1 00:00:00,475 --> 00:00:03,005 - This planet is threatened with destruction 2 00:00:03,265 --> 00:00:05,205 and we who live in it with death. 3 00:00:05,545 --> 00:00:07,325 The heavens wreak the waters 4 00:00:07,335 --> 00:00:09,445 below a foul. We are in a crisis. 5 00:00:09,955 --> 00:00:13,445 - This is a CBS news special Earth Day, 6 00:00:14,045 --> 00:00:15,285 a question of survival. 7 00:00:19,315 --> 00:00:21,445 - Welcome to balancing life's issues, 8 00:00:21,505 --> 00:00:23,165 the podcast, I'm your host, Kai. 9 00:00:23,185 --> 00:00:25,285 And today we are here to celebrate Earth Day, 10 00:00:25,415 --> 00:00:27,525 which occurs every year on April 22nd. 11 00:00:27,745 --> 00:00:29,045 But why this date? Well, 12 00:00:29,045 --> 00:00:31,485 as you just heard from a CBS evening news clip from 13 00:00:31,485 --> 00:00:34,805 April 22nd, 1970, the nation came together 14 00:00:35,065 --> 00:00:36,805 and urged our leaders to act 15 00:00:37,155 --> 00:00:38,155 - Good evening. 16 00:00:38,325 --> 00:00:41,245 A unique day in American history is ending Earth Day 17 00:00:41,765 --> 00:00:44,005 a day dedicated to enlisting all the citizens 18 00:00:44,005 --> 00:00:46,285 of a bountiful country in the common cause 19 00:00:46,285 --> 00:00:49,205 of saving life from the deadly byproducts of 20 00:00:49,205 --> 00:00:50,245 that bounty. The 21 00:00:50,245 --> 00:00:52,125 - Fowled star reading from epa.gov. 22 00:00:52,385 --> 00:00:53,645 In the spring of 1970, 23 00:00:53,835 --> 00:00:57,405 Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day knowing there were 24 00:00:57,405 --> 00:00:59,205 no legal or regulatory mechanisms 25 00:00:59,205 --> 00:01:00,285 to protect our environment. 26 00:01:00,825 --> 00:01:03,925 At that time, you could legally dump toxic waste into a 27 00:01:03,925 --> 00:01:06,685 local stream or spew black clouds of toxic smoke. 28 00:01:07,185 --> 00:01:09,845 The establishment of Earth Day pushed the conversation 29 00:01:09,845 --> 00:01:11,085 onto the national agenda. 30 00:01:11,505 --> 00:01:13,805 It made it important and people reacted. 31 00:01:13,855 --> 00:01:17,325 - Earth Day still came through, act or die. 32 00:01:17,865 --> 00:01:20,285 We began our report with Bruce Morton in Denver. 33 00:01:20,845 --> 00:01:23,285 - Bicycles at the state capitol were a Denver symbol. 34 00:01:23,395 --> 00:01:26,525 Auto pollution is a major problem here in the country's 17th 35 00:01:26,595 --> 00:01:27,845 most polluted cities. So 36 00:01:27,865 --> 00:01:30,245 - 20 million Americans demonstrated in different 37 00:01:30,305 --> 00:01:31,525 US cities, and it worked. 38 00:01:32,025 --> 00:01:35,165 In December, 1970, Congress authorized the creation 39 00:01:35,165 --> 00:01:36,365 of new federal agency 40 00:01:36,425 --> 00:01:39,805 to tackle environmental issues aptly named the US 41 00:01:39,805 --> 00:01:42,845 Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA. 42 00:01:43,325 --> 00:01:45,285 I wasn't one of those 20 million Americans. 43 00:01:45,435 --> 00:01:46,605 This was before my time, 44 00:01:46,745 --> 00:01:49,005 but I happen to know someone who was there. Hi, 45 00:01:49,025 --> 00:01:50,405 - My name's Beth Pollock. 46 00:01:50,725 --> 00:01:53,965 I am a corporate trainer on stress management, uh, 47 00:01:54,095 --> 00:01:58,125 green trips for the homes and, uh, special needs parenting. 48 00:01:58,405 --> 00:01:59,965 - I just wanted to find out from Beth, 49 00:01:59,965 --> 00:02:02,165 what was it like back on that day in 1970, 50 00:02:02,165 --> 00:02:04,845 because as I sit here today, I had no idea 51 00:02:05,155 --> 00:02:08,245 that Earth Day 1970 was such a huge deal. Well, 52 00:02:08,405 --> 00:02:10,005 - I was on Long Island Sound 53 00:02:10,545 --> 00:02:14,845 and we were outside in middle school on a field trip, um, 54 00:02:14,985 --> 00:02:17,325 and it had university students there. 55 00:02:17,465 --> 00:02:19,925 So that was exciting seeing big kids, 56 00:02:20,225 --> 00:02:22,165 and it was very hopeful. 57 00:02:22,525 --> 00:02:23,885 I mean, pollution existed. 58 00:02:24,185 --> 00:02:28,125 Yes, you're being responsible and you know, what can we do? 59 00:02:28,375 --> 00:02:30,885 Let's fix and face the challenge. 60 00:02:31,625 --> 00:02:36,365 Um, so not so scary as today as we hear with global warming. 61 00:02:36,465 --> 00:02:39,005 - So I guess it's this sense of hopeful versus 62 00:02:39,015 --> 00:02:41,365 where we are today, which feels more dire. 63 00:02:41,705 --> 00:02:43,885 And as a new dad, I just kind of wanna get a better sense 64 00:02:43,885 --> 00:02:47,765 of what's my role in preparing my son, uh, 65 00:02:47,765 --> 00:02:49,685 for a world that he'll be growing into. Well, 66 00:02:49,725 --> 00:02:51,565 - I think normal is just what you're used to. 67 00:02:51,705 --> 00:02:56,045 So my normal was vegetable garden and giving to others 68 00:02:56,465 --> 00:02:59,125 and getting cow manure, knowing 69 00:02:59,235 --> 00:03:01,245 what plants lived together. 70 00:03:01,395 --> 00:03:03,765 Well, my mother had a greenhouse, um, 71 00:03:03,825 --> 00:03:06,525 and that really motivated some of the passive solar. 72 00:03:06,825 --> 00:03:09,605 She didn't want her plants to die if we were out of power 73 00:03:09,795 --> 00:03:11,125 because the sun did it. 74 00:03:11,665 --> 00:03:13,925 Um, and that was like 1973. 75 00:03:14,745 --> 00:03:18,325 Um, so it's, it's doing the talk, right? Doing 76 00:03:18,425 --> 00:03:19,425 - The talk. 77 00:03:19,425 --> 00:03:21,285 And it's clear Beth's parents put her on the right track 78 00:03:21,285 --> 00:03:23,485 towards being more mindful about her footprint. 79 00:03:23,905 --> 00:03:26,245 But what was the biggest difference between then 80 00:03:26,435 --> 00:03:28,605 that time in 1970 to today? 81 00:03:28,945 --> 00:03:31,605 - Now we look at how many Amazon packages do we get? 82 00:03:31,755 --> 00:03:36,325 It's so easy to consume, you know, we look at our wants, 83 00:03:36,375 --> 00:03:38,085 needs, and in the interest, uh, 84 00:03:38,145 --> 00:03:40,685 that's the mediation part of my trainings. 85 00:03:40,865 --> 00:03:44,645 If I look at the interest, I want an earth to be healthy. 86 00:03:45,105 --> 00:03:48,285 Do we pick up more than the mess we know we made? 87 00:03:48,285 --> 00:03:51,045 Because we're always making a mess. So, and 88 00:03:51,045 --> 00:03:52,885 - The last thing I wanted to hear from Beth was 89 00:03:53,115 --> 00:03:56,685 what lessons can we apply from that time in 1970 to 90 00:03:56,795 --> 00:03:58,045 what we're dealing with today? 91 00:03:58,355 --> 00:04:01,525 - There's power in collective people, as, 92 00:04:01,585 --> 00:04:03,605 as Mr. Rogers would say, and hard times. 93 00:04:03,715 --> 00:04:05,525 Look for the people who are doing good 94 00:04:05,905 --> 00:04:07,205 and knowledge is power. 95 00:04:07,665 --> 00:04:09,925 It was a national movement that worked 96 00:04:10,645 --> 00:04:13,805 globally on the simplest level with children in mind. 97 00:04:14,225 --> 00:04:18,245 Are the waterways and the pathways clean? Do they look good? 98 00:04:18,415 --> 00:04:21,365 Would they be healthy habitat for animals? 99 00:04:22,065 --> 00:04:24,045 How do we produce those habitats, 100 00:04:24,225 --> 00:04:25,565 you know, and set boundaries? 101 00:04:25,565 --> 00:04:27,965 Yeah, this is what is important to me. So as 102 00:04:27,965 --> 00:04:29,605 - We look to the future on this Earth Day, 103 00:04:29,635 --> 00:04:31,845 it's not about the world you and I live in today, 104 00:04:32,485 --> 00:04:35,085 although it's clearly rapidly changing due to our impact. 105 00:04:35,545 --> 00:04:37,605 The ramifications are worse for those 106 00:04:37,605 --> 00:04:39,005 who we are bringing into this world. 107 00:04:39,235 --> 00:04:41,765 Like my son Miles, who just turned nine months old. 108 00:04:42,025 --> 00:04:44,405 So I wanted to bring on someone who I can empathize 109 00:04:44,405 --> 00:04:46,645 with due the amount of time we don't have anymore, 110 00:04:46,645 --> 00:04:48,685 because he is also a brand new dad. 111 00:04:49,185 --> 00:04:51,405 And not only that, he's the multimedia 112 00:04:51,405 --> 00:04:52,565 specialist here at BLI. 113 00:04:52,635 --> 00:04:53,805 Welcome to the show, Greg. 114 00:04:57,905 --> 00:04:58,925 - Hey, thanks for having me. 115 00:04:59,105 --> 00:05:00,725 - Of course. This is your first, uh, 116 00:05:00,725 --> 00:05:02,045 public podcast. How you feeling? 117 00:05:02,315 --> 00:05:05,565 - Yeah, it good. I'm usually behind, uh, the scenes, 118 00:05:05,705 --> 00:05:07,045 so this is kind of weird to be in front 119 00:05:07,045 --> 00:05:08,365 of the microphone, but here we are. 120 00:05:08,925 --> 00:05:10,085 - , well, no pressure. 121 00:05:10,275 --> 00:05:12,085 Well, I should say the pressure is off, 122 00:05:12,185 --> 00:05:13,445 or maybe there's a little bit of pressure. 123 00:05:13,725 --> 00:05:15,645 I guess we'll find out. What does Earth Day mean to you? 124 00:05:16,025 --> 00:05:21,005 - Um, earth Day is about to me, preserving, 125 00:05:21,505 --> 00:05:23,325 uh, the environment and ecosystem 126 00:05:24,025 --> 00:05:26,485 and a way of, um, 127 00:05:26,995 --> 00:05:30,045 leaving a res a responsible footprint 128 00:05:30,145 --> 00:05:31,965 on the earth as humans. Great 129 00:05:31,965 --> 00:05:32,965 - Answer. 130 00:05:32,965 --> 00:05:34,925 . We know the internet is flooded 131 00:05:34,925 --> 00:05:36,765 with information and it's hard to separate 132 00:05:37,475 --> 00:05:38,565 fact from fiction, right? 133 00:05:38,565 --> 00:05:41,125 Even as I was preparing for this episode, I, I had 134 00:05:41,125 --> 00:05:44,605 to peel back a few layers, um, but I just wanted to get you 135 00:05:44,745 --> 00:05:47,765 and our listeners hip to a few resources that came across 136 00:05:48,305 --> 00:05:50,165 as a good starting point. Does that sound good to you? 137 00:05:50,395 --> 00:05:51,645 - Yeah, let's hear it. - All right. 138 00:05:51,645 --> 00:05:54,005 So there are three great resources you need to know about. 139 00:05:54,005 --> 00:05:56,685 Okay? The first one is the epa.gov, um, 140 00:05:56,745 --> 00:05:59,645 and specifically for Earth Day slash Earth Day. 141 00:05:59,825 --> 00:06:01,965 And then there's another great resource called Earth 142 00:06:02,025 --> 00:06:05,645 day.org, uh, which is the foundation built around Earth Day, 143 00:06:05,645 --> 00:06:07,365 which is every year on April 22nd. 144 00:06:07,865 --> 00:06:08,965 And then the last one is, 145 00:06:08,965 --> 00:06:11,605 you're gonna love this name tree hugger.com. 146 00:06:12,075 --> 00:06:14,685 - Nice. Totally hippie vibes. I like that. Yes, 147 00:06:14,915 --> 00:06:15,915 - Very much so. 148 00:06:15,915 --> 00:06:17,365 But tree hugger.com is great 149 00:06:17,365 --> 00:06:19,765 because you, there's a search function, 150 00:06:19,905 --> 00:06:22,765 so you can type in something like plastic recycling 151 00:06:23,025 --> 00:06:25,165 and it'll give you a list of articles that they've written 152 00:06:25,395 --> 00:06:27,605 that are sourced scientifically. 153 00:06:27,605 --> 00:06:29,565 So you can see the sources at the bottom of the page, which, 154 00:06:29,565 --> 00:06:32,965 so if you need even further in depth dive into 155 00:06:32,965 --> 00:06:34,805 what you're reading, you can go even 156 00:06:34,805 --> 00:06:35,845 further. It's pretty cool. Right? 157 00:06:35,995 --> 00:06:37,365 - Nice. Okay. Bookmarked. 158 00:06:37,465 --> 00:06:39,565 - And so knowing all this, I kind of just wanted 159 00:06:39,565 --> 00:06:42,245 to throw out three to four things that are really easy, 160 00:06:42,465 --> 00:06:44,165 not very time consuming are 161 00:06:44,185 --> 00:06:45,805 and are easy on the wallet sound okay? 162 00:06:45,915 --> 00:06:47,205 - Yeah, this is, this is perfect. 163 00:06:47,585 --> 00:06:51,765 - All right. So first one, how often are you dealing 164 00:06:51,795 --> 00:06:53,085 with like your junk email? 165 00:06:53,395 --> 00:06:55,605 - I'll go through like a sweep of like unsubscribe, 166 00:06:55,935 --> 00:06:57,245 maybe like twice a year. 167 00:06:57,795 --> 00:07:00,165 - Okay, cool. I mean, I'm, I'm more of like a daily rhythm. 168 00:07:00,195 --> 00:07:01,165 Like, don't email me, 169 00:07:01,225 --> 00:07:02,365 I'm getting rid of you, I'm getting rid of you. 170 00:07:02,365 --> 00:07:03,885 Right. I just wanna keep my email clean. 171 00:07:04,505 --> 00:07:07,085 But did you know there's a service where you can opt out 172 00:07:07,085 --> 00:07:08,085 of your physical junk mail? 173 00:07:08,525 --> 00:07:09,765 - I had no idea. Right. 174 00:07:09,885 --> 00:07:12,885 - I didn't know either. I get all kinds of crap in the mail 175 00:07:12,885 --> 00:07:15,085 that I don't ever read that goes straight into the trash. 176 00:07:15,085 --> 00:07:18,565 Right. And it should be no surprise that the effects 177 00:07:18,565 --> 00:07:19,725 of that are far reaching. 178 00:07:19,865 --> 00:07:22,925 And according to the EPA well over 4 million tons 179 00:07:23,065 --> 00:07:25,125 of junk mail is produced each year 180 00:07:25,545 --> 00:07:28,525 and about half of that ends up in landfills. Mostly unread. 181 00:07:28,995 --> 00:07:31,965 - Yeah. I'm just thinking about like how many times I go 182 00:07:31,965 --> 00:07:33,965 to the mailbox and then to the trash can. 183 00:07:34,195 --> 00:07:35,925 - Exactly. - And like that's a lot. 184 00:07:36,105 --> 00:07:37,365 - So you can say goodbye 185 00:07:37,505 --> 00:07:40,845 to those pre-approved credit card stuff. 186 00:07:41,025 --> 00:07:43,885 All that can go away in a really simple step. 187 00:07:44,025 --> 00:07:48,565 All you have to do is go to opt out pre-screen dot com. 188 00:07:48,875 --> 00:07:50,005 - Okay. - Okay. 189 00:07:50,145 --> 00:07:52,645 You're gonna provide some information and you're good. 190 00:07:53,075 --> 00:07:54,965 However, Greg, I gotta hip you. 191 00:07:54,995 --> 00:07:57,325 There's one small thing that might hang you up 192 00:07:57,585 --> 00:07:59,925 and I want you to take a deep breath before I tell you. 193 00:08:00,265 --> 00:08:01,265 Are you ready? 194 00:08:01,835 --> 00:08:05,205 - Okay. - You have to mail in the confirmation 195 00:08:05,935 --> 00:08:08,405 after doing it digitally, it sits totally. 196 00:08:08,765 --> 00:08:10,325 I don't understand it, but 197 00:08:10,435 --> 00:08:11,565 - Well, it's, it's like the nail 198 00:08:11,565 --> 00:08:12,605 in the coffin, right? Exactly. It's like, 199 00:08:12,605 --> 00:08:13,725 - Here's the little like it Exactly. 200 00:08:13,725 --> 00:08:16,805 Are you sure? Are you really gonna send us your opt out? 201 00:08:17,025 --> 00:08:18,805 So yeah, you gotta do the digital form. 202 00:08:19,465 --> 00:08:23,325 Um, we'll put all this information, um, in the notes 203 00:08:23,325 --> 00:08:25,445 of this episode so you guys have the links 204 00:08:25,665 --> 00:08:27,165 - And it could just be like anything. 205 00:08:27,385 --> 00:08:29,045 So it's just like, you know, the American 206 00:08:29,045 --> 00:08:31,045 Express like offer card. 207 00:08:31,375 --> 00:08:34,285 - Great question. This is specifically for credit companies. 208 00:08:34,395 --> 00:08:36,045 Okay. It's gonna get rid, it's gonna get you 209 00:08:36,045 --> 00:08:37,165 off their mailing lists. 210 00:08:37,515 --> 00:08:39,885 - Okay. That's good. That definitely cuts down like at least 211 00:08:39,915 --> 00:08:41,405 half of the junk mail. I'm 212 00:08:41,405 --> 00:08:43,245 - More like 75% of my junk mail is, 213 00:08:43,245 --> 00:08:44,885 is credit, credit related. 214 00:08:45,325 --> 00:08:47,365 - I think like the other, the other parts are just like 215 00:08:47,575 --> 00:08:49,845 silly, um, like food service thing. 216 00:08:49,845 --> 00:08:53,045 Like I get like stuff from HelloFresh like all the time. So 217 00:08:53,455 --> 00:08:54,565 - We're gonna get to that one next. 218 00:08:54,625 --> 00:08:57,525 But first have you switched everything over to paperless 219 00:08:57,975 --> 00:08:59,445 - Where I all your bills 220 00:08:59,625 --> 00:09:01,965 and Yeah, there are a few that like, 221 00:09:02,275 --> 00:09:05,645 like municipality things where that like have to be by mail. 222 00:09:05,785 --> 00:09:07,685 But yeah, I'm pretty good about that. Cool. 223 00:09:07,685 --> 00:09:08,885 - And when it comes to the local stuff, 224 00:09:08,885 --> 00:09:10,285 that'll be the last thing we touch on. 225 00:09:10,385 --> 00:09:13,365 So is making sure we're all going paperless, um, 226 00:09:13,365 --> 00:09:15,005 with our bills and all that kind of stuff. 227 00:09:15,425 --> 00:09:18,365 So the second one is, have you ever heard of Data 228 00:09:18,585 --> 00:09:19,965 and Marketing Association? 229 00:09:20,505 --> 00:09:23,965 No. Well, apparently it's the largest trade association in 230 00:09:23,965 --> 00:09:27,005 the US devoted to serving all aspects of marketing. 231 00:09:27,425 --> 00:09:30,485 And they basically control the mailing lists that 232 00:09:31,465 --> 00:09:34,285 may be folks like HelloFresh are able to access in order 233 00:09:34,305 --> 00:09:36,685 to send you information if you haven't necessarily 234 00:09:36,685 --> 00:09:37,845 signed up for their services. 235 00:09:38,625 --> 00:09:41,485 So in order to opt out of those kind of marketing lists, 236 00:09:41,545 --> 00:09:46,205 you have to go to DMA choice.org and create a profile. 237 00:09:46,625 --> 00:09:47,925 The great thing is you can add up 238 00:09:47,925 --> 00:09:51,045 to five names per household on this profile. 239 00:09:51,345 --> 00:09:54,485 The only ketchup here though, is it's a $5 registration fee. 240 00:09:54,825 --> 00:09:56,645 So if you got five bucks 241 00:09:56,825 --> 00:09:59,085 and you want to be opted out of those kinds of things, 242 00:09:59,655 --> 00:10:00,925 definitely go for it. 243 00:10:01,445 --> 00:10:02,645 I took a look at my junk mail. 244 00:10:03,085 --> 00:10:04,285 I don't really get a lot of that, 245 00:10:04,905 --> 00:10:06,045 so I haven't decided necessarily 246 00:10:06,045 --> 00:10:07,165 to sign up for that service quite yet. 247 00:10:07,355 --> 00:10:08,565 Okay. Alright. Cool. 248 00:10:09,265 --> 00:10:11,765 Now you had mentioned local municipality stuff, right? 249 00:10:11,875 --> 00:10:13,485 Yeah, I definitely get a lot of that, 250 00:10:13,485 --> 00:10:14,885 especially election season 251 00:10:15,545 --> 00:10:18,485 or utility bill from the village. 252 00:10:19,185 --> 00:10:21,045 For those, you're gonna need to go straight to the source, 253 00:10:21,345 --> 00:10:23,245 do a little Googling, find the website, 254 00:10:23,415 --> 00:10:24,925 maybe even call your town hall 255 00:10:25,385 --> 00:10:26,525 and ask them to make sure 256 00:10:26,525 --> 00:10:28,365 that you are switched to paperless billing. 257 00:10:28,605 --> 00:10:30,565 - Hmm. Or I could unsubscribe from billing 258 00:10:30,625 --> 00:10:32,085 and they just don't have to bill me anymore. 259 00:10:32,085 --> 00:10:34,005 - There you go. Yeah. I would love not to pay my water bill. 260 00:10:34,005 --> 00:10:35,005 Right? , . 261 00:10:36,225 --> 00:10:37,925 - Um, okay, cool. 262 00:10:38,365 --> 00:10:40,045 - Alrightyy, so that, that takes care of like, 263 00:10:40,075 --> 00:10:41,125 kind of like our junk mail. 264 00:10:41,145 --> 00:10:44,605 And again, maybe 15 minutes of your time, Greg. 265 00:10:45,065 --> 00:10:48,565 And you could eliminate most of the physical junk mail 266 00:10:48,565 --> 00:10:50,605 that you'll receive in your lifetime. 267 00:10:50,905 --> 00:10:53,085 Pretty neat, right? Mm-Hmm, . Cool. 268 00:10:53,455 --> 00:10:56,045 Let's talk about recycling. Do you recycle? 269 00:10:56,465 --> 00:10:58,925 Yes, I have some bad news. Okay. . 270 00:10:58,985 --> 00:11:00,805 And it's named plastics. Uhhuh . 271 00:11:00,955 --> 00:11:02,445 What percentage of plastics do 272 00:11:02,445 --> 00:11:03,525 you think are actually recycled? 273 00:11:04,265 --> 00:11:06,285 - Oh gosh. I think this all the time. Actually. 274 00:11:06,845 --> 00:11:10,605 I would hope that you know, it's 275 00:11:10,855 --> 00:11:12,125 above 50%. 276 00:11:12,305 --> 00:11:13,305 At least 277 00:11:13,865 --> 00:11:14,865 - 6%, bud. 278 00:11:15,265 --> 00:11:18,085 - Oh, - It's brutal, right? Yeah. Yeah. 279 00:11:18,165 --> 00:11:19,325 I, uh, that one hit me in the stomach 280 00:11:19,525 --> 00:11:20,685 'cause I was kind of doing this research 281 00:11:20,905 --> 00:11:23,845 and it's dropped from its peak 282 00:11:24,555 --> 00:11:26,365 9.5%. 283 00:11:26,905 --> 00:11:28,845 Um, so yeah, it's, it's not a good thing. 284 00:11:29,105 --> 00:11:30,565 Um, and this includes things 285 00:11:30,565 --> 00:11:31,885 that are exported to China, right? 286 00:11:31,885 --> 00:11:33,965 Because we know that we export a lot of our plastic 287 00:11:34,185 --> 00:11:35,405 to be recycled in other places, 288 00:11:35,665 --> 00:11:39,165 but unfortunately plastic is about as bad 289 00:11:39,165 --> 00:11:41,005 as it gets when it comes to things we use. 290 00:11:41,195 --> 00:11:43,845 However, there is good news here, and it's called glass. 291 00:11:44,465 --> 00:11:46,605 Do you recycle glass? Yeah. 292 00:11:46,865 --> 00:11:49,925 One of the key benefits of glass recycling is its low amount 293 00:11:49,925 --> 00:11:52,205 of energy required to melt it down for new purpose. 294 00:11:52,585 --> 00:11:54,605 Um, glass is made from things like sand, 295 00:11:54,715 --> 00:11:55,765 soda, ash, and limestone. 296 00:11:55,905 --> 00:11:58,125 And once melted glass can be poured 297 00:11:58,125 --> 00:11:59,245 and molded into the shapes 298 00:11:59,245 --> 00:12:00,885 of new bottles, jars and containers. 299 00:12:01,305 --> 00:12:03,165 Um, and it's estimated that 80% 300 00:12:03,165 --> 00:12:05,965 of glass recycled becomes reused in new 301 00:12:05,965 --> 00:12:07,565 products, which is pretty great. Okay, 302 00:12:07,565 --> 00:12:08,565 - That makes sense. 303 00:12:08,565 --> 00:12:09,845 And you know, like sometimes when you're on the beach 304 00:12:09,985 --> 00:12:13,885 and you see like glass, like worn glass that's been like 305 00:12:13,985 --> 00:12:16,685 around forever and it just like blends in with the rocks. 306 00:12:16,685 --> 00:12:18,605 So that like , even 307 00:12:18,605 --> 00:12:19,965 what you're saying makes a lot of sense 308 00:12:19,965 --> 00:12:21,005 to me. Do you know what I'm talking about? 309 00:12:21,205 --> 00:12:23,045 - Absolutely. The problem is it takes 1 million years 310 00:12:23,065 --> 00:12:25,325 for glass to actually go away. 311 00:12:25,745 --> 00:12:27,565 So in a sense, I hear what you're saying, 312 00:12:27,625 --> 00:12:29,965 but I think we should reframe it, um, 313 00:12:30,505 --> 00:12:31,605 in, in two different ways. 314 00:12:31,825 --> 00:12:34,685 Uh, first there's glass, you can recycle uhhuh, 315 00:12:34,725 --> 00:12:36,765 , clear glass that's used in containers, 316 00:12:36,795 --> 00:12:38,805 bottles and jars can be recycled. 317 00:12:38,825 --> 00:12:41,885 Oh yeah. So there's glass that you cannot recycle 318 00:12:42,105 --> 00:12:44,165 or you need to find out more information about. 319 00:12:44,705 --> 00:12:46,965 Um, and that would be colored glass. 320 00:12:47,115 --> 00:12:50,885 Your three main glasses are clear, amber and green. 321 00:12:51,255 --> 00:12:53,685 Again, part of your research that you need to do 322 00:12:53,685 --> 00:12:56,525 with your municipality is do these glasses need 323 00:12:56,525 --> 00:13:00,005 to be separated in order for proper recycling? 324 00:13:00,115 --> 00:13:03,285 Because the melting points of those glasses are different. 325 00:13:03,825 --> 00:13:05,805 So if I have a bunch of clear glass 326 00:13:05,945 --> 00:13:07,645 and some green gets thrown in there, 327 00:13:08,185 --> 00:13:09,965 you're actually gonna spoil the whole batch. 328 00:13:10,505 --> 00:13:12,005 - Oh no. - Yeah. 329 00:13:12,065 --> 00:13:14,645 And, and, and if the worker who is I'm sure is 330 00:13:15,235 --> 00:13:18,965 many hours deep into sorting glass, you know, it, it's just, 331 00:13:19,035 --> 00:13:21,645 it's this idea of how can we help as much as possible 332 00:13:21,645 --> 00:13:22,725 before it gets to the person. 333 00:13:23,055 --> 00:13:24,405 Right. Who's recycling? 334 00:13:24,505 --> 00:13:26,645 So I checked it out for my municipality. 335 00:13:27,055 --> 00:13:30,005 Turns out all that glass can go in there together. 336 00:13:30,425 --> 00:13:32,245 No problem. So homework for you. 337 00:13:32,705 --> 00:13:36,005 Do some research to find out can all my glass go in 338 00:13:36,225 --> 00:13:37,225 - To place? 339 00:13:37,225 --> 00:13:38,405 Right? Because I'm thinking about it. There is an alcoholic 340 00:13:38,765 --> 00:13:41,125 beverage company that I enjoy that does green, 341 00:13:41,765 --> 00:13:42,805 a green glass, right? 342 00:13:42,945 --> 00:13:44,285 And I'm like, oh crap. Okay. 343 00:13:45,065 --> 00:13:46,365 And then there are some that are, yeah. 344 00:13:46,365 --> 00:13:48,365 What, what's the word you used? Amber? Right? 345 00:13:48,435 --> 00:13:50,365 Like the Uhhuh. . Interesting. 346 00:13:50,945 --> 00:13:52,405 - Now Greg, I overheard 347 00:13:52,405 --> 00:13:54,405 that you have a bag full of light bulbs over there. 348 00:13:54,765 --> 00:13:57,925 - I do. I'm like, I'm like, what do I do with these 349 00:13:58,185 --> 00:13:59,185 - Not recyclable. 350 00:13:59,185 --> 00:14:03,365 Okay. In fact, they're sometimes considered hazardous waste. 351 00:14:04,145 --> 00:14:07,125 So you need, again, contact your local recycling center 352 00:14:07,145 --> 00:14:10,685 to see if they have an option, um, for recycling these. 353 00:14:11,105 --> 00:14:12,765 Or like a local consumer store, 354 00:14:12,765 --> 00:14:14,005 like a Lowe's or a Home Depot. 355 00:14:14,425 --> 00:14:17,045 Mm-Hmm. should have, um, places for you 356 00:14:17,045 --> 00:14:19,605 to be able to get rid of those things along with windows, 357 00:14:20,155 --> 00:14:22,885 mirrors, all those kinds of products that we can't recycle. 358 00:14:23,075 --> 00:14:24,245 - Okay, good. - Okay. 359 00:14:24,245 --> 00:14:26,205 We're gonna be wrapping up here shortly, I promise. 360 00:14:26,665 --> 00:14:28,845 But let's talk laundry. You ready? Yeah. 361 00:14:29,405 --> 00:14:30,845 , how much laundry do you do now? 362 00:14:31,205 --> 00:14:34,605 - . Oh my god. all the time. . 363 00:14:34,745 --> 00:14:38,405 - You know, it's like my, our loads increased, you know, 364 00:14:38,725 --> 00:14:41,285 probably two to three times and then folding time 365 00:14:41,995 --> 00:14:43,165 exponentially increase. 366 00:14:43,365 --> 00:14:44,925 'cause you're folding these little tiny things. 367 00:14:45,245 --> 00:14:48,405 . Yeah. So I wanted to hit you 368 00:14:48,405 --> 00:14:50,605 to something called earth breeze laundry detergent. 369 00:14:51,305 --> 00:14:53,205 Eco sheets. Cool. Okay. 370 00:14:53,225 --> 00:14:55,685 So we were able to get rid of, you know, 371 00:14:55,685 --> 00:14:58,765 your big plastic laundry detergent thing. 372 00:14:59,105 --> 00:15:00,925 Uh, we get in the mail once a month. 373 00:15:01,185 --> 00:15:04,685 Uh, it's 30 sheets, um, of laundry detergent 374 00:15:04,995 --> 00:15:06,125 that smell great 375 00:15:06,305 --> 00:15:07,525 and are great for baby skin 376 00:15:07,525 --> 00:15:08,565 too, so you don't have to worry about that. 377 00:15:08,945 --> 00:15:11,605 And it comes in a, uh, paper envelope, 378 00:15:11,605 --> 00:15:12,885 which is completely recyclable. 379 00:15:13,885 --> 00:15:16,445 - Interesting. And so like, this obviously is not like the 380 00:15:16,445 --> 00:15:17,925 liquid detergent that we're used to. 381 00:15:18,025 --> 00:15:19,565 It is, it's just like a sheet? No, 382 00:15:19,565 --> 00:15:21,085 - It just comes in like a, a sheet. 383 00:15:21,085 --> 00:15:22,885 Yeah. And if, if you get it wet, it's gonna go away. Right? 384 00:15:22,885 --> 00:15:24,005 It's kinda like cotton candy, I guess. 385 00:15:24,005 --> 00:15:26,405 - Yeah. And how mu how big of a load does one sheet do? 386 00:15:26,405 --> 00:15:29,165 Is that like one full load? Full load? Holy cow. 387 00:15:29,465 --> 00:15:31,525 - So if you got a halfie, rip it in half. 388 00:15:31,675 --> 00:15:32,965 - Nice. All right. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. 389 00:15:32,985 --> 00:15:34,485 So you can get up to 60 loads. 390 00:15:34,705 --> 00:15:37,565 Uh, one a month is great for us. So 391 00:15:37,705 --> 00:15:39,045 - Do you wanna hear something really silly? 392 00:15:39,155 --> 00:15:41,805 Totally. I'll, I'll finish like a, 393 00:15:42,005 --> 00:15:44,445 a liquid laundry detergent bottle 394 00:15:45,465 --> 00:15:47,045 and I don't know how to recycle it. 395 00:15:47,525 --> 00:15:48,605 , I don't know what to do. 396 00:15:48,865 --> 00:15:52,805 So like the do, do you like rinse something like that 397 00:15:53,385 --> 00:15:57,445 or like thoroughly before you throw that into the recycling? 398 00:15:57,445 --> 00:16:00,285 Like what's the, what's the rule on like dirty versus clean 399 00:16:00,905 --> 00:16:01,905 - In general? 400 00:16:02,065 --> 00:16:06,365 Uh, the best practice for recycling anything really is 401 00:16:06,365 --> 00:16:07,525 to make sure it's cleaned out. 402 00:16:07,975 --> 00:16:09,205 Especially with food. 403 00:16:09,475 --> 00:16:12,685 Food can really ruin, uh, the recycling process. 404 00:16:13,105 --> 00:16:14,765 Um, it contaminates the process. 405 00:16:15,585 --> 00:16:18,565 Um, and on that note, if you're putting plastic bags 406 00:16:19,635 --> 00:16:21,525 into your recycling, that holds your recycling. 407 00:16:21,585 --> 00:16:23,645 Mm-Hmm. gotta cut that out. The uh 408 00:16:23,785 --> 00:16:24,785 - Oh good. 409 00:16:24,785 --> 00:16:25,885 I don't do that. Yeah. And I thought that 410 00:16:26,355 --> 00:16:28,285 that was, didn't know that that 411 00:16:28,445 --> 00:16:29,445 - Affected them. 412 00:16:29,445 --> 00:16:30,605 Yeah, that's good. Yeah. Plastic, plastic bags ruin the, 413 00:16:30,605 --> 00:16:33,565 ruin the process as well for, um, for recycling. 414 00:16:33,625 --> 00:16:35,005 So last one. Okay. 415 00:16:35,005 --> 00:16:36,765 And I know I can hear my baby upstairs 416 00:16:36,785 --> 00:16:37,885 and it's time for me to take over. 417 00:16:38,625 --> 00:16:40,685 Um, do you use dryer sheets? 418 00:16:41,545 --> 00:16:43,725 - No. - Nice. I love to hear it. 419 00:16:44,065 --> 00:16:46,885 - It was not from an environmental perspective at all, 420 00:16:47,055 --> 00:16:48,325 other than just I think 421 00:16:48,325 --> 00:16:50,085 that there're a pain in the butt, but Yeah, 422 00:16:50,395 --> 00:16:51,395 - Yeah, yeah. 423 00:16:51,395 --> 00:16:53,525 Well you're totally right and they actually don't work. 424 00:16:53,635 --> 00:16:55,885 It's just something that was pushed on to us consumers 425 00:16:55,905 --> 00:16:57,805 and just kind of turned into something. 426 00:16:57,865 --> 00:16:59,325 Oh, I'm just supposed to do that. Right. 427 00:16:59,625 --> 00:17:02,405 Um, they absolutely don't necessarily work. 428 00:17:02,555 --> 00:17:05,445 There's no hard evidence, um, on the effects 429 00:17:05,585 --> 00:17:07,845 of the chemicals they use in the dryer sheets. 430 00:17:08,305 --> 00:17:10,565 Um, they don't necessarily work at all, frankly, 431 00:17:10,985 --> 00:17:12,405 but there's a great alternative 432 00:17:12,705 --> 00:17:14,285 and they're, we're talking dryer balls. 433 00:17:14,285 --> 00:17:17,485 You ever heard dryer balls? No. Dryer balls are amazing. 434 00:17:17,485 --> 00:17:18,565 We've been using them for years. 435 00:17:19,185 --> 00:17:21,525 Um, they usually come in a set of three or six 436 00:17:21,545 --> 00:17:24,605 and they're felted wool balls that you put in your dryer 437 00:17:24,605 --> 00:17:26,365 with your laundry and they bounce around. 438 00:17:26,425 --> 00:17:27,885 It kind of help keeps fluffed 439 00:17:27,885 --> 00:17:31,045 and it allows air pockets to be formed to make sure, um, 440 00:17:31,045 --> 00:17:33,365 your dryer, your drying cycles are shorter, 441 00:17:33,995 --> 00:17:36,525 they're more efficient and they get rid of static. 442 00:17:37,145 --> 00:17:39,085 And if you really, really, really need 443 00:17:39,085 --> 00:17:42,005 that dryer sheet scent that you love so much 444 00:17:42,005 --> 00:17:44,805 as you're folding laundry, all you gotta do is put some 445 00:17:44,805 --> 00:17:47,405 essential oil on those dryer balls 446 00:17:47,825 --> 00:17:50,045 and bang, your clothes are smelling like 447 00:17:50,045 --> 00:17:51,125 however you want 'em to smell, like. 448 00:17:51,265 --> 00:17:54,245 Oh, wow. All right. Yeah, alrightyy. 449 00:17:54,245 --> 00:17:57,925 So I hope those four dirty tips of getting rid 450 00:17:57,925 --> 00:18:00,285 of your physical junk mail, you know, learning how 451 00:18:00,285 --> 00:18:03,725 to recycle glass appropriately, getting rid of dryer sheets 452 00:18:03,945 --> 00:18:07,645 and hopping on to the laundry eco sheet bandwagon. 453 00:18:07,865 --> 00:18:10,365 I'm, I'm hoping I'm, I'm setting your household up 454 00:18:10,365 --> 00:18:11,965 for some success over there. You're 455 00:18:11,965 --> 00:18:12,965 - Blowing my mind right now. 456 00:18:13,015 --> 00:18:15,445 These are all great tips. I really do appreciate it. 457 00:18:15,765 --> 00:18:17,525 - . Alright. Well Greg, thank you so much 458 00:18:17,525 --> 00:18:18,645 for being here and uh, 459 00:18:18,665 --> 00:18:21,085 I'm sure I'll see you in like a teams meeting in 460 00:18:21,085 --> 00:18:22,125 like a second . 461 00:18:22,145 --> 00:18:24,885 - Sounds good. Thanks guy. - All right, see you. Bye. 462 00:18:32,155 --> 00:18:34,605 This has been a production of balancing Life's issues 463 00:18:34,605 --> 00:18:36,285 with your hosts, Kai Sorenson 464 00:18:36,305 --> 00:18:39,525 and Wendy Wallner, produced by me Kai Rate. 465 00:18:39,525 --> 00:18:41,325 Leave a review and subscribe to the podcast 466 00:18:41,925 --> 00:18:43,845 wherever you listen so you can get brand new 467 00:18:43,845 --> 00:18:45,085 episodes as they drop. 468 00:18:45,505 --> 00:18:46,565 Got an idea for the show. 469 00:18:47,015 --> 00:18:51,405 Email me, k i@balancinglifesissues.com. Anything to add? 470 00:18:51,405 --> 00:18:52,285 Miles? No.