Moms Better Recyclers Than College Kids
Maybe it's just easier because they're putting it out on the curb rather than finding on-campus recycling centers, but moms are more earth-friendly than their kids at college. Karen Hopkin reports.
If I asked you to picture someone who recycles, you might come up with an image of an idealistic young nature lover—someone who has the time and energy to take a personal interest in the environment. At the very least, you’d probably picture more Earth mother than soccer mom. But a new study from the University of Granada suggests you’d be wrong. Because scientists there have found that housewives are more ecologically aware than undergrads…in that they’re more willing to recycle.
The researchers assessed the recycling skills of some 500 university students and 150 homemakers. And they found that the housewives separate glass from their garbage more often than the students—even though students say they’re pro-environment. So why are housewives better friends to the planet than students? The researchers say that maybe it’s because it’s easier for them. Students have to haul their vast stockpiles of recyclables some distance to the proper receptacle, whereas housewives presumably just deposit their bottles at the curb. The researchers suggest that students could be encouraged to recycle by programs that emphasize how recycling is an ethical imperative for those who care about the earth. Or maybe the schools could just put a few extra recycling bins in the halls.
This article really reinforces lots of things that have been posted here before. How convenient does recycling need to be? People need to make some effort to carry their recycling to a receptacle or to the curb.
The Harris Report also had data that said those age 18-30 recycled less than those age 62 and older. We need to get the RE3.org message out there more. If you have ideas please post them below.
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