positive news

-- Quote of the Day -- 

" Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. "

~ Lao Tzu

-- Positive News --

Green Consumer Takamatsu (of Japan) began a recycling program for disposable chopsticks – turning this valuable resource in to paper and particleboard. I can just imagine the potential of this proven endeavor… Our city has 2 Chinese genre food restaurants where they could potentially toss out a hundred or more disposable wood chopsticks every single day. That is really an organic resource, and if ground and composted they would create a valuable soil amendment. But if we can take that “waste” resource and turn it into new products that can be sold, it would stimulate the economy, reduce waste and increase job creation. I would imagine that at the end-of-life, that paper and paperboard would be recyclable or compostable as well just like other wood pulp products are. 

Personally I've taken disposable chopsticks (when a washable alternative isn't available) and placed them in our compost bin. They don't break down quickly, but they will eventually break down and in the mean time they offer better drainage and air flow in the compost pile. When the bin is emptied I always place any sticks or stems that haven't broken down on the bottom of the bin where they will increase drainage, and in fact - they will absorb some of the liquids from the compost pile and that helps them break down faster too. 

 

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