Forced environmentalism?
Mark Pavilons

It's not easy bein' green.

I am referring to our commitment to keep the planet alive and healthy for generations to come, and not the phrase coined by a rather famous Muppet, long before the planet was knee-deep into recycling and diverting trash from our overburdened dumps.

Since the Exxon Valdeez spewed sludge for all to see in Prince William Sound back in 1989, Canadians have consistently placed their concern for the environment as the number-one priority in this country. Poll after poll, we concerned Canucks express our love for our planet. And yes, we've come long way.

Since that environmental maritime disaster, we've toughened legislation against industrial pollution; sparked the development of spill cleanup technology; created environmentally friendly chemicals and products; improved incineration and energy from waste, and convinced the bulk of the population to recycle. We've sounded the alarm about global warming and greenhouse gases.

The Region of Peel, and by extension the Town of Caledon, have been green leaders for more than decade now, with comprehensive recycling and organics programs. Caledon has boasted a very high participation rate and that's something to be proud of. We've also been named one of the greenest municipalities in the province.

But back to Kermit. It ain't easy being green and it seems we don't always put our money where our mouths are.

The same successful Peel recycling program isn't without drawbacks or flaws. Just recently, Peel cut back the amount of allowable curbside garbage to two bags per week, from the three-bag standard. The idea, it seems, is to force people to recycle more, by allowing less trash at the curb, unless you buy tags for $1 apiece. Some could argue it's a green tax of sorts. At the same time, Peel advised residents they no longer accept many types of plastic containers - the ever-popular clam shell containers that hold everything from donuts and chickens to tomatoes and eggs. These, we're told, couldn't be properly sorted in the recycling stream.

Were they being tossed out for the last few years, without a word to the public? Or were they being recycled and then some sub-contractor changed or upped the ante and it became too costly?

Whatever the reason, thousands (perhaps millions) of these containers are now destined to the garbage dump, to live the remainder of their very long lifespans among the heaps of trash. Many types of plastic can't be recycled or incinerated - the fumes they give off are toxic. Believe it or not, there are "cheap" plastics in the marketplace.

Let's hear it for the ingenious plastic and injection molding industries!

There's no question these things are a plague on the modern world. They're horrible, little things all in the name of consumerism.

Again, we don't remember when the consumers were ever asked what type of containers they'd like their baked goods or veggies in. No, when these wee monsters appeared on the scene, they were embraced by the food industry as cheap, convenient packaging. No one seems to care where they come from, what noxious chemicals they contain, or what's to become of them once their usefulness is over.

Well, some of us do.

Perhaps, instead of forcing consumers to suck it up, the manufacturers should be asked to consider environmentally sensitive, and recyclable alternatives.

Manufacturers will argue they're simply giving consumers what they want. That's an excuse. If Canadians consistently stress the environment as their number-one priority, then we could assume they don't prefer the cheap, easy, destructive route. In fact, most would favor paying a few pennies more for a product than furthering the suffering of our world.

So, from the plastic baggies we rip off the spools to carry our lemons, to the blister packs and clear plastic toy shells for our action figures and diecast cars, foul plastic is a part of our lives. It's one of the most obvious. And it's likely one area we can change for the better.

But that would require action, not just words.

You see, we Canadians, being the materialistic copycats that we are, do love our excesses. The number of gas-guzzling SUVs are rising and the price of gas doesn't seem to faze these gluttonous motorists. We toss, instead of repair. We are living in a disposable world - TVs, computers, VCRs, DVD players and cell phones have very limited lifespans, destined for ugly mountains of plastic, metal and glass. And the bigscreen TVs, electric garage door openers, bar fridges and super capacity washers and dryers use hardly any electricity at all!

It's true that one person can make a difference. We do so weekly. But we need to do more.

We need to think of the automobile as having the same fate as the dinosaur. We need to really reuse and recycle - not just when it's convenient - but all the time. It should become second nature and require no extra thought. We need to truly respect the environment, the world, and the habitat of every living creature we share the planet with, and not consider the world as our own big box mall.

And that will take extra thought and effort. And that means everyone, from manufacturers, all levels of government and citizens. If not, we'll be known as the species who killed its planet because we wanted to keep our sandwiches fresh.