I suppose now is as good a time as any to reveal I've begun an internship at a nonprofit group…read moredowntown; I was offered the position because I'm friends with the person who runs the office for the chairman, my friend "L". L knows that with my B.A. in Political Science, paired with a keen understanding of politics, and my ability to get things done, I should be going places if I stick with it.
What do I do exactly? Basically, I'm L's bitch. It's "The Devil Wears Prada", except instead of being sent to glamorous boutiques and tony restaurants, I'm sent to such exotic locales as the Chuy's off Barton Springs and the downtown post office to buy stamp coils.
Here's where Balcones Recycling comes into play.
Since everyone's so busy on a day-to-day basis, it appears that the cans of La Croix and bottles of Dublin Dr. Pepper in our kitchen have been accumulating I'd say, in a rough estimate, since April of Way Too Long Ago. Additionally, there was more untouched paper recycling in both the kitchen and the copy room than I believe there was actual paper stock. Apparently, the attorney in our office was about to lose his shiat because of the mess, and I was assigned the task of getting rid of the junk.
This is absolutely not a problem. When I get going on deep cleaning and/or organizational kicks, I get on a roll and I won't stop until everything is perfect; my OCD is a powerful force I only unleash to do good. I wanted the crap out ASAP myself.
I found a website online that listed nearby recycling centers, and while a tad confusing about who accepted what items, I figured Balcones would be my best shot. I asked L if they paid for cans, and she said she wasn't sure but if they did, I could keep the money as a tip. All 75 cents of it, I was guessing. Score.
The drive into East Austin always makes me nervous, and this time was no exception. I found the location with ease, but all the parking spaces were full. Large 18-wheelers are constantly moving and out, and there is no signage about where one would drop off recyclables.
I "creatively" parked and popped inside the office, where a friendly girl behind the desk explained there is a white dumpster just across the way that I could toss everything into. I thanked her, even though I was bummed I wouldn't be paid for my monstrous bag of cans.
Nervously, I threw everything away as I prayed Kar would not be crushed by those damn trucks driving everywhere. The dumpster said "paper and cardboard only", so I double checked with the nearest guy standing around and he said I could go ahead and toss the cans in, too. Works for me
As I left by narrowly escaping another incoming 18-wheeler, I felt proud of myself. I realized that I had just done my part to help maintain a sustainable environment for us, for our children, and for our beloved Planet Earth.
Plus, L said I had to.
3 Stars.
