Stop throwing money away

To the editor:

Many folks are unaware of the amount of money they throw away every day. Just the other day, I was told that a group of people found about $1,300 in the trash! Granted, it wasn’t in the traditional currency, but spendable just the same. OK, in this particular case, it benefits children.

In case you are too busy or don’t have children and are not interested, I want to ask you to reconsider. Quite honestly, I felt that way at one time. Upon reflection I realize that any country’s greatest resource is our children. What we put into them, we receive back.

I’m not encouraging you to give them everything they want, but what they need. A friend who was teaching her first class told me she had more income for herself and her two children when she was on assistance while attending a university. Kleenex, pencils, paper and other supplies were coming out of her pocket as a teacher. These are needs that benefit our children. Yes, we do pay taxes for schools, but we know that money is filtered down. Some great companies realized this and stepped in, so if we all take just a little time to do our part we could make a world of difference.

Box Tops for Education can be found on some cake mixes, cereal boxes and other items and soup labels on Progresso and Campbell’s, which count the same as Box Tops. Any school, even the homeschool IDEA program, can accept these at their locations. Steve’s Food Boy in Big Lake also has a drop box. If you don’t want to swing by and drop them off, just mail them to the school of your choice.

Now, let us discuss the money that goes in your pocket. There is almost nothing that can’t be recycled. Scraps from food and plants can be composted to make the soil more fertile. The Big Lake landfill transfer station recycles No. 1 and No. 2 plastic, mixed paper, flattened, non-greasy corrugated cardboard and steel cans. Target recycles glass. Clothes Closet is a drop-off where people can donate, receive or exchange clothes at no cost. Craigslist, eBay and Amazon are great for making money with smaller items. Larger items, if you don’t sell in a garage sale or on Craigslist, can be given to Value Village or secondhand stores. Depending on quality, some resale shops may purchase furniture. If mattresses are in decent condition, they can be recycled as well. Usually they are given to people who are in need because of flood, fire or other circumstances. Often, these items can be picked up. To recycle mattresses, call the Mattress Ranch and ask for Steve.

So how does doing all of this put money in your pocket? Besides what you sell, there is less cost for dumping. It does not cost to dump your recyclables. Because it costs less to recycle, it can also help keep the cost of merchandise down. If it costs more to package items we as consumers will experience that increase. Finally, what you do have to dump will cost you less because you have less to go into a landfill.

Susan L. Brock

Big Lake