What is the best way to get started in |
| the | | | | recycling?Answer:Returnable bottles and cans are |
| environment would get something very useful out | | | | probably the easiest to |
| of this | | | | begin with, and have the additional incentive of |
| book.Anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or | | | | receiving |
| depressed about the | | | | money for bringing them to the depot. All office |
| state of the earth can find some comfort in our | | | | paper, |
| pages. | | | | envelopes, cereal boxes, newspaper and junk mail |
| Individuals and businesses will learn how to save | | | | can be |
| money | | | | put in one box and taken to the depot. Cardboard is |
| and time. Our financial consultant tells us that if | | | | also |
| people | | | | easily recycled. However, not all glass is recyclable. |
| could find a way to save just $7 a day they could | | | | Very |
| contribute | | | | few depots accept ceramics or drinking glasses. |
| to their retirement monthly. We show people how | | | | Because |
| to | | | | mixed glass is less valuable than separated colors, |
| accomplish this simply by improving their waste and | | | | many |
| resource management.Question:What is the sales | | | | depots require glass to be sorted by color. Tin cans |
| potential of the book? What are the | | | | and |
| interests of the book?Answer:Zero Waste initiatives | | | | aluminum foil can be put in another box. Labels on |
| are gaining popularity in communities | | | | jars and |
| across North America. Education systems are | | | | cans are also recyclable.It is easiest to start recycling |
| teaching | | | | these resources. When the |
| recycling and environmental sciences in their | | | | family becomes used to these, they can consider |
| curriculum. | | | | recycling |
| And, the last time we checked, the landfills were not | | | | plastics, metals and many other things. Recycling is |
| getting | | | | the first |
| any smaller. It is in the best interest of all of us on | | | | step in taking responsible measures to deal with our |
| this | | | | waste |
| planet to make it as healthy and non-toxic as | | | | problems.Question:Do you have outlets for all your |
| possible in | | | | recycled items?Answer:Most communities have big |
| order to remain. With this in mind, we felt it was | | | | recycling bins, reuse centers |
| vitally | | | | and take-it-back programs available for the public. |
| important to have this book published, aiding | | | | There are |
| communities | | | | differences in each depot. For instance, some require |
| in their waste reduction efforts.Question:What | | | | |
| makes this book unique?Answer:Trash Talk is about | | | | labels to be taken off cans and bottles - others do |
| implementing the | | | | not. Some |
| Refuse-Reduce-Reuse tactics first, in that order, | | | | accept all rigid plastics from #1-#7 - others accept |
| before | | | | only |
| even considering recycling. In this, we are not trying | | | | translucent milk jugs. It is important to become |
| to | | | | familiar with |
| pronounce that recycling is a negative approach by | | | | local depot requirements because the wrong thing |
| any | | | | can ruin |
| means - more a final solution when all other options | | | | the whole bin.Question:How does one "save time |
| have | | | | and money"? Provide some |
| been considered. By taking matters into our own | | | | examples of how reuse works.Answer:Even before |
| hands we | | | | recycling, a plastic container can be reused for |
| can ease the burden that is upon the recycling | | | | various storage means numerous times. This means |
| industry, | | | | the |
| decrease our own household costs and help | | | | container is not going to the landfill, contributing |
| preserve our | | | | increasing |
| resources.In all our research, we could find only four, | | | | municipal costs and loss of land. The individual saves |
| or five, books on | | | | money by not purchasing a storage |
| this subject throughout North America. Most of | | | | container.Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based |
| these are | | | | on the concept |
| regionally based and were written up to 10 years | | | | of their new book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone |
| ago. We | | | | concerned |
| have written Trash Talk for a wider, North American | | | | about his or her impact on the environment, that |
| | | | offers |
| audience. We included a list of over 140 magazines, | | | | useful solutions to reduce waste and better manage |
| Internet | | | | |
| sites, books and reports that were used in the | | | | resources. |
| writing | | | | |