So, at Starbucks this morning, there was a can that said "Recycle" on one side and "Landfill" on the other. Oh, crap. I don't want to have to send things to the landfill. I mean, I know I do and have for most of my life, but when standing there faced with the decision of whether or not to give this piece of material a new chance at life in a new shape or form or to stand on the edge of the cut Earth and heave my Starbucks Artisan Sandwich bag in, I was a bit stressed. I really wanted to throw it into the recycle side just to believe I was not destroying the Earth. Luckily, they provide a list of what can go into each side. What's interesting is that almost no container that Starbucks sells can actually go into the recycle side of the can. Well, at least they've probably helped the problem with the amount of waste that occurs at recycling centers due to people throwing the wrong stuff into the recycle bin, but it really appears that Starbucks needs the 3 choice model.
Yes, the Recycle, Compost, or Landfill model. I've seen this one at a Central Valley California Costco and at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. So, you walk up to this can and are faced with 3 choices. You stand there for a while and read and look at the pictures and hope that you will be able to throw your waste into either the compost (turns out we can compost a whole lot more than we think we can) or the recycle hole. Please, don't let it be the landfill hole. Somebody might see me. There truly is a feeling of judgment while standing there. It's a very effective guilt strategy. I mean, whoever invented this thing had to be Catholic.
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| California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco |
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| Starbucks |
You are cracking me up!!! I can see a whole line of people standing there, sweaty pits and all, waiting to be up to the line of decision.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Catholic guilt line? BWAHAHAHA
Seriously, it was a bit stressful. Had to read. Stop. Think. Look around. Is anybody watching? Should I through it into "Compost" just to look responsible or should I throw it into "Landfill" because it truly belongs there and throwing it into "Compost" would actually BE irresponsible? Too much! And I was raised Catholic, so I get to personally attest to the whole Catholic guilt thing. Very effective.
DeleteLove this. Love you! I sweat that moment all the time! Perhaps the psychology of it goes like this...if I get the plastic prewrapped turkey sandwich, I will have to throw it in the landfill side....ah, I will get the scone instead on the little paper thingy that can go into compost. Or maybe the evil sugar and coffee lords are just trying to ruin your diet!?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, people, help a customer out!
DeleteI would be at a total loss. It sort of takes away the shear guilty pleasure of spending money at an overpriced coffee shop. I can picture you standing there, looking over your shoulder. Cracks me up. And I'm with Caching Queen on the Catholic line. You nailed that one!
ReplyDeleteIt's more than a tad bit stressful.
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