Friday last week, 24th July, was my 18th anniversary of moving into the flat where I've been living ever since. Back then, in 2008, I had not yet started blogging; and I don't have the photos of the moving chaos on my computer or online. (Another commemorative post from last spring may give you a "hint", though: Memories of moving 2008.)
This July, another reason to let my thoughts wander back over the years that I've been living here, is that we just recently had new recycling bins for various kinds of packaging materials installed in three different places along my street. The photo below shows one of them, and another one just like it is more or less just across the street from where I live.
This means that I will no longer have to go for a longer "recycling walk" to a somewhat bigger recycling station some 8 minutes walk or so away - which will be a relief, not least in winter... and with getting on in years besides...
I'm also hoping that "people" will take better care to leave the close-to-home stations tidier than they tend to do with the bigger more out-of-the-way station... (The photo below was snapped some years ago - but alas it's very much of a repeat story.)
My thoughts travelling down the long and winding road of years past, it made me wonder how many weekly "recycling walks" I've made over the 18 years I've been living where I do now. It's usually been once a week. If I'm doing the math right, that means 52 x 18 = 936 times. And with each of those walks taking me about 20 minutes there and back, that means 312 hours, which equals almost two weeks (day and night).
Maybe I shall have to extend my walking in other directions to compensate for the exercise!! ;) ...
Closer recycling facilities will be better for you particularly in the cold and wet. You can have longer, more enjoyable walks without carrying 'junk.'
ReplyDeleteVery true, Janice. Not least in winter with snow, ice and slush it has been a serious problem sometimes. So I do appreciate the change. :)
DeleteThese are great! No one here has any recycling bins, we have to drive to the other part of town.
ReplyDeleteGinny, these bins are for packaging materials only (smaller boxes, bottles, jars, cans), other stuff has to be taken by car to big recycling centres. Where I live, as not all tenants have a car, we get one chance per year to get help to get such stuff picked up by a special truck.
DeleteWe get ours collected every two weeks and food waste ever week, other stuff we can take to a recycling centre which you need to drive to
ReplyDeleteBilly, bigger stuff has to be taken by car to larger recycling centres here too - cf. my reply to Ginny above.
Delete18 years and you are still happy there, that is good to hear. I hope the recycling bins get properly used. Here where I live (15 years now) all the bins are a mess, most people using any bin they want to for any rubbish at all with every little sorting going on and none of the recycleable containers being rinsed clean. I followed the link back to the moving post and like the view you have from your kitchen window.
ReplyDeleteRiver, I still can't (realistically) think of any specific place where it would be better for me to live. Priorities may of course still change as I grow older, though - as both my own needs and various services available (or not) are likely to keep changing. When I moved here I did have certain essentials in mind though - like moving to a building with a lift (which there wasn't one where I lived before).
DeleteFolks generally seem to be unable (or unwilling) to stick to the simplest of rules when it comes to dealing with their own rubbish. I often despair of the situation in my house, and there are only four flats with a total of 9 people in the building.
ReplyDeleteThe new bins look good… for now.
Of the 52 weeks each year, you may have to subtract one or two when you were away with your brother (or otherwise), or unwell/unable to make the 8 minute walk.
Meike, on the other hand there have no doubt been weeks when I've made that walk twice! ... The exact details of course not important - I just had one of those moments of looking back and trying to "grasp time"... ;)
DeleteI perfectly understand that, Monica 😊
DeleteHow good your recycling bins are closer. Everyone in my city who lives in a house has 4 bins for various things, right at our home. One is for food scraps that they use for something, I think they make methane out of it. After I fell twice recently I don't like pushing the bins to the street once a week.
ReplyDeleteTerra, since before we have separate bins right outside the building for food scraps vs "non-recycable" small stuff (burned for distance heating I think). It's bins for packaging material to be recycled that have now also been moved closer (cartons, plastic, glass).
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