Meeting Mr. Helbig

This morning I went to meet my new neighbor, Mr. Helbig, the dry cleaner. He has a big sign across the window of his storefront “We’re 100% Organic.” The temperature was perfect for walking, so I clipped on my pedometer, grabbed my canvas shopping bag and a pair of pants that needed cleaning, and headed out on foot to Diamond Cleaners.

Don’t think I always go into a mystic trance and head for anything that posts “100% Organic”. Except for a certain peanut butter, the organic products at our house I debated thoroughly before buying. I’m like most people who shop for what we can afford; usually “organic” spikes the budget. Whatever it is, the benefit must be worth the extra cost.

The organic cleaner got my attention because, you may recall, I wrote a few months ago about visiting an eco friendly dry cleaner in Miami. When a commercial cleaning process eliminates the use of perchloretheline (perc) there is an environmental benefit. Perc is used in traditional dry cleaning systems and is a recognized carcinogen that permeates the environment. I was curious which method is used here in my neighborhood making it 100 % organic therefore seeming very earth friendly.

Mr. Helbig uses steam and detergent. I know - - steam is water and water isn’t dry. But, no dry cleaning method is dry. The traditional method swishes your clothes in solvents, something like dipping them in gasoline.

Surrounded by windows at Diamond Cleaners are Mr. Helbig’s German-made Miele “wet cleaning” machines, the world’s best known H2O cleaning method. Then Sebastian, Mr. Helbig's son, demonstrated the finishing process. Steam and air are shot in alternating bursts through the fabric while clothing is held in shape on special forms. No toxic chemicals involved.

Considering that a Google map shows there are ten dry cleaners within 2 miles of my property, I’m impressed that Mr. Helbig is one of only 1500 cleaners worldwide using this method. I entrusted my favorite silk pants into their care and walked home again. For the record, 7450 steps round trip.

THE SEVEN "WHYS" OF WET CLEANING

1. Gentler than handwashing
2. Fresh, clean scent
3. Soft to the touch
4. Kind to sensitive skin
5. Safe for your clothing
6. Perfect for removing stains
7. Gentle on the environment

Read more about wet cleaning.

As I was saying . . . reducing is ripping recycling

In my January 3 post, I wrote about the effect the economy is having on the recycling industry. Today a great article on just that subject in "Packaging Digest".

I became a subscriber to this source last year after discovering the "Sustainability in Packaging" conference. What an eye opener that was! For me, it was like crashing a party with a theme - - a box, bubble and bio-degrade theme.

I'm going again this year to Orlando March 2 - 4 to learn more. Click here for more info. (I also have the link under my favorite links).

So how are those 3 R’s working out for you?

I read that China isn’t buying as much of the recyclable materials from the U.S. waste stream these days. They don’t need it to make products because we aren’t buying products. The result is that recyclable waste is backing up at the U.S. recycle broker locations. If this keeps up, when they run out of space and reserves, waste brokers will likely send into the landfill everything we’ve been striving to recycle.

So how’s that 3 R’s Reduce, Reuse, Recycle message working out for us? Out of economic pinching we reduced, now recycle is in trouble.

There always seems to be a short leg on the three-legged stool we call Sustainability. The three legs, of course, are environment, economy and social equity. I tread carefully here because I’m not an economist or sociologist, but it’s becoming easier to see what happens when the economy’s carousel rhythm of producing, selling, buying and discarding goods grinds down.

When the economy was in a white-hot rage, the environment often suffered, but when the economy stalls, social equity gets even more skewed. Getting three legs of the stool to be equal is hard, especially if we’re only focusing on one leg at a time.

In 2009, I can see us focusing more on social equity as each of us becomes more aware of what skewed social equity feels like. Merchandisers report consumers are buying what they need rather than what they want. Lately I’ve heard the voice of Common Sense calling from the far side of WWII. “Hey! How many of those do you need anyway? Eh? You just bought one last year and the year before. Give one to somebody who needs it.”

I’m suggesting adding another R for 2009. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - - Relate to those in need. Open up to the idea that while you could keep it, someone else might actually need it. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Relate. It just might be what we need.

Suggestions for the 4^th R:

• Place items by the curb for a day or two with a “Free” sign,
• Post items on www.freecycle.org or Greenopolis' Free n Exchange
  
• Call your church or any church to ask if someone needs your item
• Tune your ears; you may actually hear someone, even a stranger, say they need such an item as yours
  
• Donate to charity