I’m a millennial soon to be mechanical engineer and here’s what I’ve noticed about recycling:
When I was young, I watched a segment of the TV show 60 Minutes, focusing on the great pacific garbage patch, and I was shocked. Up until then, I thought that everything was perfectly disposable, and that once I threw something away, it was taken care of with no consequences. This TV segment was the first lesson I learned about how damaging the plastics we use in everyday life can be to the environment. Since then I have sat up and taken notice of a few things in regard to recycling, and how we use plastic.
Two things I’ve come to know as a recycling millennial
- Recycling habits can and commonly differ between generations. I have always considered my family to be environmentally aware and conscientious. That is until I moved to college. The college I attend and the majority of the student body are passionate about recycling, and reducing the use of disposable plastic campus-wide. Water Bottle filling stations, various recycling bins, social media, and environmental advocacy clubs are just a few of the ways the school is promoting recycling. Now when I’m home for vacation, I notice that my parents, grandparents, and family friends recycle about half as much as we millenials do at school, even when they have recycling bins. Why? Observation has led me to conclude that recycling is very easy when it is the norm (as it is with most millenials), however when it is new, it is a bit more difficult. It takes awareness, a bit more effort, and the strength to build a good habit in order to recycle continuously. Of course there are exceptions and outliers, however from a general sense there is a fairly big difference from generation to generation.
- Making an effort to recycle can apply to many areas of your life. The most stereotypical form of household recycling that I can think of is bottles, cans, and cardboard. But what if we could do more? What if products were designed to be recycle-friendly from the beginning? Over the years, I have learned to ask myself the often forgotten question “what will this be used for after I am done with it?” Asking that simple question has allowed me to reduce my waste and plastic consumption all while, saving money.
From observation, my generation is leading the way in recycling with passion and innovation. While the great pacific garbage patch that I learned about years ago is still there and growing, myself as an engineer and my peers are working at the root of the cause: to change the way we think about the environment, and how what we consume is not disposable. While we may not see it, there is always a price to pay.