Trash to Treasure - Garbage Dreams

An 80% recycling rate.  Impossible!  80%?!  Of my weekly garbage, I don’t even know what is considered recyclable to attain such a rate.  But, the Zabbaleen do, and it’s represented in the documentary “Garbage Dreams”, the inaugural film offered through the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada’s Community Cinema screenings.  The documentary, filmed in Cairo, tells the story of the Zabbaleen (translated to “garbage people” in Egyptian Arabic) who were responsible for garbage pickup in one of Egypt’s seemingly most beautiful cities.  The majority of their methods were antiquated, however, which eventually led the Egyptian government to contract European organizations to take control of the city’s garbage pickup.

The screening was held in a comfortable setting and promoted dialogue between volunteers interested in environmental quality and those on the forefront of programs created for environmental preservation; the experts, if you will.  The mix of volunteers resulted in interesting discussion.  Some were locals, others relocated here.  One east coast gentleman reflected on his mother, who recycled as her civic duty to the globe and saved hard-earned dollars, by washing plastic Ziploc ® bags and reusing them rather than tossing them in the garbage.  His wife, a Middle Eastern woman, reflected on her life growing up and the amount of recycling her family performed.  Yet another woman, this one from Vancouver, stated her amazement at the lack of recycling in Las Vegas.  Who can blame them when the Las Vegas valley has the largest landfill in the United States with nearly 50 million tons of rotting garbage?

Nationwide, our recycling rate is roughly 33%.  Las Vegas is well below the national average at about 20%.  The primary reasons for not recycling are lack of convenience and know-how.  However, Republic Services, Inc. is committed to tackling these two barriers, proven through the acquisition of Evergreen Recycling and a new program to reduce waste while promoting green initiatives countywide.   New recycling bins are being deployed with images of recyclable items on them so confusion is minimized.  However, it still takes the work of citizens to attain desirable rates.

The Zabbaleen certainly understand the business of recycling and environment conservation with their remarkable 80% recycling rate.  Their theory is simple: no matter how small it is, if it can be recycled, do it.  They certainly have a positive lesson many others can learn from.

~ Jason

For environment related opportunities to volunteer click HERE.  To see photos from the event click HERE.