Recycle Today. Save Tomorrow!

From: Mia Cope

Today is a good day! It’s Recycle Day at our house!

Daddy and Momma have a special bin in the garage where they put all the things that are recyclable. And that’s a lot because, according to Daddy, that’s almost everything.¹ Momma says the amount of trash picked up by the city garbage truck is only about half what it used to be because so much goes into the recycling bin.

Every day, pieces of cardboard, paper, plastic, aluminum and steel cans, glass, and used-up batteries go in that special trash can. And presto-change-o, it’s no longer just a trash can — it’s a recycling receptacle!

When the big blue bag gets full, Daddy takes it out and ties it up. And then Momma and Daddy begin filling up a new blue bag. There’s a little bit of work involved in all that. Recyclable stuff needs to be clean, boxes flattened, and then there’s the job of managing the bags. But all of that is well within Daddy’s job description as Grounds and Maintenance Worker at Casa de Togo.

But the really fun times happen on days like today. It’s pickup day! All the stuff is stacked on the lawn and then magically disappears!²

Before he comes to get me for our walk, Daddy takes the bags of recycling plus any big, flattened cardboard boxes we’ve saved and puts them on the front lawn. When I come out with my harness on and I’m ready to go, I see this glorious sight!

I call it the “Recycle Re-Do.” Daddy makes a sour-looking face when ever I call out, “It’s the Recycle Re-Do!” However, he has never been known for his marketing sense or appreciation of all-things creative.

Daddy’s enthusiasm for recycling has been contagious at Casa de Togo, however. Momma does it. Daddy does it. That just leaves me. Because of some unfortunate incidents in the past, I am no longer allowed to have recyclable materials in my possession. Really, it was more of a misunderstanding. I thought it would be helpful to allow those materials to age a bit in an undisclosed, underground location. Daddy didn’t agree and since he’s the scrap czar around here and we don’t give him many other responsibilities, his rules reign.

Daddy and Momma even recycle food scraps through a process known as composting. Daddy is in charge of that operation, as well. He even has a big book about it.

I read it. He’s not doing it right. Because if he was, he would be glad for me to dig around in it when he transfers the seasoned materials from the rotating bin to the ground. And he’s not. That is upsetting to me because one of my super-powers is digging. And the compost heap was a great place to store recyclable materials underground during the aging process.

Daddy’s heart is in the right place, of course. And I’m quite proud of our green efforts at Casa de Togo. That’s why this picture is part of our new branding campaign and will be featured on a billboard on the interstate.

It will be captioned: “Casa de Togo Cares. Recycle Today. Save Tomorrow!”

I’m Mia Cope, General Manager and Chief Security Officer at Casa de Togo, and I approve this message.

1. Daddy does exaggerate. When confronted, he protests and claims that he is only guilty of employing a little hyperbole. According to Momma, that “little hyperbole fellow” must be making a sizable salary with his employment because Daddy does exaggerate a lot.

2. That’s what Daddy says. I’ve watched through the fence from the back yard. There’s a really nice man who drives up and carefully places the blue bags in his trailer and puts the cardboard boxes in the bed of his pickup. And once a month, he leaves new blue bags. “Magically disappears.” Pfftt!