Having finally found, and paid for, somebody to recycle my printer, my troubles are coming to an end.

Two days after submitting this form I get a call from UPS informing me of the pick-up day and timeframe. And like clock work, they did, in fact, come and get my large-ish box from the porch. We didn't even need to be there to greet the Man In Brown. Granted if I still lived in New York City this part would have been more difficult to negotiate—none-the-less, my bookshelf and my conscience are now clear!

Overall, I have to say, I learned a good deal in the process; how toxic technology is, how quickly our world is populated technological remnants, and how difficult it is to try and do the right thing.

And I guess it helped that the project was parlayed into content for the site where I work. Because without that public blog as a driving force, I probably would have aborted my quest without a thought. Hate to say it, but it's true. Remember, the printer sat on that shelf for over two years unplugged and unused.

All of which leads me to the conclusion that if recycling is to become an integral part of our consumption pattern, if people who are short on time or money or both are really going to be expected to recycle regularly, it needs to be easier and cheaper. Of course people need to be aware of what is happening to the planet. Of course we need to own up to our own responsibility in the process. But to get the masses doing this kind of thing, we can't rely on good intentions. It shouldn't be so hard to do the right thing.