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