You're right, some garbage is really heavy, like cat litter. We have a cat and that soaked "cement" is dense. Maybe this can come under a separate collection, along with soiled diapers and other heavy but useless materials.
I have a dog named Jazzy. She is part Lhasa, part Poodle, part crazy! She is very smart and can do a variety of tricks like shake hands and jump through my arms. She is a delight :)
What about cat litter? We use scoopable, scoop it into used grocery bags, tie them off when full and take them to the dump (free, we decided not to pay for garbage pick-up when we moved into our subdivision). These little bags are HEAVY. If we had to pay per pound, I think many people would just give up on cat ownership.
So, no, I would not support this legislation (unless I could "compost" cat feces and urine-soaked litter).
Great tips! We often think of "momentary" satisfaction when it comes to preparing food, not the long-term cost and health benefits that come from taking a few extra minutes to prepare meals at home. One strategy I use is to make double. If I make lasagna, then I make 2 pans instead of one and freeze the second one for later use. This saves time on days that I am busy and lets me take advantage of awesome grocery store deals for a longer period of time. I try to plan my menus according to what is on sale for the week, that way I am saving twice while only having to buy and prepare once!
I've heard that a city in Michigan has a similar system where you buy the bags from the city. That covers the cost of collection. Here in San Diego, we have 3 trash bins - black for garbage, blue for ALL recyclables (no separating), green for compostable or yard waste. It cuts down on the amount of trash significantly. (We usually have one or two bags of garbage per week.) Recycling is so easy, just throw all recyclable items in the blue bin. When I go to visit family in Florida, I am HORRIFIED that they throw everything in the trash. What a waste. I think if towns made it simple to recycle, like San Diego does, a lot more people would do it.
We have two cats right now. In 2010 , two of our cats died, and we spent several thousand dollars on vet bills over the course of one long and one short illness. But we love our cats, and can afford the bills, so we will remain a feline household.
No it will not work here. The reason is there is too much open space in the US, unlike Europe where every square inch has been accounted for since the Middle Ages. The higher the fees on garbage go, the greater the incentive to illegally dump this garbage in "the middle of nowhere." If the fees are high enough a whole black market will arise based on despoiling nature.
This is also unnecessary... with resource prices skyrocketing there are natural incentives to recycle. In the past, only aluminum and other metals have been worth recycling, economically speaking. This will change soon.
Our small NH town instituted mandatory recycling and pay per bag trash disposal a number of years ago. Initially I hated it and really wanted to continue the practice of throwing all my unwanted stuff in a big hole in the ground at the town dump. However, the work involved in separating household waste no longer seems like a chore because it's what I do on a day to day basis. Newspapers, magazines, glass, plastic, aluminum, tin, yard waste, hazardous waste etc. all have to be separated from garbage. Garbage goes into bags that we purchase for $ .30/each. Other items, like computers, that I want to dispose of have separate charges. Being forced to separate and pay for what I throw away makes me more aware of what I'm doing.
I think it could work over here, but I wouldn't support it. Only because local governments or HOAs already include garbage disposal as either part of your property taxes, or other fees. I don't think paying per pound would eliminate these charges from bills where they are already included.
But it would certainly force people to think about what they're buying, and whether or not they want to pay to throw it out.
On the flip side, it might add to the trash pollution problems.. Our area is considering charging for plastic bags, supposedly as an effort to keep people from using them and to help clean up bodies of water. But readily available plastic bags aren't the cause of misplaced waste..
It's interesting he instructs us to give our kids an "allowance". As Suze Orman says, we should "strike that word from our vocabulary". If your kids want money, they should EARN it and that means WORK for it. I think THIS is the biggest lesson in teaching our youth about money.
From an outside observer, I'm pretty sure you are in 100% agreement with the article. You are Reducing (not buying the yogurt) and Reusing (the glass jar) so recycling is not necessary. That is exactly the authors point. If the author is coming from the wrong angle then so are you because you are in complete agreement.
Problem is we would have a significant percent of the population that would just start dumping trash on others, in fields, etc. Even Germany's roadways are supper clean - they just don't trash their country like Americans do. So even though this concept is just fine with me and I wouldn't complain...I know too many people that would begin throwing trash wherever they could get away with it. And nothing would stop them short of loosing their state and gov benefits forever if they get caught. And thats just not going to happen.
We have always had pets in my family when I was growing up and I can’t imagine my life without them. As fond as I am of dogs I tend to prefer cats for their independence and ability to care for themselves. You can leave your cats home alone for a few days with little worry; you can’t do that with dogs which require a lot more maintenance.
We have 2 cats right now; a scrappy gray Manx and a fat orange tabby. I know that many people will scoff at this, but they’re like my children. Our Manx is like the brooding teenage daughter who prefers doing her own thing. However the moment I sit down with a book she’s on my lap on demanding cuddles. In the winter when I’m in bed, she’ll sit beside my head until I lift up the covers and let her snuggle underneath.
The fat, little guy is a total momma’s boy. He’s nervous around strangers, runs to his mommy when dad sprays him with water, and if I shut myself in another room for more than 20 minutes he MUST investigate. He’s a total lover boy, too. You just look at him and he’ll start purring.
When it comes to cat toys they’re very inexpensive to please. The Manx loves hair bands and paper balls. If you crinkle a napkin she’ll be right there ready for you to throw it for her. She’ll even bring it back and play fetch with you. Fat guy prefers the laser pointer and the mysterious creature that hides underneath the blanket at night. (ie; my feet!) I think if you ask anyone with cats, they’ll tell you the expensive cat toys never get used. They seem to prefer the junk laying around the house; paper bags, boxes, bottle tops, etc.
The one area where we don’t skimp is our cats’ health. The fat guy has tummy issues that cause him to scarf and barf his food. Both our cats get the higher qualify cat food. They even get real ground meat that it’s made specifically for cats. It’s a little more expensive than the dry stuff you would find at Wal-Mart, but it leads to less vet bills down the line.
Vet expenses are part of the risks and costs that you accept when you decide to adopt an animal. If you can’t afford or are unwilling to care for your pet properly, why have one at all? It just seems selfish. Both of our cats have had their fair share of vet bills. There have even been a couple ER visits as well. It can be disheartening to lay down $500 in one swoop, but that’s part of the deal.
I understand that it’s not like this for everyone, but for me my cats are part of my family. We don’t up and abandon them when things get tough. They provide me with affection, entertainment, companionship, and what I perceive as love. They make me happy, they ease my stress and depression and for all those reasons and more I think the benefit definitely outweighs the cost.
Many towns around me charge for garbage. Typically, the town has a crazy-colored garbage bag, and trash has to be bagged in those bags in order to be picked up. The town sells the bags through local grocery stores. In my town, there is no trash pickup at all. You go to the dump, or you pay someone to go to the dump for you. I also used to live in Italy as a child, where there were fees for garbage.
Personally, I don't mind - living in a "dump town" makes my overall taxes go down, and I'm not paying for a service that I would rather perform myself. However, the previous owner of my home was too lazy to go to the dump, and burned trash at home - Even indoors in the fireplace. He did a lot of damage, and I imagine the pollution wasn't great. In Italy, there was an astronomical amount of illegal dumping. I remember one sidewalk, to get to the market - there were so many bags of trash thrown on the corner that you would have to leave the sidewalk and walk halfway into a lane of traffic in order to go around the heap. It would be a great solution if everyone were responsible. I wonder, though, if there have been studies about how much illegal dumping and/or burning occur in towns that charge for garbage or have a self-serve dump.
Upper Arlington, Ohio uses a system similar to Ithaca's. We have to pay for trash stickers, and also to dispose of yard waste (although you can drop them off at the city's compost station for free). Recycling is free.
I do not have pets, even though I have an enormous affinity towards primarily dogs, though I'm coming around to cats as well. It's more of a freedom/mobility thing than a cost thing.
Thanks for being positive and sharing this information. I'll give it a try and try to make it work. I'm tired of making excuses and looking for sympathy. I used to think everyone else needed to change but now I realize its me. I served some time in jail and that really opened up my eyes. I spent the 1st 4 days in solitary confinement. I did a lot of thinking in jail and I truly repent the way I had been living my life. At first I was so angry at the people who had me arrested but I realized had I not been high on drugs I would never have been there in the first place. I had so much anger built up inside of me for years. When I lost my freedom and I had no clue when I was going to be released. I've never felt so alone: it changed something in me. I still have nightmares about the experience but I know my life is headed in a much more positive direction now. Its not just a fear of being locked up for me; it is that I realize I hurt people and I want to be a better person and I feel I deserve a better life. I know I'm rambling; had to let that out. Thanks
Using credit cards for all purchases, even the small ones, is also a good idea from a security standpoint. Credit cards offer loss protections that far exceed debit cards, and cash handling is tedious and wasteful.
We have a cat that we adopted from the SPCA about 6 months ago. She's the first pet my husband and I have had as a couple, and even though it's an added cost, it is SO worth it. I think that having a cat instead of a dog (or at least, instead of a large dog) is cheaper - less food costs, for example - but of course, you still have vet bills and such. I grew up having dogs and I'm a firm believer in preventative medicine for animals, so I never skip a vet checkup - prevents major, costly (both money-wise for us and health-wise for the cat) problems in the future.
I live in the CT suburbs and keep 2 Rhode Island Red laying hens, 2 Buff orpingtons, 2 Barred Rocks and 4 Ameracaunas that are all 4 week old chicks. I got the RIR at 14 weeks old and they were very timid. Now they are almost like dogs. As soon as they see me or hear me in the backyard, they start squawking for attention and following me around. In addition to laying eggs daily, they also turn over the soil in my raised vegetable beds. I'm trying not to view them as pets, just in case any of them become a snack.
The best part of keeping backyard chickens is the food they produce. Almost every day, I use the eggs for baking, pancakes, etc. I actually have to plan to save up the eggs when I know I'm making French toast or some other egg intensive dish.
We have a pug who is very ill and about to go over the Rainbow Bridge. We have spent a fortune on medical bills, but would do it again in a heartbeat. The love of a pet is irreplaceable. You cannot factor in "cost-effectiveness" when it comes to unconditional love.
I have a chihuahua who is my baby. I have had pets all my life and can't imagine not having at least one. She is a great companion and makes me laugh daily. She is short haired so is low maintenance and doesn't eat a lot. She is pretty inexpensive to care for, which is an added bonus.
You're right, some garbage is really heavy, like cat litter. We have a cat and that soaked "cement" is dense. Maybe this can come under a separate collection, along with soiled diapers and other heavy but useless materials.
I have a dog named Jazzy. She is part Lhasa, part Poodle, part crazy! She is very smart and can do a variety of tricks like shake hands and jump through my arms. She is a delight :)
What about cat litter? We use scoopable, scoop it into used grocery bags, tie them off when full and take them to the dump (free, we decided not to pay for garbage pick-up when we moved into our subdivision). These little bags are HEAVY. If we had to pay per pound, I think many people would just give up on cat ownership.
So, no, I would not support this legislation (unless I could "compost" cat feces and urine-soaked litter).
Great tips! We often think of "momentary" satisfaction when it comes to preparing food, not the long-term cost and health benefits that come from taking a few extra minutes to prepare meals at home. One strategy I use is to make double. If I make lasagna, then I make 2 pans instead of one and freeze the second one for later use. This saves time on days that I am busy and lets me take advantage of awesome grocery store deals for a longer period of time. I try to plan my menus according to what is on sale for the week, that way I am saving twice while only having to buy and prepare once!
I've heard that a city in Michigan has a similar system where you buy the bags from the city. That covers the cost of collection. Here in San Diego, we have 3 trash bins - black for garbage, blue for ALL recyclables (no separating), green for compostable or yard waste. It cuts down on the amount of trash significantly. (We usually have one or two bags of garbage per week.) Recycling is so easy, just throw all recyclable items in the blue bin. When I go to visit family in Florida, I am HORRIFIED that they throw everything in the trash. What a waste. I think if towns made it simple to recycle, like San Diego does, a lot more people would do it.
We have two cats right now. In 2010 , two of our cats died, and we spent several thousand dollars on vet bills over the course of one long and one short illness. But we love our cats, and can afford the bills, so we will remain a feline household.
"It’s Working Over There. Would It Work Here?"
No it will not work here. The reason is there is too much open space in the US, unlike Europe where every square inch has been accounted for since the Middle Ages. The higher the fees on garbage go, the greater the incentive to illegally dump this garbage in "the middle of nowhere." If the fees are high enough a whole black market will arise based on despoiling nature.
This is also unnecessary... with resource prices skyrocketing there are natural incentives to recycle. In the past, only aluminum and other metals have been worth recycling, economically speaking. This will change soon.
Our small NH town instituted mandatory recycling and pay per bag trash disposal a number of years ago. Initially I hated it and really wanted to continue the practice of throwing all my unwanted stuff in a big hole in the ground at the town dump. However, the work involved in separating household waste no longer seems like a chore because it's what I do on a day to day basis. Newspapers, magazines, glass, plastic, aluminum, tin, yard waste, hazardous waste etc. all have to be separated from garbage. Garbage goes into bags that we purchase for $ .30/each. Other items, like computers, that I want to dispose of have separate charges. Being forced to separate and pay for what I throw away makes me more aware of what I'm doing.
I think it could work over here, but I wouldn't support it. Only because local governments or HOAs already include garbage disposal as either part of your property taxes, or other fees. I don't think paying per pound would eliminate these charges from bills where they are already included.
But it would certainly force people to think about what they're buying, and whether or not they want to pay to throw it out.
On the flip side, it might add to the trash pollution problems.. Our area is considering charging for plastic bags, supposedly as an effort to keep people from using them and to help clean up bodies of water. But readily available plastic bags aren't the cause of misplaced waste..
It's interesting he instructs us to give our kids an "allowance". As Suze Orman says, we should "strike that word from our vocabulary". If your kids want money, they should EARN it and that means WORK for it. I think THIS is the biggest lesson in teaching our youth about money.
From an outside observer, I'm pretty sure you are in 100% agreement with the article. You are Reducing (not buying the yogurt) and Reusing (the glass jar) so recycling is not necessary. That is exactly the authors point. If the author is coming from the wrong angle then so are you because you are in complete agreement.
Problem is we would have a significant percent of the population that would just start dumping trash on others, in fields, etc. Even Germany's roadways are supper clean - they just don't trash their country like Americans do. So even though this concept is just fine with me and I wouldn't complain...I know too many people that would begin throwing trash wherever they could get away with it. And nothing would stop them short of loosing their state and gov benefits forever if they get caught. And thats just not going to happen.
We have always had pets in my family when I was growing up and I can’t imagine my life without them. As fond as I am of dogs I tend to prefer cats for their independence and ability to care for themselves. You can leave your cats home alone for a few days with little worry; you can’t do that with dogs which require a lot more maintenance.
We have 2 cats right now; a scrappy gray Manx and a fat orange tabby. I know that many people will scoff at this, but they’re like my children. Our Manx is like the brooding teenage daughter who prefers doing her own thing. However the moment I sit down with a book she’s on my lap on demanding cuddles. In the winter when I’m in bed, she’ll sit beside my head until I lift up the covers and let her snuggle underneath.
The fat, little guy is a total momma’s boy. He’s nervous around strangers, runs to his mommy when dad sprays him with water, and if I shut myself in another room for more than 20 minutes he MUST investigate. He’s a total lover boy, too. You just look at him and he’ll start purring.
When it comes to cat toys they’re very inexpensive to please. The Manx loves hair bands and paper balls. If you crinkle a napkin she’ll be right there ready for you to throw it for her. She’ll even bring it back and play fetch with you. Fat guy prefers the laser pointer and the mysterious creature that hides underneath the blanket at night. (ie; my feet!) I think if you ask anyone with cats, they’ll tell you the expensive cat toys never get used. They seem to prefer the junk laying around the house; paper bags, boxes, bottle tops, etc.
The one area where we don’t skimp is our cats’ health. The fat guy has tummy issues that cause him to scarf and barf his food. Both our cats get the higher qualify cat food. They even get real ground meat that it’s made specifically for cats. It’s a little more expensive than the dry stuff you would find at Wal-Mart, but it leads to less vet bills down the line.
Vet expenses are part of the risks and costs that you accept when you decide to adopt an animal. If you can’t afford or are unwilling to care for your pet properly, why have one at all? It just seems selfish. Both of our cats have had their fair share of vet bills. There have even been a couple ER visits as well. It can be disheartening to lay down $500 in one swoop, but that’s part of the deal.
I understand that it’s not like this for everyone, but for me my cats are part of my family. We don’t up and abandon them when things get tough. They provide me with affection, entertainment, companionship, and what I perceive as love. They make me happy, they ease my stress and depression and for all those reasons and more I think the benefit definitely outweighs the cost.
Many towns around me charge for garbage. Typically, the town has a crazy-colored garbage bag, and trash has to be bagged in those bags in order to be picked up. The town sells the bags through local grocery stores. In my town, there is no trash pickup at all. You go to the dump, or you pay someone to go to the dump for you. I also used to live in Italy as a child, where there were fees for garbage.
Personally, I don't mind - living in a "dump town" makes my overall taxes go down, and I'm not paying for a service that I would rather perform myself. However, the previous owner of my home was too lazy to go to the dump, and burned trash at home - Even indoors in the fireplace. He did a lot of damage, and I imagine the pollution wasn't great. In Italy, there was an astronomical amount of illegal dumping. I remember one sidewalk, to get to the market - there were so many bags of trash thrown on the corner that you would have to leave the sidewalk and walk halfway into a lane of traffic in order to go around the heap. It would be a great solution if everyone were responsible. I wonder, though, if there have been studies about how much illegal dumping and/or burning occur in towns that charge for garbage or have a self-serve dump.
Upper Arlington, Ohio uses a system similar to Ithaca's. We have to pay for trash stickers, and also to dispose of yard waste (although you can drop them off at the city's compost station for free). Recycling is free.
Mr. Expert,
Are you going to have a follow up post or article about this anytime soon? :)
_______
"Providing you with great tips on Income & Bankruptcy" ...
( http://www.QSLaw.com )
I do not have pets, even though I have an enormous affinity towards primarily dogs, though I'm coming around to cats as well. It's more of a freedom/mobility thing than a cost thing.
Thanks for being positive and sharing this information. I'll give it a try and try to make it work. I'm tired of making excuses and looking for sympathy. I used to think everyone else needed to change but now I realize its me. I served some time in jail and that really opened up my eyes. I spent the 1st 4 days in solitary confinement. I did a lot of thinking in jail and I truly repent the way I had been living my life. At first I was so angry at the people who had me arrested but I realized had I not been high on drugs I would never have been there in the first place. I had so much anger built up inside of me for years. When I lost my freedom and I had no clue when I was going to be released. I've never felt so alone: it changed something in me. I still have nightmares about the experience but I know my life is headed in a much more positive direction now. Its not just a fear of being locked up for me; it is that I realize I hurt people and I want to be a better person and I feel I deserve a better life. I know I'm rambling; had to let that out. Thanks
Oooh.. Ameracaunas? I'm jealous. They are beautiful!
Yes.
Using credit cards for all purchases, even the small ones, is also a good idea from a security standpoint. Credit cards offer loss protections that far exceed debit cards, and cash handling is tedious and wasteful.
We have a cat that we adopted from the SPCA about 6 months ago. She's the first pet my husband and I have had as a couple, and even though it's an added cost, it is SO worth it. I think that having a cat instead of a dog (or at least, instead of a large dog) is cheaper - less food costs, for example - but of course, you still have vet bills and such. I grew up having dogs and I'm a firm believer in preventative medicine for animals, so I never skip a vet checkup - prevents major, costly (both money-wise for us and health-wise for the cat) problems in the future.
I live in the CT suburbs and keep 2 Rhode Island Red laying hens, 2 Buff orpingtons, 2 Barred Rocks and 4 Ameracaunas that are all 4 week old chicks. I got the RIR at 14 weeks old and they were very timid. Now they are almost like dogs. As soon as they see me or hear me in the backyard, they start squawking for attention and following me around. In addition to laying eggs daily, they also turn over the soil in my raised vegetable beds. I'm trying not to view them as pets, just in case any of them become a snack.
The best part of keeping backyard chickens is the food they produce. Almost every day, I use the eggs for baking, pancakes, etc. I actually have to plan to save up the eggs when I know I'm making French toast or some other egg intensive dish.
We have a pug who is very ill and about to go over the Rainbow Bridge. We have spent a fortune on medical bills, but would do it again in a heartbeat. The love of a pet is irreplaceable. You cannot factor in "cost-effectiveness" when it comes to unconditional love.
I have a chihuahua who is my baby. I have had pets all my life and can't imagine not having at least one. She is a great companion and makes me laugh daily. She is short haired so is low maintenance and doesn't eat a lot. She is pretty inexpensive to care for, which is an added bonus.