Trashy but resourceful

In Ukraine, people don't seem that concerned about communal areas - things can get a bit trashy….

One random thing I miss about home is our trash & recycling service

Oh how excited we were when (~5 years ago) Chicago added blue recycling bins to our weekly trash pick up - making recycling crazy easy - just put it in the alley

Here, its a bit more of an effort….  

For trash, you need to buy special bags, and bring them down to the curb on specified days

(bags cost 14 hryvnia each - a bit under $2)

For glass, I drive empties to a stand down the hill…….then hope its open

The plastic goes to a bin near the kids school

(who knows what happens to it from there, but I figure it must be something since they go to the effort to cage it in….)

And while these recycling efforts seem a bit backwards, it appears the locals rely more on a 'reuse' method to being green….

Tires commonly get a second life:
As parking cones….

As planters…

Bottles also live beyond the drink:
As bird feeders….

As garden pavers…..

And, of course, as Tupperware….

(The stray dogs don't mind the rough appearance - nor the disgusting looking meal)

Even what I though of as clearly garbage…..

Gets re-used as a trash can liner

You gotta admit, this 'backwards' is pretty resourceful!


So here's to recycling - whichever way you do it - and to reframing that beer from a leisurely indulgence to "helping build the fence"

Cheers!