The Snowball Effect

Call us hippies or treehuggers or whatever else you'd like, but I'm afraid I have to admit we have turned into those people who get all fired up about litter.

I only get really fired up about a few things: laziness, processed food, Olive Garden commercials and litter. I seriously can't stand it when I see trash somewhere other than a trash can. I've been known to pick stuff up on the sidewalk on a walk or a jog and carry it back home. B regularly brings home a bag of cans and bottles to recycle on his walk back from the neighborhood tennis courts. Last year, on a hike, we spent a good 20 minutes trying to get a mylar balloon unstuck from a tree four miles up the trail in the woods. Two guys even stopped to help us. It was awesome.

Lately though, either we have become a little more "enthusiastic" about our cause or people are just throwing more stuff out, but things seemed to have snowballed and we are also finding ourselves a bit more "enthusiastic" about recycling as well. As evidenced by this photo: B after our hike out of Bear Canyon in Tucson last week.

However, I think I stepped it up a notch last Thursday when we flew out of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport back to Portland. With the airport security measures about liquids, B and I were left with the unfortunate situation of chugging an entire 32 oz. Gatorade before we could go through the security checkpoint. When we finally downed it, I looked around for a recycling bin and much to my dismay, there wasn't a single one in sight. So, horror of horrors, we had to throw it away. Arrgh. (Small side note: yes, I realize how blessed I am that my only worry in the world is not having a recycling bin at my every beck and call. I am fully aware of this.) We continued on our way through the checkpoint and were greeted on the other side by a whole host of recycling bins. It doesn't make sense. And you know what? I sat right there in the terminal, whipped out my smartphone, emailed Sky Harbor Airport and told them so.

Guess what happened? Ms. Claire Stern actually wrote me back yesterday:

Hi Gayle,

Thanks so much for traveling through Phoenix Sky Harbor!

You are right, we definitely need more recycling bins pre-security. I'm on a recycling committee that is working on the issue. The number of recycle bins pre-security now is actually more than we had just a few months ago - and we are working to increase that number even more. It seems like an easy fix, but unfortunately with security concerns and weight issues with blast-proof waste cans it is a little more complicated than one would initially think. We are actually getting some great ideas from other airports - including Portland's!

Please know that your concern has been heard and that this is something we are absolutely working on. In the future we hope your experience with our recycling program is much improved!

Again, thank you.

Claire Simeone Stern
Public Information Officer
City of Phoenix Aviation Department
602-683-3804
Claire.Stern@phoenix.gov

I frequently threaten to write an SWL (strongly worded letter) about a whole host of things, but I rarely follow through because I assume it will fall on deaf ears. But to do good, you actually have to do something. Write a letter, send an email, pick up a piece of trash, recycle a Gatorade bottle. This hippie treehugger wants to make a difference.