What I’m reading: Rethink the Bins by Julia Goldstein, PhD
I had no idea when embarking on this writing journey that one of the major benefits would be joining a “club” of authors who support each other in a myriad of ways. We share tips on everything from creating an audio book to choosing a publicist, we request Amazon and Goodreads reviews and/or blurbs (those endorsements you see on the back cover – sometimes the front if the blurber is well-known,) we pick each other’s brains about whether or not to pay to get a Kirkus review (yes those cost $$!)
And – we ask our sister authors to be on a “launch team” – a group of people – not necessarily authors – who will help us with marketing by blogging, posting on social media, and generally helping to promote our book.
So I was happy to accept an invitation by Julia Goldstein to help her launch Rethink the Bins – Your Guide to Smart Recycling and Less Household Waste. I knew Julia as a congregant at Temple Emanu-El in San Jose where I was the Cantorial Soloist – plus we enjoyed some musical collaborations (she is a wonderful flutist!) Did I mention she’s also a PhD? One smart, talented lady.
If – like me – you constantly stand in front of your recycling and trash bins and wonder: “in which one should I put this metal can/clamshell container/milk carton/padded envelope”….the list goes on and on. Julia clarifies the complexity of the recycling process and offers well-researched, practical advice on reducing waste, such as this gem from p. 58:
“A note on bagging groceries. Plastic grocery bags are not necessarily worse for the environment than paper bags, so long as they are disposed of properly and not allowed to escape into local waterways. Producing a paper bag requires four times as much water as producing a plastic bag and creates three times the carbon emissions. Paper bags must be made from virgin rather than recycled paper to be strong enough to hold groceries. But paper bags hold more than plastic bags and they are compostable and recyclable. Reusable bags are the best option if they are reused as intended. The environmental impact of making a cotton bag is more than 100 times that of making a plastic bag.”
When I lived in Germany in 1998, I was surprised at the grocery store that you had to pay for grocery bags. I remember thinking “well that’s a great incentive to use re-usable bags. We should do that in the US.” It wasn’t until 2016 that California Governor Gavin Newsom finally instituted a ban on single-use plastic bags.
Better late than never. And it’s never too late to have a positive impact on our fragile planet by reducing waste and staying informed about your recycling choices.
Rethink the Bins – Your Guide to Smart Recycling and Less Household Waste is a great guide for your environment-savvy journey.
About the book
Rethink the Bins by Julia Goldstein
ISBN 978-0-9995956-4-0
Available for pre-order $9.99
https://www.amazon.com/Rethink-Bins-Guide-Recycling-Household/dp/0999595644
Description: Have you heard that recycling is broken? Let’s fix it. If you want to reduce the amount of waste you generate but aren’t sure where to begin, Rethink the Bins shows you how. The book will help you understand what happens to waste after the bins leave your curb or building, implement best practices for recycling and composting, and create SMART goals around waste reduction and recycling. You will feel empowered to start with small changes that make a difference and become more confident that the items you toss into recycling and compost bins are actually being recycled or composted. Once you have made changes at home, you will probably want to share the message with your friends and neighbors. Rethink the Bins is your next step on a path to a less wasteful future and recycling that works.
About the Author
Julia L F Goldstein, PhD is the award-winning author of Material Value: More Sustainable, Less Wasteful Manufacturing of Everything from Cell Phones to Cleaning Products. Her company JLFG Communications creates clear and concise content for world-changing manufacturing businesses. Julia is active in her local writing community and leads the Seattle chapter of the Nonfiction Authors Association. Juliagoldsteinauthor.com.
She blogs about materials, recycling, food waste, and more at https://www.jlfgoldstein.com/blog.
Website https://www.juliagoldsteinauthor.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/julialfgoldstein
Twitter https://twitter.com/jlfgoldstein
