February 11
Today I focused on metal and peace
Today the ‘fierce urgency of now’ prompted me to take TWO actions: one focused on the preciousness of metal, and one focused on doing everything we can to maintain peace. I went on a Treasure Hunt for metal around the house and have started keeping all the metal we use out of our bin, so that ALL of it can be properly recycled; and I registered for a Rotary Climate and Peace Forum next Tuesday 15 February.
Our need for metal is increasing pressure on our natural systems through very energy-intensive mining and smelting processes. Anything we can do to keep metal cycling through our economy, rather than sitting in landfill or in our back sheds, takes pressure off our natural systems. The metal we save, however, is a drop in the ocean compared to the metal that will be created and wasted if the world goes to war. So a two-pronged approach is most definitely necessary.
Thankfully, Blue Mountains City Council is focusing its energy on moving towards Zero Waste and becoming a Circular Economy, so today I got a rundown on recycling from Council’s perspective. Despite poor recycling programs in some cities, I’m now confident that our City’s waste is being recycled very well by Visy in Fairfield … so it’s worth the effort to get our contribution to it right. Our yellow recycling bin programs are designed to take metal kitchen, bathroom and laundry containers, but small metal items like lids, bottle caps, foil, clips, screws, offcuts, saucepans, furnishings, door handles etc can get lost in the system. Metal recycling is, however, free at our Council Resource and Recovery Centres.
So today I went on a Treasure Hunt for precious precious metals in my home. I’ve made the decision to separate all my metals and not put them in the bin at all, just to be sure that everything can be used again. Today I started very small, with tins, a foil pie dish I found discarded in the bush on my walk today, quite a few beer/wine/champagne lids (oops), an old door lock, my hair mousse spray container, nails salvaged from the ash I removed from the fire, a broken saucepan ….. tomorrow I’ll tackle the big stuff in our shed and yard.
The urgency to maintain peace is critical. Rotary International now has a strong focus on both the environment and peace and the Forum next Tuesday brings both together, with some of the most knowledgeable speakers in the country:
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