Last year, I lived with a couple roommates who absolutely love the game of Beer Pong. I was totally happy to hear this because I have actually been a fan of the game for a very long time. Our collective passion for the game has caused us to often go through hundreds and hundreds of beer cans per week, in what adds up to at least 2-3 tournaments. Beer Pong is a “drinking game” where the object is to throw a ping-pong ball from one side of a ping-pong table into one of the cups filled with beer on the other side of the table. You drink the beer on your side only when your opponent drains a ball into one of the cups on your side, and if you make it in one of their cups they have to drink. Basically, when a ball lands in a cup the beer must be finished and the cup removed from the table. You win if you make all the balls on your opponent’s side of the table before they make all the cups on your side. There are typically 6 or 10 cups. This great game is fun and challenging, and you also go through SO MUCH beer.
Kegs can be a hassle for college students. They are difficult to transport and often a deposit is required. So nowadays people who play beer pong often get beer by the cans, in cases or 30 packs. This game requires a lot of beer drinking and it wasn’t until recently that I really considered how many aluminum can were being wasted. It’s something so obvious, but it’s also something easy to over look when having “fun” with friends in college. I’ve always recycled cans, or “tried” to, but I have to say I’ve been pretty guilty of not taking advantage of every opportunity to do so.
And so, it was refreshing and inspiring when I first saw my roommate’s Chris and John working so diligently on a daily and weekly basis to make sure that every single can used at our house is recycled. Honestly, do you know what many people that go through hundreds of aluminum cans per week? And how many do you know that recycle hundreds of cans per week? Furthermore, how many folks do you know that will proactively recycle on behalf of everyone else’s usage? I’ve seen Chris and John over at other people’s house’s making sure they are recycling, and if they are not, taking away their aluminum cans for them. The garage takes the brunt of it, and believe it or not, the massive pile of cans in the corner does actually have a trash bin in there, you just can’t see it. And when it comes time for clean up, there is a lot of can crunching involved, which can really be pretty fun if you have a crew and some good music. The thing that really inspires me about my roommates is that they just don’t stop with cans. They honestly look to recycle everything they can possibly recycle in the house. Whether it be using rechargeable batteries or recycling glass and paper, they will find the most “green” way of doing something. Our community doesn’t really offer anything that makes it convenient or easy to recycle, but yet Chris and John make it a constant priority to “figure out a way”, regardless of circumstances.
When people like Chris and John lead by example in their efforts to be Eco Friendly, it creates the possibility for a domino effect on the people around them, who observe their efforts and are inspired. The truth is, it takes substantial efforts to be a green ambassador. It’s not a spectator sport; you won’t make a difference if you merely “support” the green movement, it is not a spectator sport, you must take action. For instance, take the riddle of moving the cans to a recycling center. Do we use a gas guzzling truck on the way? And what about the containers we use to transport the aluminum cans? If large plastic trash bags or a bunch of grocery bags are thrown away in the process of trying to get the cans recycled, aren’t we negating some of our eco-friendly progress? Things like reusable green bags, reusable water bottles and hybrid vehicles are remedies that will allow us to truly have an overall positive impact and not go “two steps forward, two steps back”.
When it comes to the success of the green movement, there is no other way it will prosper than consistent daily action of genuine people like me and you. Chris and John’s courage to do the right thing is a perfect example of the consistent and habitual actions required to motivate others and make positive changes in our lives and the world. And with Beer Pong, which has become something of a “phenomena” among the world’s youth, think of all the cans that can be saved by good samaritans like Chris and John. If recycling is the “cool” thing to do among the youth, everyone, including the older and very young future generations will take notice. In the world of beer pong, we love to play, we love to watch, and now if we can all just remember to recycle every can, the difference we can make is astonishing. Take the lead among your friends and make a difference today!
Albert Jefferson is a well educated journalist discussing environmentally friendly and reusing stories also passing the knowledge to firms to utilize reusable bags to display both their trademark and recognition for this world.
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Beer Pong And Recycling

