Last Friday I flew from Chicago back to my "hometown" on Long Island. No matter where I go, no matter what my mood, I always have creeping thoughts of sustainability (sad but true).

First, as soon as I get off the plane, I head for the local pizzeria. Nothing compares to NY pizza!! While I am waiting for my pie, I order a slice to hold me over. The guy gives me a receipt for one slice of pizza (ugh, see my previous blog on receipts), throws the slice on a paper plate (actually two plates due to the grease) then puts it in a bag on top of the large carton containing my pie. "YO BUDDY" I say, "throw in some napkins!" He hands me a stack about an inch thick. Perhaps he figures I’ll make a mess!

I am now driving to see my buddy Sal, pie in the passenger seat, paper bag and two paper plates. I eat my slice with my right hand and drive with my left, with a stack of napkins on my lap. I get to Sal’s, throw the garbage, two plates, about a half inch of napkins and the paper bag, in the backseat, grab two 20oz soda bottles the full pie and eat my pizza with one of my best friends. We use even more paper plates, more napkins, empty the soda bottles and catch up. It was great! But did I recycle those materials? NO!!! Yes, I am confessing, and I felt bad about it too! How could I, someone who will always tell people the importance of recycling, toss perfectly recyclable materials into a standard garbage can?!

To atone for my actions, I spent the rest of the weekend telling Sal’s family, Dawn, and their two sons, Dominick and Anthony, how important it is to recycle, what happens to garbage in the landfill and how everybody can do more than they are. I basically told them they weren’t doing enough, which is pretty rude since they let me stay there the two nights. Dawn told me they have recycle bins, but don’t do enough recycling, and I pounced on their innocent confession. To educate them, my first order of business was to have NY pizza again the next day, so that we could recycle the cartons, the paper plates. Don’t get me wrong, I told you I love NY pizza, but I felt better after because I had thrown one carton away Friday night, and we recycled three cartons the very next day, less than 24 hours later. I also felt great because I had pizza again! I felt as if I made up for my mistake. We even recycled the cartons from the Chinese food Saturday night!

By the end of the short stay on the Island, I imagine Sal’s family was sick of me talking about packaging and the environment. But, perhaps I made them think twice? Maybe they understand a bit more? Could they even tell a friend or two? Maybe? I wonder if Sal will let me stay with him the next time I go to Long Island??