Collecting-Sorting-Counting-Weighing-Recycling
I have been an avid recycler my entire life. When I was in Elementary school at : Warner Elementary (Los Angeles) , Lincoln, Washington Charter and Sacred Heart ( Palm Desert) - classrooms introduced me and other children my age to recycling. From doing my part day to day as a child, to continuing the practice at home my recycling efforts grew over time. There were several clubs I started in middle and high school- from meeting with others to spread awareness and what action ideas can be practiced at home to participating in monthly advocacies. I spent most of my high school years at Palm Desert High school volunteering in The Living Desert as a ZooTeen teaching environmental facts and volunterring at the American Cancer society recycling old previous years unsold shits into reused repurposed tye dye shirts to be sold for the benifit of the American Cancer Society. As an adult I have collected recycling in the communal areas in public trash/recycling accessible areas.
Approximately in 2024 myself and my partner Cary began recycling full-time to make a reliable day to day living. My personal grief morning my daughter and son's absence had left me with with a simple desire to work and better the land. Having a (9-5) job where you must be present in a commercial workforce that you depend on for your profits-scheduling are generally under-waged, overworked and positions are difficult to acquire. Most Americans are either over qualified and are required to accept lower wages because of the competition of the job can be handed to someone who will take less and expect less (migrants). Most whom have gone to college, trade schools or are graduates of a higher program need connections with an already established employee of a company or independent contractor. The last 10 years working for commercial and/or privately owned spa's have held hold no an individual or corporate or state responsibility to the damage done to the physical mental and emotional wellbeing of their employed workers. In latter terms no health insurance, working insurance on job, dental or sick leave. A massage therapist is expected to work approximately 8 hours or 6 a day and committed to up to two months of future bookings. When a medical emergency or family necessity over rode my ability to be a robot and not take a breath or put personal priorities first the company generally disposed of me. I have a firm belief that life is organic in all its aspects. Although the cost of massage labors are the same from my mobile business to a in spa treatment- the difference is I invest 100% and receive 100%- In spas you are lucky if you leave with 20% plus gratuity-requiring the therapist to overwork to have finical stability. Most of us working class have in California have 2/3 sources of general income to survive the inflation of the State and County. I prefer to schedule massage therapy labors infrequently to provide each client with an extraordinary experience at my best. When it comes to 530am-530pm M-F, I dedicate 10 hours a day with my partner to the silence and beauty of being outdoors in the environment elements; recycling. Although recycling is seen as a wasteful job; as some bottles and cans range from 5cents to higher each count- a successful profitable day requires a count of 2,000 minimum. Although I remain competitive and always try to outdo myself my highest turn ins counts per bottle(plastic or glass) and aluminum cans have been approximately 8,500 in one day. Personal endurance of collecting and carrying weight for miles a day with investment in fuel in my motorhome that gets 8miles to the gallon to recycle throughout the area of the desert cities is a routine that has grown to a systematic living and takes from nothing but the local landfills.
Common fears of the elite (1%'ers) individuals, retired, disabled or otherwise vulnerable persons; are falsely informed of their recycling/trash and the right to collect while street-side. We do not go on personal property to collect unless already specified by the home owner/occupant. However the false belief is that the trash/recycling is personal property. Although that may be true to begin with- legally once the trash/recycling is on the street or in a community waste bin, it is public property. We are gracious and polite to open any opportunity to begin a dialogue with individuals. However the fear that is intoxicating individuals of inflicting physical violence, verbal assaults and true threats in pursuits to make false reports to the police to label us suspicious is unnecessary. If you feel it is threatening for someone to be recycling in your community the solution is not to actually incite threatening words and actions to a person in pursuits of a noble and pacific labor that is better for the environment and air quality. If you ask the natives (human beings that have spent a lifetime here in the desert cities; you will discover recycling is one of the most dangerous pursuits of labor, because of the power of the police exploiting recyclers whom have less than the fragile person reporting them for no wrong doing. I and my partner carry clear bags for aluminum/plastic and glass in more durable bags to avoid cracks and breaks. If you have personal information shred it, to make yourself feel safer. I personally and my partner have no idea or prerequisite on identity theft/fraud and have no desire to learn or know what or how to do anything with papers with individual names and information. If you can't do something chances are others cannot as easily as fear can drive you to think. I would recomend that instead of making false reports to segregate the common people you fear for no reason- come out and ask to watch or separate your recyclables to make collecting easier and simpler. Awaiting waste management doesn't help the planet or aid the common people trying to make an honest living. Trash goes to landfills, oceans and glass scatters and cannot be reused. It goes to landfills as the cities do not even operate their own waste management but instead of a subcontractor. The cities don't rely on your consumables - nor do they feed the homeless or aid programs for people in need that are wished not to be seen and heard.
Tips to Aid Our Recycling Labors in Your Neighborhood