Last month when I had to travel to the East coast for business, I figured since I was half way to Europe, I would try to find a cheap flight to Paris. I hadn't been back to my favorite city in about 7 or 8 years and I thought it was high time to connect with my family and friends again. Since I could essentially kill two birds with one stone on this trip, it was a no-brainer and I bought my ticket.
While on the East coast, I attended the Cleantech Forum in Boston working for my client, the Cleantech Group where I met with many interesting Cleantech companies. I had also helped organize a sustainable event for Think London to assist with their 'Routeto2012' road show to attract U.S. green technology companies that are interested in leveraging the sustainable efforts of the 2012 Olympic games in London. Essentially, I had clean tech, green technology and sustainability on my brain when I arrived in Paris.
My friend's who I visited in Paris lived in the center of Paris, right across from the Pompidou. If you've ever been to Paris, you tend to be on an eternal high, at least I am, influenced by the ostentatious architecture as far as your eye can see, eating great food and with weather in the high 70's at the end of September, it was hard to beat. So, when I found out that my friend's didn't have an easy way to recycle plastic, bottles, etc. in their apartment building, I was shocked beyond disbelief. I couldn't imagine that this was possible in this day and age, especially coming from a first world country, where we should be leading by example.
My friend told me that there was no system in place in their apartment and the closest recycling station was a 10 min walk away. Ten to 15 years ago, this would have been acceptable. Today it's not. However, when my friend explained to me the situation, I understood him better and realized that in order for us to protect mother earth, not only do we have to educate ourselves and change our habits, but the systems that are in place need to be easy and efficient so they become second nature to us. Thankfully for me, I have a recycling and compost station right next to my apartment. It's become second nature for me to recycle everything I possibly can.
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