Today is the third day of the Hospitality Headquarters of the Cleveland International Film Festival. Overall, our waste production program has exceeded out expectations. For two days running, we have created only a single bag of real trash each day. That includes restrooms, food prep, packaging, and service ware. I really did not expect it go as well as it has.
I have to give my props to the powers that be at the Film Festival for allowing me to persue this endeavor. Being a garbage policeman has also made me really look at what we use and what we throw away. Small things make you take notice. For example, toothpicks used to hold sandwiches are not a terrible thing, but when you take the end and wrap it in non biodegradabel plastic frills, it no longer will break down completely. You start to notice how we as consumers insist on using more than one disposable plate, no matter the size, strength or material. We as consumers do not even think twice about using paper cups one after another. We will nearly always choose a paper cup over a china cup that can be rewashed. And I have always been astounded by the amount of napkins that are given and taken at any food venue. THis kind of a situation really makes you take notice of what we use and what we throw away. You never think twice about a single paper towel, but when you consider the amount that is used over the coarse of a day, and that amount really adds up.
When you really start to think about it, what is trash and what is garbage? Most of what would have ended up in landfill will be fertilizing raspberries by the end of the summer. I encourage all of you to think about what YOU throw away and what you call trash.
Tags: CIFF, composting, trash
