a blog about stuff around here... Ellicott City and Columbia, MD
Monday, October 19, 2009
Could a Green Can be in Our Future?
Tonight, on the NBC Nightly News, there was this story on the latest trend in recycling from San Francisco where they are using green cans to collect food waste.
I like that the composted material has been embraced by the California wine industry. Perhaps a similar program here could help raise the quality of Maryland wines.
There are 880 winneries in the Napa Valley, and San Francisco is conveniently located near them. How many wineries are in Maryland, and how close are most of the restaurants to them?
For restaurants, this is easy, because they produce mass quantities of organic waste each day; for individuals, this is an unneccesary waste of time, unless it is done at the collection center and is transparent to the individual citizens.
Cost/benefit analysis. This works out for this winery, but how does it work across the geographical area and the industry as a whole? Does the benefit merit the cost? Not to individuals who produce organic waste measured in ounces, although it does work for the consumer, in this case a few wineries who get cheap fertilizer.
If the winery, or even the government (I'll give you that), can make this a direct benefit to everyone, then go for it. If not, it just becomes a tax--through increased efforts or fines--on someone. And that someone looks to be the individual.
Nice thought, though. I've been both composting and consuming wine for decades.
In the three years of writing this blog I learned one thing...there really is no rhyme or reason to comments. Please continue to feel free to toss in your two cents whenever the spirit moves ya.
That goes for everyone else out there as well, even you PZGURU wherever you are.
Think economy of scale.
ReplyDeleteThere are 880 winneries in the Napa Valley, and San Francisco is conveniently located near them. How many wineries are in Maryland, and how close are most of the restaurants to them?
For restaurants, this is easy, because they produce mass quantities of organic waste each day; for individuals, this is an unneccesary waste of time, unless it is done at the collection center and is transparent to the individual citizens.
Cost/benefit analysis. This works out for this winery, but how does it work across the geographical area and the industry as a whole? Does the benefit merit the cost? Not to individuals who produce organic waste measured in ounces, although it does work for the consumer, in this case a few wineries who get cheap fertilizer.
If the winery, or even the government (I'll give you that), can make this a direct benefit to everyone, then go for it. If not, it just becomes a tax--through increased efforts or fines--on someone. And that someone looks to be the individual.
Nice thought, though. I've been both composting and consuming wine for decades.
I am, of course, open to other ideas and alternatives.
ReplyDeleteWB, I get the feeling that my comments are turning off other commeners. I'll cease and desist if you like.
Bob O,
ReplyDeleteIn the three years of writing this blog I learned one thing...there really is no rhyme or reason to comments. Please continue to feel free to toss in your two cents whenever the spirit moves ya.
That goes for everyone else out there as well, even you PZGURU wherever you are.
-wb
No thanks, I'll keep my kitchen waste for my compost pile and improve my own yard. If everyone did the same, we wouldn't need a residential service.
ReplyDelete