| Question:What inspired you initially to begin your | | | | the book. |
| Trash Talk venture?Answer:As a society, we are | | | | It is focused on providing the reader with a |
| bombarded with negative information | | | | sense of hope |
| about the environment and our resources | | | | and the knowledge that their actions have a |
| constantly. | | | | direct impact on |
| Feeling powerless because we cannot afford to | | | | their own pocketbook as well as the health of |
| donate | | | | the |
| cash or time to a cause, we begin to feel | | | | community. In fact, many chapters close with a |
| overwhelmed by | | | | list of the |
| the immense environmental problems our world | | | | direct benefits attained by taking the suggested |
| faces. | | | | actions and |
| Psychologists know that simply performing one | | | | the chapters can be read in any |
| positive | | | | order.Question:Why should anyone |
| action helps to define a positive outlook on life | | | | care?Answer:We think it is vital that people |
| and will | | | | recognize the volume of waste |
| inspire further participation from the | | | | generated in homes and businesses. Each bag |
| individual.Question:How long did the Trash Talk | | | | sent to the |
| column run?Answer:The articles began in 1999, | | | | landfill increases municipal costs and the need to |
| and were published for about 4 | | | | create |
| years. For the last couple of years, we have | | | | new landfill space. The ideas in this book will help |
| focused all our | | | | individuals and businesses to not only manage |
| energies towards compiling the articles into a | | | | their waste |
| book that | | | | and resource consumption, but also purchase |
| matched our expectations and the publisher's | | | | less.We show readers how to turn their yards |
| deadline.Question:Why the title?Answer:We talk | | | | into organic, |
| about trash so we simply called it Trash Talk. It | | | | wildlife paradises. Individuals will learn how to |
| was | | | | increase the |
| an eye-catching title for readers of our column, | | | | value of their real estate. Employers will learn |
| so we kept | | | | new ways of |
| the title for the book.The concept of the book is | | | | decreasing sick days and increasing staff |
| to reduce, | | | | production. |
| reuse or recycle items that were formally | | | | Communities will learn how to reduce smog and |
| destined for the | | | | waste |
| landfill. The idea of refusing to buy products with | | | | issues. Each - and every one -of these things we |
| excessive | | | | just |
| packaging is another key element discussed. You | | | | mentioned can have a huge effect on the |
| are | | | | financial state and |
| sending a powerful message to manufacturers | | | | health of people within our |
| when their | | | | communities.Question:What makes this book so |
| sales figures decrease.Question:What kind of | | | | enjoyable that people keep |
| book is Trash Talk?Answer:Firstly, Trash Talk is | | | | referring back to it?Answer:The hands-on reuse |
| meant to inspire participation from the | | | | ideas make it easy to start right away |
| individual in easing the world's environmental | | | | with simple projects around the home or office |
| strain. The | | | | that make a |
| entire book is focused on bringing the reader | | | | difference. The positive approach gives the |
| inspiring facts, | | | | feeling that there |
| useful ideas, and a real sense of hope. We show | | | | is hope and that no matter how small you start |
| how | | | | it is just that - |
| recycling benefits us all and discuss how the 4-R's | | | | a start. In no time the inclination to look at |
| of waste | | | | anything twice |
| management are implemented. By treating waste | | | | before discarding it will be a reflex action. |
| as a | | | | Because readers |
| resource, the reader will save money and better | | | | learn of the direct benefits of each action they |
| the | | | | make, we |
| environment.Question:Where is the likely | | | | hope they will find the courage to further their |
| readership? What type of person would | | | | management |
| be attracted to this book?Answer:Anyone that | | | | journey. This book could very well be one of the |
| creates waste, that likes to save money and | | | | best tools |
| who would like to lessen their personal impact on | | | | for individuals and businesses to meet Zero |
| the | | | | Waste goals.Question:What is the best way to get |
| environment would get something very useful | | | | started in recycling?Answer:Returnable bottles and |
| out of this | | | | cans are probably the easiest to |
| book.Anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or | | | | begin with, and have the additional incentive of |
| depressed about the | | | | receiving |
| state of the earth can find some comfort in our | | | | money for bringing them to the depot. All office |
| pages. | | | | paper, |
| Individuals and businesses will learn how to save | | | | envelopes, cereal boxes, newspaper and junk |
| money | | | | mail can be |
| and time. Our financial consultant tells us that if | | | | put in one box and taken to the depot. |
| people | | | | Cardboard is also |
| could find a way to save just $7 a day they | | | | easily recycled. However, not all glass is |
| could contribute | | | | recyclable. Very |
| to their retirement monthly. We show people | | | | few depots accept ceramics or drinking glasses. |
| how to | | | | Because |
| accomplish this simply by improving their waste | | | | mixed glass is less valuable than separated colors, |
| and | | | | many |
| resource management.Question:What is the sales | | | | depots require glass to be sorted by color. Tin |
| potential of the book? What are the | | | | cans and |
| interests of the book?Answer:Zero Waste | | | | aluminum foil can be put in another box. Labels |
| initiatives are gaining popularity in communities | | | | on jars and |
| across North America. Education systems are | | | | cans are also recyclable.It is easiest to start |
| teaching | | | | recycling these resources. When the |
| recycling and environmental sciences in their | | | | family becomes used to these, they can consider |
| curriculum. | | | | recycling |
| And, the last time we checked, the landfills were | | | | plastics, metals and many other things. Recycling |
| not getting | | | | is the first |
| any smaller. It is in the best interest of all of us | | | | step in taking responsible measures to deal with |
| on this | | | | our waste |
| planet to make it as healthy and non-toxic as | | | | problems.Question:Do you have outlets for all |
| possible in | | | | your recycled items?Answer:Most communities |
| order to remain. With this in mind, we felt it was | | | | have big recycling bins, reuse centers |
| vitally | | | | and take-it-back programs available for the public. |
| important to have this book published, aiding | | | | There are |
| communities | | | | differences in each depot. For instance, some |
| in their waste reduction efforts.Question:What | | | | require |
| makes this book unique?Answer:Trash Talk is | | | | labels to be taken off cans and bottles - others |
| about implementing the | | | | do not. Some |
| Refuse-Reduce-Reuse tactics first, in that order, | | | | accept all rigid plastics from #1-#7 - others |
| before | | | | accept only |
| even considering recycling. In this, we are not | | | | translucent milk jugs. It is important to become |
| trying to | | | | familiar with |
| pronounce that recycling is a negative approach | | | | local depot requirements because the wrong |
| by any | | | | thing can ruin |
| means - more a final solution when all other | | | | the whole bin.Question:How does one "save time |
| options have | | | | and money"? Provide some |
| been considered. By taking matters into our own | | | | examples of how reuse works.Answer:Even |
| hands we | | | | before recycling, a plastic container can be reused |
| can ease the burden that is upon the recycling | | | | for |
| industry, | | | | various storage means numerous times. This |
| decrease our own household costs and help | | | | means the |
| preserve our | | | | container is not going to the landfill, contributing |
| resources.In all our research, we could find only | | | | increasing |
| four, or five, books on | | | | municipal costs and loss of land. The individual |
| this subject throughout North America. Most of | | | | saves |
| these are | | | | money by not purchasing a storage |
| regionally based and were written up to 10 years | | | | container.Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet |
| ago. We | | | | based on the concept |
| have written Trash Talk for a wider, North | | | | of their new book Trash Talk, a guide for |
| American | | | | anyone concerned |
| audience. We included a list of over 140 | | | | about his or her impact on the environment, that |
| magazines, Internet | | | | offers |
| sites, books and reports that were used in the | | | | useful solutions to reduce waste and better |
| writing | | | | manage |
| process, as well as providing statistics throughout | | | | resources. |