Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Save money and help the earth, August 3, 2005
When I was very young, the authorities drained most of a small lake in the state park near my home. My mother took my best buddy and me out to the lake, and we walked around for hours picking up trash. It was a stewardship lesson I never forgot. To paraphrase Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday," I will treasure that time cleaning up the lake for as long as I shall live.
But, it was one of many lessons about being a responsible resident of the planet. I grew up in a home where we already practiced much of the advice in Trash Talk. That made us unusual, in a positive way. As an adult, I continue those same practices--because they are good for the earth and good for my wallet. They simply make sense.
I did learn some new things from Trash Talk, which in itself was a surprise because I am noted for being able to stretch a buck and not waste things. I like the ability to live cheaply without being a cheapskate to do it. Not all surprises are good, but this one was. And I've already begun implementing some of what I've learned. Even very frugal, waste-conscious people are likely to realize monthly savings in excess of what they paid for this book. The average person could easily save that much each week.
As a professional speaker on time management, I was delighted with the way the Brummets organized this book. The "don't waste" philosophy of Trash Talk also applied to the actual reading of the book. That shouldn't be surprising, as planning and organization are key elements of reducing trash and cutting costs.
Trash Talk explains the three Rs: Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle. It then adds a fourth R: Refuse (as in, refuse to buy the wrong items). These principles form the foundation for the hundreds of useful tips in Trash Talk.
The book is organized into four parts.
Part One addresses commonly wasted items and explains how to reduce waste and extend the usefulness of each item. Every item has its own section, and each section ends with a bulleted list of the benefits from following the advice in that section. The items include such things as bags, carpets, cloth, containers, dryer sheets, furniture, glass, hangers, nylons, plastic rings, soap, and toothbrushes.
Part Two is less oriented around specific products and more around areas of concern. Each of these has its own section, as well (again, with those wonderful bulleted lists). Areas of concern include energy use, holidays, indoor air, infant and feminine hygiene, kitchen waste, organic gardening, and water use.
Part Three is really about saving trees. There's much more to this than most people realize. If everyone followed some simple steps, as outlined in Trash Talk, the benefit to our forests, streams, and air would be immense.
Part Four provides short examples of good things happening. The point of including these is to show that significant trash reduction is a reality for many corporations and other organizations. An extensive list of resources follows the examples.
Form is important and Trash Talk could use some editing. But even so, it was enjoyable read and easy to understand. This book is valuable, in many ways. First, remember that this book is a financial investment. It will pay dividends exceeding its purchase price, not long after you start putting it to use. Second, it provides badly-needed advice on how to be good citizens of the world. It's not a "feel good" book written by some politician or celebrity who wants to spout some politically correct blather. It's a practical "how to" guide written by people who walk the walk.
Buy this book for yourself. But also consider giving it as a gift to others. It may be one of the most durable gifts you have ever bestowed on another person. Your planet will thank you.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Trash Talk, January 20, 2005
Although many people and communities have developed an on-going commitment to recycling that has helped the environment deal with the vast amount of waste we have created, Dave and Lillian Brummet have written a book to help us go many steps beyond just recycling. They offer numerous environmentally friendly and cost saving benefits to reducing trash and reusing some of those maddening boxes, bags and other containers that plague the life of every consumer. The text is easy to understand, chocked full of ideas and tips, and contains a valuable resources list. Buy this book. Keep it in a handy place and check out some new and old ideas that can help make your home, your city, and your planet a safer, more user-friendly place to live.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book Review of "Trash Talk" , February 1, 2006
Do you feel guilty when you throw away things like old brushes,
cloth, containers and soap? What...no guilt trip? Well, you may
change your mind after reading "Trash Talk".
I am amazed by the amount of research that Dave and Lillian have
don. This is a truly indepth study on dealing with waste and it
should be on everyone's bookshelf.
Trash Talk is full of wonderful ideas on how to re-use items such
as pieces of carpet, dryer sheets, nylons, plastic rings,
styrofoam and much much more, to make them useful again.
Besides saving money by re-using everyday items, the wonderfully
creative ideas in this book will be helpful to the environment by
producing less waste.
Each chapter ends with a special section on benefits from using
the ideas in that chapter by pointing out all the ways you've
saved money, improved on natural resources, saved time and
perhaps created a new gift.
This comprehensive, easy to understand, manual is recommended for
anyone looking to save money, improve their lifestyle and help
protect the environment. I know that I'll never again be able to
look at my used drying sheets in the same light! The money you
save by using some of these ideas will pay for this book many
times over.
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