Shameful

According to recent news reports, Canada produces more garbage per person than any of the other 16 developed economies in the study.  At 777 kg per person, that's a whopping 200 kg more than the average.  And that's just shameful.

I'm very cognizant of the numbers as I continue the great purging of my house.  I'm recycling as much of the stuff as I can, donating it where it's applicable, but the bottom line is that it will ultimately end up as garbage one day.  I am still disposing of the styrofoam packaging that came with the new appliances I bought last May.  In my neck of the woods there is no way to recycle styrofoam.  I've only recently heard of a pilot project in the lower mainland of B.C. that is attempting to do this.  But that's one area of a vast province.  No one in my small Island community is shipping our styrofoam over there.

This reignites in me not only the commitment to consume less but also to consider the packaging when making a purchase.  I realize I have little control over how goods are packaged other than not buying them, but sometimes that's just not an option.

I could go on and on (don't even get me started on the built in obsolescence of technology) but that's my little rant for the day.  If I was to rant more, this is what I wish I could say:

http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/

Watch this.  It's 20 minutes long but 20 highly informative, entertaining minutes.  I'll be keeping this in mind the next time I go to the store.