Opportunity vs. Environment

I've been living in Northern Alberta for over half a year now and I just can't wrap my head around the waste/pollution problem.

I really took things for granted living in various cities in Ontario.  Growing up, people came by my house every Wednesday to pick up my family's recyclables.  My dad swore by recycling.  I was constantly cleaning out bottles and cans.  Then, when I moved to Toronto, it was same thing.  I cleaned out the recyclables and placed them in their appropriate bins, which were located on site.  It's all I had to do.  I didn't have to go to several different places.  It was all taken care of for me.

Now living in Fort McMurray, things aren't the same.  I want to mention that the community here only started the recycling program a few years ago.  They don't except a lot of things that I'm used to like juice containers and other plastics. And, it's frustrating to have to track down all the places to put them in their appropriate place (probably the #1 reason "why" many people here don't recycle).

I feel very alone out here at times when I get lost blabbering on about the environment.  What's one single person to do being surrounded by people that make a living working in oil sands?  Many people work long hours and don't even have the time to sort through their waste.

Not everyone living here is all about the money, but more the opportunity and the people I've met through interviewing, I found out this place is an excellent opportunity for anyone.  You can pretty much get a career/job where ever you like because every place you go to has the same 'revolving door' as the next place.  Also, there are plenty of jobs that have starting pay based from $15-$20 an hour.   I do agree that this place does give overwhelming opportunities.  People that have been poor, almost bankrupt, have been able to come out of it.

It's more of the culture shock from the boomtown that affects me.  The community can't keep up with the environment.  I know I'm not the only one because I read about the pollution here in the Canadian and United States media.  They all mention the effect on the environment.  My major concern is the recycling program (or the lack of one), when the municipal focuses on rent control and more housing.  I agree with this because people do need places to stay, even if it's surrounded by trash.

I even get frustrated because people are quick to be opinionated about it.  They don't realize that when it comes to living, people need to make money to live here.  It's very expensive.

 I've come to terms with it. Things happen that I have no control over, but it's hard to see.

For example, I was in the forest this past weekend and was shocked to see the illegal dumping of automobiles and barrels full of flammable fluids. It was only moments before when I was watching two deer miraculously galloping through the open landscape.  And then, only a few miles down the road, I run into barrels full of waste.

I do my part.  I recycle all I can. Even though, it's not as convenient as placing it in a blue box on the curb every Wednesday, I'm slowly adjusting to it.

I can only hope that someday, everyone else does.

~The Journals of D.