whitewillow

Walking through the neighborhood on a warm afternoon has always sparked an interest in who would share a smile.  This day was no different, only rather than being the beacon of gleam, I found my face crunching through the forehead between the eyebrows, with the corners of my mouth sloping downward. 

I could not believe it.  Out on the sidewalk, placed with the trash were cardboard boxes.  Not just one box or two, but hundreds of boxes piled higher than me, at nearly every business entrance.  Why all the boxes?

I later discovered, by asking an aide in a local House of Representatives’ Office, that the business owners are not required to recycle.  In fact, I was told most folks do not recycle because there is no curbside recycling in that town.

I had to ask why, after nearly twenty years of curbside recycling being acquired in the area, had no other incentives been given for individuals to recycle, especially the business owners who clearly use many goods shipped in boxes.  The aide seemed annoyed, rushed and put on the spot.  He quickly asked for my name and where he could have the person who handles their office recycling to contact me.  In offering my name I verified that I was not interested in learning about their office recycling program, rather what we could do to encourage more recycling by businesses and individuals.  He showed no interest other than taking my name and email.

Obviously this particular Representative, who appears to have an inkling of concern for the people in his district, prefers to hire aides and associates incapable of showing a genuine care for the surrounding neighborhood and the general wellbeing of our planets’ environment.  Aren’t the Rep’s supposed to be open to the  comments of those who elected them?  Aren’t the aides and workers for these Rep’s trained in common courtesy, respect and active listening techniques?  I have never felt more rushed than when I was attempting to communicate my question to this young man who clearly held an attention deficit or his prior nights outings were still affecting his neurological system.  I can only imagine.  He clearly had the agitation of a high strung era from the eighties, only we are now in a time of wellness and that era, I thought, was well behind us.  Was he merely hyped up on too much caffeine?

I was simply looking to understand what steps we can take to consider recycling cardboard, aluminum cans and other extremely expensive resources priority or even mandatory.  I left feeling I had encountered a neurologically impaired party animal midday on a warm afternoon.  Rather than feeling refreshed and smiling,  I left the Rep’s office feeling sticky and icky from a government worker who really does not give a care about life outside of his realm. 

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