TresSugar

Los Angeles Man Saves All of His Trash For Eight Months

CitizenSugar — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:00:27 -0700

This is the trashiest story I've ever heard. Dave Chameides is on a mission - a mission to save all of his garbage as an experiment to see exactly how much refuse one person makes in a year. This sends shivers down my clean-freak spine: his basement is lined with soda bottles, pizza boxes, Styrofoam trays, used tea bags, and plastic wrap. After nearly eight months at this project, Chameides is beginning to get a clearer picture of his landfill footprint.

The inspiration for this personal garbage collection began while exploring the tremendous amount of trash that packs our landfills, which set him wondering how much he contributed to that total. Since he does not live alone and his wife and children are not participating in this project, Chameides does have some ground rules. For one, he only collects his own trash, and does not include potential health hazards such as toilet paper, fish wrappers, or other biodegradable contaminants. Thank goodness for that. Ack. To see what good came of this plan, read more.

The not-so-trashy news is that after several weeks of collecting, he found ways to reduce waste by taking his own plates and cutlery to work, and bringing his own containers when purchasing food at stores that provide plastic or Styrofoam containers. And then there's this detail: Chameides has enlisted a multitude of worms to consume the compost in his basement.

This experiment isn’t without its "hilarity ensues" drawbacks. Once while on vacation in Mexico, Dave was stopped by customs and asked to explain why he wanted to return to the US with a bag full of his own garbage.

Is this a brilliant way to really see the true nature of what we do to the environment, or is he one can short of a dumpster? Would you do this experiment?

Source

One Man's Slum Is Another's Recycling Mecca

LibertySugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:00:21 -0700

One million people live in Dharavi, Asia's largest slum, located in Mumbai, India. Despite squalor conditions typical of slums, Dharavi is home to a booming recycling industry.

Two-hundred thousand of the slum dwellers work in the 15,000 single-room recycling factories. Nearly every household item from surrounding areas is recycled, including plastic, paper, candles, paint chips, and soap. Wait . . . soap? Not sure how that works, but cool!

The slum turned recycling hub may soon be recycled itself. India's government has plans to turn Mumbai - which is already a thriving economic center - into India's Shanghai. Under the plan "Vision Mumbai," Dharvai will be demolished, and replaced with simple high-rise blocks for its current residents, as well as shopping malls and luxury apartments.

Hopefully, the small-scale industry, which supports the community and the environment, will survive the massive redevelopment plan. Are you happy to see the demolition of the slum, or worried that it will ignore the already marginalized? When gentrification is inevitable, what is the best way to incorporate the existing population?

And, check out some beautiful pictures from Dharvai.

View 5 Photos ›

Source

A Green, Green Christmas Message

GiggleSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:00:00 -0800

Ed Byrne understands that it's hard to be an alcoholic and environmentally friendly-you gotta recycle all those damn bottles away from the prying eyes (and curious ears) of friends and neighbors. Still, recycle you must. This English comedian may seem like a kill-joy, but his message-and his bed-head, geek glasses, and awesome shirt-are worth your attention.

You Asked: Can I Recycle?

DearSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar --

Since you are the Love & Sex expert, I thought I'd ask your opinion on this subject. Is it in bad taste to use lingerie from a previous relationship with your new partner? I have some great pieces and I'd hate to give them up, but I can't decide whether or not that's tacky. I was wondering what all of the Sugar ladies (and gentlemen) out there thought. Any suggestions? -- Economic Erin

To see DEARSUGAR's answer read more

Dear Economic Erin --

Building a lingerie wardrobe takes a lot of money and time, so I happen to feel that recycling it isn't the slightest bit tacky. Lingerie is like clothing, so ask yourself, would you feel bad wearing one of your favorite sexy dresses with a new boyfriend that you wore with an ex-boyfriend?

If you bought special lingerie for an anniversary or birthday, you might want to keep those in the back of your drawer if it will remind you of your past relationship. Re-wearing lingerie is a completely personal decision so if you're going to feel uncomfortable about it, I would use this time as an excuse to shop for more - a woman can never have too much!

Source

Grab Bag: Dating Without Drinking - Is It Possible?

TresSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:10:00 -0700

How to date without drinking. - Your Tango
Does going on the Pill curse a potential relationship? - The Frisky
Does douchebag Tucker Max have mommy issues? - Lemondrop
Why some men hate talking on the phone. - Em & Lo
Some thoughts on recycling the ex. - Smitten
A woman tries out "pickup-artist" techniques. - Nerve
Someone thinks calling yourself a cougar is not empowering. - Jezebel

Amazing Recycling PSA

GiggleSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0800

Some people think this is a massive "fail." Advertising is supposed to get your attention, right? And make you look at something in a different way? Done, and done. Now please get your butt out of my face, Mr. Empty Plastic Milk Container.

Source

Dear Poll: Is It Taboo to Recycle Your Ex's Cologne?

DearSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:00:00 -0700

It looks like I am not alone when it comes to having a strong connection to remembering scents on a man - thank you for sharing all your favorite smells! Now let me ask you this. If you grew to really like a specific scent, but your ex boyfriend wore it, do you think it's taboo to buy the same cologne or after shave for your new boyfriend?

Source

Do You Know Anyone Like The Goode Family?

TresSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:00:00 -0700

An extremely politically correct cartoon-family is coming to a television near you. Mike Judge of King of the Hill and Beavis and Butt-head fame has created a new show - The Goode Family - which premiers on ABC tonight.

The Goodes are many shades of green. They use reusable shopping bags (not the ones made in sweat shops), drive hybrid cars, recycle, and ask themselves: what would Al Gore do? In addition to being environmentally conscious, they're also socially aware: they're vegans, have a dog named Che, and they even adopted a little boy from Africa. (Once they adopted Ubuntu, they found out he was actually born to white Afrikaans parents in South Africa. They still have him wear traditional African dress.)

The premise sort of reminds me of the South Park episode all about smug people in San Francisco. In that episode, the "smug" (smog) from preachy, hybrid car owners ends up causing an environmental disaster. Despite the similarities in using progressives as their targets, The Good Family does treat the earnest clan a little kinder than South Park would, making it apparent that the characters have genuine intentions.

Do you know anyone that tries a little too hard to do good(e)?

The Green Monster: 8 Acts of Eco Extremism

CitizenSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:30:47 -0700

Yesterday the crying-hippies video resurfaced on the ever-recycling Internet. (Well worth a watch!) Sobbing at the base of a North Carolinian forest, members of radical environmental group Earth First! cried for rocks and trees and pesky weeds that (they insist) are as alive as your typing fingertips. A young man cried until he wanted to scream. So he did.

But that's child's play! Environmentalists - extreme environmentalists - have more than tears and tree houses to show demanding Mother Earth. What does it take to go from eco friendly to eco terror? Check out my eight environmental no-nos, or do-dos (depending on your goal).

Arson. Particularly setting new housing developments, car lots, and SUVs ablaze. Another? Horse slaughterhouses. Neigh!
Not breeding because, obviously, Earth is better off without people.
Harassing, sabotaging, and sinking whaling ships is as old as my first recycling bin.
Poisoning bottles of POM Wonderful juice to protest animal testing. Guess it won't make you immortal after all!

To see four other acts of eco insanity, read more.

Raiding zoos and aquariums to kidnap animals.
Endangering loggers and spiking trees to discourage logging.
Forcing entry, harassing, and attacking university professors involved in animal research. Masks are optional but preferred.
And bombs - a tried and true method of dissent. Even the worst bomb will get attention!

Source

Who's More Trashy: Naples vs. San Francisco

LibertySugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:00:14 -0700

The European Commission (EC) has filed a suit against Italy in the European Court of Justice. The EC thinks a lawsuit will clean up Naples, Italy, which has been enveloped in piles of trash and a toxic stench, as seen in the pictures below. The EC hopes that potential harsh fines will prompt politicians to take more serious action to end the massive years-long garbage crisis, brought on by organized crime.

Meanwhile in San Francisco, residents recycle 70 percent of their waste. Recycling-obsessed Mayor Gavin Newsom wants to give city residents an incentive to take their recycling prowess to the next level - either they recycle, or they don't get their trash picked up.

Mayor Newsom is proposing legislation that would make it mandatory to recycle cans, bottles, paper, yard waste, and food scraps. So it looks like recycling may no longer be something you do to feel good about yourself - it will be the law. Newsom told the New York Times what's behind his plan:

It’s purposefulness that could otherwise be construed as ego. You want to be the greatest city. You want to be the leading city. You want to be on the cutting edge. I’m very intense about it.

Should recycling be mandatory? Will the Newsom's proposal make San Francisco the next Naples, if residents get lazy about recycling? Can a lawsuit clean up Naples, or is it just a waste of time?

View 5 Photos ›

Source