The Beginings of the Environmental Book on Everyone's Lips

Question:What inspired you initially to begin yourthe book.
Trash Talk venture?Answer:As a society, we areIt is focused on providing the reader with a
bombarded with negative informationsense of hope
about the environment and our resourcesand the knowledge that their actions have a
constantly.direct impact on
Feeling powerless because we cannot afford totheir own pocketbook as well as the health of
donatethe
cash or time to a cause, we begin to feelcommunity. In fact, many chapters close with a
overwhelmed bylist of the
the immense environmental problems our worlddirect benefits attained by taking the suggested
faces.actions and
Psychologists know that simply performing onethe chapters can be read in any
positiveorder.Question:Why should anyone
action helps to define a positive outlook on lifecare?Answer:We think it is vital that people
and willrecognize the volume of waste
inspire further participation from thegenerated in homes and businesses. Each bag
individual.Question:How long did the Trash Talksent to the
column run?Answer:The articles began in 1999,landfill increases municipal costs and the need to
and were published for about 4create
years. For the last couple of years, we havenew landfill space. The ideas in this book will help
focused all ourindividuals and businesses to not only manage
energies towards compiling the articles into atheir waste
book thatand resource consumption, but also purchase
matched our expectations and the publisher'sless.We show readers how to turn their yards
deadline.Question:Why the title?Answer:We talkinto organic,
about trash so we simply called it Trash Talk. Itwildlife paradises. Individuals will learn how to
wasincrease the
an eye-catching title for readers of our column,value of their real estate. Employers will learn
so we keptnew ways of
the title for the book.The concept of the book isdecreasing sick days and increasing staff
to reduce,production.
reuse or recycle items that were formallyCommunities will learn how to reduce smog and
destined for thewaste
landfill. The idea of refusing to buy products withissues. Each - and every one -of these things we
excessivejust
packaging is another key element discussed. Youmentioned can have a huge effect on the
arefinancial state and
sending a powerful message to manufacturershealth of people within our
when theircommunities.Question:What makes this book so
sales figures decrease.Question:What kind ofenjoyable that people keep
book is Trash Talk?Answer:Firstly, Trash Talk isreferring back to it?Answer:The hands-on reuse
meant to inspire participation from theideas make it easy to start right away
individual in easing the world's environmentalwith simple projects around the home or office
strain. Thethat make a
entire book is focused on bringing the readerdifference. The positive approach gives the
inspiring facts,feeling that there
useful ideas, and a real sense of hope. We showis hope and that no matter how small you start
howit is just that -
recycling benefits us all and discuss how the 4-R'sa start. In no time the inclination to look at
of wasteanything twice
management are implemented. By treating wastebefore discarding it will be a reflex action.
as aBecause readers
resource, the reader will save money and betterlearn of the direct benefits of each action they
themake, we
environment.Question:Where is the likelyhope they will find the courage to further their
readership? What type of person wouldmanagement
be attracted to this book?Answer:Anyone thatjourney. This book could very well be one of the
creates waste, that likes to save money andbest tools
who would like to lessen their personal impact onfor individuals and businesses to meet Zero
theWaste goals.Question:What is the best way to get
environment would get something very usefulstarted in recycling?Answer:Returnable bottles and
out of thiscans are probably the easiest to
book.Anyone who is feeling overwhelmed orbegin with, and have the additional incentive of
depressed about thereceiving
state of the earth can find some comfort in ourmoney for bringing them to the depot. All office
pages.paper,
Individuals and businesses will learn how to saveenvelopes, cereal boxes, newspaper and junk
moneymail can be
and time. Our financial consultant tells us that ifput in one box and taken to the depot.
peopleCardboard is also
could find a way to save just $7 a day theyeasily recycled. However, not all glass is
could contributerecyclable. Very
to their retirement monthly. We show peoplefew depots accept ceramics or drinking glasses.
how toBecause
accomplish this simply by improving their wastemixed glass is less valuable than separated colors,
andmany
resource management.Question:What is the salesdepots require glass to be sorted by color. Tin
potential of the book? What are thecans and
interests of the book?Answer:Zero Wastealuminum foil can be put in another box. Labels
initiatives are gaining popularity in communitieson jars and
across North America. Education systems arecans are also recyclable.It is easiest to start
teachingrecycling these resources. When the
recycling and environmental sciences in theirfamily becomes used to these, they can consider
curriculum.recycling
And, the last time we checked, the landfills wereplastics, metals and many other things. Recycling
not gettingis the first
any smaller. It is in the best interest of all of usstep in taking responsible measures to deal with
on thisour waste
planet to make it as healthy and non-toxic asproblems.Question:Do you have outlets for all
possible inyour recycled items?Answer:Most communities
order to remain. With this in mind, we felt it washave big recycling bins, reuse centers
vitallyand take-it-back programs available for the public.
important to have this book published, aidingThere are
communitiesdifferences in each depot. For instance, some
in their waste reduction efforts.Question:Whatrequire
makes this book unique?Answer:Trash Talk islabels to be taken off cans and bottles - others
about implementing thedo not. Some
Refuse-Reduce-Reuse tactics first, in that order,accept all rigid plastics from #1-#7 - others
beforeaccept only
even considering recycling. In this, we are nottranslucent milk jugs. It is important to become
trying tofamiliar with
pronounce that recycling is a negative approachlocal depot requirements because the wrong
by anything can ruin
means - more a final solution when all otherthe whole bin.Question:How does one "save time
options haveand money"? Provide some
been considered. By taking matters into our ownexamples of how reuse works.Answer:Even
hands webefore recycling, a plastic container can be reused
can ease the burden that is upon the recyclingfor
industry,various storage means numerous times. This
decrease our own household costs and helpmeans the
preserve ourcontainer is not going to the landfill, contributing
resources.In all our research, we could find onlyincreasing
four, or five, books onmunicipal costs and loss of land. The individual
this subject throughout North America. Most ofsaves
these aremoney by not purchasing a storage
regionally based and were written up to 10 yearscontainer.Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet
ago. Webased on the concept
have written Trash Talk for a wider, Northof their new book Trash Talk, a guide for
Americananyone concerned
audience. We included a list of over 140about his or her impact on the environment, that
magazines, Internetoffers
sites, books and reports that were used in theuseful solutions to reduce waste and better
writingmanage
process, as well as providing statistics throughoutresources.