I’m an optimist, so I like to think that people are generally good and that people will choose do the right thing most of the time (in spite of the popular vote to the contrary).  As I’ve watched the rise of the green movement in recent years, I feel my perception is reinforced.  It is my feeling that the green movement seldomly focuses on the positive steps that have been made, so I will highlight examples of these below and provide important factors to consider for our society to continue to evolve.

In the past, I would argue that being green, and specifically recycling – the focus of this, my first blog post – was not simple enough for the typical household to easily follow.  In general, I don’t believe it was for a lack of care for the environment or people wanting to do the right thing, but more the lack of education and the difficulty and confusion associated with recycling.  I think the term recycling used to be synonymous with paper products, aluminum cans and plastic, and because of the lack of awareness or viable options to recycle larger items such as vehicles, refrigerators and electronics, the focus did not exist to properly dispose of these items.  I believe we have turned the corner and have started to have a broader perspective of what recycling is and the important role it has on the environment.    

Today, people have a better understanding of the negative effects of what improperly disposing of materials has on the environment and consider the term ‘recycling’ to convey a much broader spectrum of items.  Both government and private enterprise have taken an active role in the education aimed at reducing toxic waste in landfills and procuring materials for recycling.  This education ranges from waste diversion at the curb, to programs highlighting the impacts that materials such as electronics have on the environment when not properly recycled.  Pessimists will tell you that the reason for the increase in education is based on economic benefit, which is certainly true, but as a society, I like to think we want to ensure we are taking care of the planet for future generations.  I also feel that we are putting a broader focus on the issue since we have the capability to reach out to more people and are evolving to be more efficient through the use of technology.

From our experience providing software to manage responsible recycling programs for the past 6 years, we have been provided a first hand account of the impact the proper handling of toxic materials has on the environment.  These programs ensure that hazardous materials (such as mercury from vehicles and other items and freon from refrigerators) are not released into the environment and that valuable resources are reused whenever possible.  We have also been able to experience the rise in prominence of these programs aimed at the responsible recycling of materials such as vehicles, refrigerators and electronics.  Programs such as Retire Your Ride, the Canadian Government-sponsored initiative that aims to remove older, higher-polluting vehicles from the road and responsible recycle them, are becoming increasingly popular with eligible participants.  We believe there are two important reasons that these programs are becoming increasingly popular:

1) Programs make the recycling process simple

With the capability to signup online for these programs, in addition to the fast, efficient and transparent processing of the required steps for recycling the item, participants can quickly get rid of the item with ease.  Often times, this can involve a home pickup of the item or a clear indication of where and when the item can be dropped off.

2) Participants are provided incentives to make the right choice.

Many programs, whether government subsidized or privately operated, offer an incentive to replace the item with a more efficient choice to enhance the environmental benefit.  In well-established programs, these incentives have both a government and private benefit to maximize the return to the participant.  For example, a participant recycling a vehicle with Retire Your Ride can receive up to $490 off the purchase of a new bicycle over $1,000.  The government provides $300 of this benefit, while the bike manufacturer adds an additional $190.  In these situations, there is a measurable economic benefit as well.  Many refrigerator recycling programs will also offer discounts off energy-efficient replacements.

These two factors are critical to consider for maximum uptake if you are operating, or want to start a program, to responsible recycle materials.

If you have an item that you no longer use and have the option to recycle it through one of these programs, first ensure that the program is clear on how they will recycle the materials to ensure they handled responsibly.  The program should also offer a simple way for you to interact through technology and provide an added benefit that hopefully allows you to select an option with a net environmental benefit.

By looking at the number of households that have taken advantage of these recycling programs, it is clear that when given a positive environmental option, the majority of people will make the right choice.