Climate change will leave no one behind. It will affect every single one of us. The fight against climate change has finally gained momentum and it is time that the City of El Paso jumps into the fight.

How will El Paso fight?

1. Switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

For far too long now, governments internationally have failed to do their job in putting the future of our Earth and life on this planet first instead of that of the deepening pockets of a few through oil drilling and fracking for fossil fuels. Our government knowingly has been risking our health, our kids' future, and our Earth for money through fossil fuels worsening global warming.

2. Reform our city's recycling program.

The City of El Paso's curbside recycling program is voluntary. This should be a mandatory program. Just like we all need to get rid of trash, we ALL also need to recycle what we can at the same time. It's does not take more time to recycle in our households as it does to dump trash. At this time in age, we cannot afford to be lenient with this issue.  Every household should have a recycling bin just like we do a trash can. Climate change is happening now. Because of the "demand" of different products, the manufacturing of new plastics, paper, and aluminum products directly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. That is to say that buying and dumping new plastic, paper, and aluminum materials that has not been recycled and reused, is also directly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. We already know that many plastics, including plastic bags, that we use are not biodegradable. They stay in the Earth for millions of years only to make our Earth sick, endanger animals big or small, and let's be honest- landfills in our backyards are not a pretty sight or smell. The same goes for other materials we may use daily such as glass, aluminum, Styrofoam, plastic bags, paper, cardboard, etc. Yes, few of these materials do biodegrade. But that doesn't mean they should just be buried in our Earth and forgotten about. These materials need to be recycled and reused or straight out banned. It's the long term consequences of our Earth and life on this planet rather than short term financial gains that are at stake.

The State of Missouri reported that "recycling also is economical because costs associated with future disposal are avoided. One of these avoided costs is for landfill depletion. Landfills have limited space, and so can receive a limited amount of trash. When it is full, it must be replaced by another landfill that is generally more expensive to operate and maintain. This is due to higher costs of complying with environmental regulations, higher expenses in siting a new location, buying or allocating land, constructing the landfill, operational expenses, and long-term maintenance costs after the landfill is closed. Additionally, the new landfill may be further away than the old landfill, increasing transportation costs. Generally, a new landfill costs more than an older one. Paying the higher cost at a new landfill is avoided by keeping the older landfill open longer. Recycling and other waste-reducing methods keep the older landfill open longer. Because these avoided costs are not seen when people pay the bills, they do not usually think of the savings recycling produces."

A lot of the money spent on landfill operations and maintenance can be allocated to a complete recycling program. We need to start thinking about our future, our Earth's future, and our kids' future because they are who will be inheriting the Earth we leave for them for generations to come. We need to realize that we are all connected in everything we do, good and bad. Let's do something great.

In addition, the City should have easily accessible recycling bins or "mixed containers" for plastics, aluminum, compost, and paper (and of course trash) ALL OVER the City in and outside of buildings. Especially outside of buildings, in public areas, and for special events.

Why recycle? Quoting the City of El Paso's "Why Recycle" page off of the City of El Paso's own website:

-For every one million sheets of paper not printed, 85 pulp trees are saved.
-If all morning newspapers read in the United States were recycled, 41,000 trees would be saved daily and 6 million tons of waste would never end up in landfills.
-Recycling an aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television set for three hours.
-Each year, steel recycling saves the equivalent to electrically power about one-fifth of U.S. households for one year.
-By using plastic in packaging, American product manufactures save enough energy each year to power a city of one million homes for three-and-a-half years.
-The aluminum beverage can returns to the grocer’s shelf in as little as 60 days after collection.
-Americans buy over 85 million tons of paper per year-that’s about 700 pounds per person.
-Most aluminum recovered is used to manufacture new cans.
-99% of all beer cans and 97% of all soft drink cans are made of aluminum.
-Without plastics, 400 percent more material by weight and 200 percent more material by volume would be needed to make packaging. While the volume of packaging would more than double.

3. The City of El Paso should BAN plastic bags and Styrofoam from further utilization and sales of these products in businesses and restaurants.

4. Create safe and attractive bike routes throughout the city to reduce automobile emissions and promote cleaner forms and transit.

5. Strongly promote, encourage, and assist in creating a culture of sustainability and cleaner forms of transit in the City.

We believe if people are given a real and easy opportunity to do something great for the environment, they will do it. If they don't, it is because they have not been given the opportunity (like their own curbside recycling bin, easily accessible city recycling containers or "mixed containers throughout the city) or have been educated on the true benefits of recycling. All it takes is education, promotion, and encouragement.

Please sign this petition and call your City Representatives and tell them that you want a real recycling program in El Paso!