Hi everyone!

I just spent the last 2 1/2 hours walking to and from the grocery store where I recycle cans and bottles each week. This week I brought in a whopping 501 cans & bottles!!! I think I lost a few pounds in sweat definitely and I also learned a few things about recycling in New York City.

Recycling Things I learned:
1. The Food Emporium (the grocery store where I recycle everything) will only take either 48 items or 240 items at a time, depending on who is attending the recycling station. And still other employees will ring up 40 cans/bottles at a time ad infinitum and not make me leave and come back. I told the manager that I'm recycling to help pay off a vet bill for my cat who was thrown off the roof and he just looked at me. I think he had a hard time comprehending that someone would actually do that. He just shook his head. But he still said "It's the Law, we can only take 240 at a time." Hmmm... seems weird to me. Wonder if that is just *their* store policy...

What are the laws governing recycling in NYC? NY state? the U.S.? How does it work in other countries? Please leave me comments if you can answer any of these. =)

2. The Food Emporium will NOT take cans/bottles if they don't sell that product in their store. They wouldn't take any of the small plastic Pepsi bottles I had. However, on my way home, I stopped at Rite Aid Pharmacy and they said they would take any recyclable bottle or can. It didn't matter if they sold it or not. And when I asked if there was a limit to how many they would take at a time, they said "no limit, however many you want to bring in." Well, that's interesting!

3. Apparently, it's The Law in New York City that you recycle cans, bottles and a whole list of other items. How many buildings in NYC do this? How many people in the U.S. actually recycle? How does recycling work in other countries?

Are these store policies? Is this really NY State Law? Are there different laws depending on the states? How does recycling work in other countries?? I would really like to know these things.

The superintendent of my buidling *still* couldn't fix the window latches but there's a professional window repair guy now coming out next week. But the super did patch up my kitchen ceiling which collapsed from a water leak from upstairs! Yes, more broken things. Dell PROMISED they would be here tomorrow to fix my computer ... until then I'm using this computer from my school and I can't upload photos. (I'm going to research the recycling thing tomorrow too when I have my computer back.)

Wampi is doing great ... he goes to the vet on Friday for the X-Rays! Hopefully I'll have a photo update tomorrow (from *my* computer).

Donor update:
HUGE THANK YOU's go out to emerald (she sold her diamond ring on E-Bay!), Shannon and Joyce for their donations! Ya'll are awesome. =D