October 14, 2009, 5:34 pm
Today I had a few hours spare and wanted to do something productive that would also cheer me up.
Ah that pile of remaining cans in the floor lounge. We had improved since Friday when I had to carry 3 bags by myself. Bob’s sister brought loads of his clothes and shoes up at the weekend, some of which were in a tall box. Once it was empty I got in it and had about 10 minutes of fun. I would have kept it for fun and creative nonsense, but it was soon placed in the lounge and used to contain all the recyclable cans and bottles I left behind. Also in the lounge was an upright delivery trolley. The box was light enough to carry but to akward, the trolley made it super fast.
Despite most people being away over the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, the floor had still kept up drinking and the box was overful. This made me remove a bag so I could close the box flaps, and then I wouldn’t be so shunned on the bus. It worked, people were interested in the contents of the box and a few asked questions.
It was good to have bags inside the box so I could pull them out at the return-it centre, and then just tip it over to get the last 3 loose cans out. Whoever put a small bag of very smelly rubbish (containing some valuable cans/bottles) in the box deserves to be beaten to a pulp. It would be great if we could sort cans, alcohol cans, bottles, and glass out as we collect them but I don’t see the guys going that far.
The amount I got? I returned 291 items (only 51 more than last time), and got $19.98. Making a grand total of $36.25. All that just for a couple of trips on the bus, that take about 1 hour including sorting time (10-20 mins).
What to do with the money? Well the only suggestion discussed on the last blog post was by Bill, “Keep the cash, you earnt it!“. For now I’ll just keep the money safe (in the bank) and report back on any increased respect from my floor mates (maybe the recycling will be cleaner and sorted with no bottle tops).
October 10, 2009, 3:33 pm
On my floor we decided to collect our beer cans in a big box, to create some big prank like throwing them all at Vanier Place residence, or filling the elevator. Then we learnt how beer cans, soda(pop/fizz) cans, glass and plastic bottles are worth a resonable bit if you return them for recycling. The collection grew, with the aid of all the visitors our famous party floor gets. This was a lot easier work than the homeless people that walk around campus and town, removing bottles/cans from litter bins (most have a large ledge or rack to aid them) and from rubbish bins. We just had to party, let other people party and enjoy the work.
In a month the collection grew to about seven rubbish bags full. The smell was bad, it took up space in the floor lounge, and the cleaners started to get angry. So all we had to do was get about four of us to walk 15 minutes to the BC government liquor store. We discussed what the money could go towards: a new large TV to replace the historic broken CRT one that was lugged up here last year; a present for the residential advisor on our floor who is the best RA in Totem; or something like table football. Whatever we did with the money, we had to get rid of them this weekend, it stank.
I’m going to side-track for a bit. When I was young I was taught a story you may know, it’s called The Little Red Hen and it goes roughly along these lines…
- Hen: Who will help be gather up the cans into double bags (so they don’t leak or rip)?
- Not I said the cat who was busy sleeping. Not I said the mouse who was busy doing homework. Not I said the pig who had, erm, a class to go to.
- Hen: Who will help me carry the cans to the store?
- Not I said the cat. Not I said the mouse. Not I said the pig.
- Hen: Who will help me figure out what everyone agrees to buy so nobody argues the money has been spent unfairly?
- Not I said the cat. Not I said the mouse. Not I said the pig.
- Hen: Who will help me look after the money, spend it, and eat a cake?
- In unison everyone said “I will”.
I don’t remember what the little red hen did with the cake she baked all by her self. I looked up the story on the student’s authoritive source, wikipedia, who gives me an interesting ending. I got $16.27 (about £9.84) for what turned out to be 40 minutes taking 3 bags in the direction I was going anyway. I’m sure I could find something I’d like for that much, for now I will hold onto the money and see what everybody suggests in the comments.
And now, the photos of my exciting day and how to recycle for money in Canada.
