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