Keeping the Earth Healthy is Good for All of Us

Sometimes I think “What’s the point of eating all these organic vegetables and taking these exercise classes if the environment we live in is full of toxic junk?” I shiver every time I hear about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is an enormous swath of ocean that is swirling with garbage (mainly plastic) and is practically devoid of life.

It's frustrating because sometimes I feel like I can't make a difference. But I've decided that one way to take a little control is to make sure that I recycle as much as possible and dispose of trash properly.

If you live in Brecksville, you probably already know that the  picks up many items curbside for recycling, but I checked out their website for more information. Their site posts the recycling calendar, a series of recycling videos and comprehensive information on how to recycle just about anything in Brecksville. 

In addition to curbside pickup, items can be dropped off at the Service Department on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon. They accept many types of recyclables and trash including: glass, plastic, paper, kerosene, mercury, paint, pool chemicals, motor oil, antifreeze, automobile batteries, computers and cellphones, scrap metal, bicycles and much more. I've used this service, and it couldn't be easier. Just pull your car into the lot and deposit your items into the appropriate bins. 

I also found out from the website that the city has a paint exchange program. Residents can bring cans of paint to the Service Department on Saturday mornings, and are welcome to take paint for their own use, at no charge.

There are some things the city doesn't recycle and some of them can be recycled elsewhere in and around Brecksville:

• Styrofoam and plastic bags can be recycled at the Brecksville . They have large, blue bins clearly marked near their west doors.
• Compact flourescent light bulbs contain mercury and should not be thrown in the trash. They can be recycled at Home Depot or Lowe's stores.
• The  has a charity donation bin for used eyeglasses.
• If you have miscellaneous but useful items you'd like to get rid of check out  Cleveland Freecycle. This organization hosts a website where anyone can post unwanted items, instead of throwing them away. People can also list things that they are in need of. According to the website, Freecycle is an international non-profit with more than 8 million members. 

Think about this. Every time we buy something made of or wrapped in plastic, that plastic will be around on this planet for an indeterminate length of time. DiscoverMagazine.com indicates that as plastic breaks down, it leaches toxic chemicals into the environment, like BPA and pthalates, which are known hormone disrupters in humans. 

Recycling and teaching my kids to respect the Earth makes me feel like I'm doing something to make our planet healthier for all of us. I'm sure that there are other clever ways of recycling or using less that some of you may be doing, and I'd love to hear about them.