It’s 2020, a new year plus a new decade and that has us filled with a lot of hope. Yes, we have a lot to get done but there is nothing like a fresh start, wouldn’t you agree? Seeing that our mission is to help combat climate change from an individual level, we thought we would kick 2020 off with a deeper dive into one of our favorite R’s, Recycling. We explore the state of recycling from the global + corporate perspective including greenwashing & a lawsuit against Keurig, then we narrow into what is actually happening in CO regarding waste management, it might surprise you. And finally, we focus on a few habit shifts you can easily tackle personally.

Happy New Year Friend!

Global

I bet you feel that if you are placing all items marked with the 3-arrow recycling icon in the recycling bin you are doing your part. And you are not wrong, in theory. Turns out the propaganda around plastic recycling has lead us to believe that those 3-arrow recycle symbols ensure that a process and a market for turning those items into another usable form actually exists. And unfortunately that is really only the case with about two of the seven types of plastics. For the USA in 2017, only 8.4 percent of recyclables were genuinely recycled into a new usable product.

The Great Recycling Con, a 5 minute video from the New York Times breaks down what we were taught about recycling in contrast to how it is actually working today. Our advice based on this video and the hygge | HABIT philosophy is to continue to carefully evaluate your purchases and buy as if nothing gets recycled.

Local

Contrary to misconceptions, things are much trashier than we thought here in Colorado. On average a Coloradoan produces over 9 pounds of waste per day and less than 2 of them are being recycled. Sadly, the reality is that the majority of this waste could be diverted from the landfill if we had proper processes & infrastructure in place. The good news, the 2019 Colorado Legislature put some time and energy into studying waste and recycling infrastructure, composting, and public awareness with the goal of moving toward zero waste in Colorado. We hope to see that momentum continue into actual change for our state. Read their full Zero Waste and Recyling Report, or for more on recycling + waste management in Colorado at large, check out our blog.

Personal

To bring it home, pun intended, here’s a hack to help you *not forget* your reusable alternative to the daily single-use items. Whether you place it in the recycling bin or not, the likelihood that the plastic-lined, disposable paper coffee cup actually gets recycled is slim, so we’ll start here.

Instead of trying to remember the coffee mug giveaway that doesn’t match your taste, choose something that fits your style so much that you actually miss it when you leave the house. Personally, we’ve proven that when you truly like it, you are much more likely to remember to grab it on your way out, no different than your sunglasses or wallet. So invest in a mug, a water bottle, a utensil set, etc that you actually prefer, just like you would any other statement accessory. We share the single-use replacements (pictured above) that we carry with us daily in our blog.

About hygge | HABIT

The hH methodology is all about harmony. Making choices that are intentional and sustainable allows us to be more comfortable with letting go, more open to change and more inspired to create new patterns and places.

“We collaborate with you to create inspiring spaces and empower lifestyle habits that positively impact our shared environment.”