Seven Apparently Recyclable Unrecyclables

Time for a confession from your local conservationist (me): I only just began to recycle.

This sounds worse than it really is. While I lived in Baltimore and had curbside recycling, I joyfully separated my trash and sent it on its way to reincarnation. While I lived in Germany, I became a pro at understanding the differences among Biomüll, die gelbe Sack, Restmüll, and various forms of glass and paper recycling. However, since returning to this beautiful land of mountains and countryside, I have unfortunately also returned to a township that does not offer curbside recycling.

This summer, I finally set up boxes in my garage for separated plastics, junk mail, magazines, and metals. Every couple weeks, as the boxes fill up, I'll drive them a mile away to a collection point. The collection point is even across the road from my favorite pizza shop, so it works well for everyone.

Something I have only just learned, however, is that I can't recycle everything here the same way I would have in Germany. My mom found this article through the Weather Channel about seven things you can't recycle. How illuminating! Caps, yogurt, glass....

I recommend a read-through. Some things are more obvious than others, but in all points, they provide a good explanation instead of simply saying "don't."

I'm Uninformed ... and know it!

My brother the engineer says that if he didn't know me already and read my previous post about solar- and wind-powered cars, he would think I was an idiot and a crazy person who didn't know what I was talking about. Raving lunatic, I think were his words. Environmental wacko that gives conservationists a bad name.

My apologies.

Those of you who know me, know I was being ridiculous, but it's probably good to establish for the other readers out there that yes, I do realize I know nothing about this technology, and that I'm also absolutely assured that people who do know things are working to get this stuff off the ground. That's one reason I posted in the first place: I think the people who develop things like that new wind turbine are absolutely amazing. They are that vital link between the uninformed ideas and actual, solid inventions.

So, satire aside, thank you technowhizzes who are making the world a better place! I'll try not to make my brother and his coworkers mad next time I post on things I don't understand. (Ha!)

Wind Powered Cars

Woohoo!!

My classmate Pam just posted this article on her blog at Sustainable Living. How exciting!

You must understand that I've been saying for years that we need wind and solar powered cars. I have also done exactly zero research into this possibility. I'm no scientist, but the way I see it, if we make the car roof a solar panel big enough to generate at least enough power to start the engine, it will get the car moving.

Then, to keep the car moving, we integrate small windmills into the design of the car. I'm not talking about driving around with Don Quixote on your rearview mirrors. I mean to form slits or gills on the sides of the car that the wind passes through as you drive. Put a bunch of small windmills in these gills, and it's sure to generate enough power to keep the car moving.

It always looked a little silly to me, though, in my imagination, and I was pretty sure there would be no tiny windmills powerful enough to keep a car zipping along at 70. And what about people who park their cars in garages or have convertible tops? These wouldn't be able to use that solar technology.

Well, this new wind invention gives me hope for my plans yet. Surely it's got to be easier to integrate these into the design of a car than it would be to fit windmills.

And if not, at least Haitians will get power. And that's good enough for me.