Views expressed on this site and affiliated outlets are those of SISU and its contributors. They do not represent the official positions or policies of the 937 Condominium HOA or its management company, Bluestone.
11.11.2025
The evening before Green Century was scheduled to pick up 937’s e-recycling, I found myself standing inside the bin, its cardboard walls up to my chest. I was untangling cords, stripping away packaging, and rearranging the bounty of screens, monitors, and the odd assortment of small household appliances into neat piles.A resident approached, hesitant at first, unsure of what to make of a grown woman waist-deep in discarded electronics. She asked if there was still time to add her printer. “Yes,” I said, “bring it on down.”She did. She thanked me- genuinely- relieved to have a responsible way to let go of what no longer served her. I could have used the moment to forge a connection. I need allies on my ship of one, but I bit my lip instead, unsure what might come out.Because in that moment, I was engulfed in an existential crisis. The effort felt strangely theatrical- the organizing, the emails, the flyers, the research,- a kind of hollow ritual designed to soothe the persistent tension created by how much we consume.The global economy runs on a deficit. This year, Earth Overshoot Day fell on July 24th- the date when humanity’s demand for natural resources exceeded what the planet could regenerate. Each year, that date inches closer to the start.Recycling won’t reverse that on its own. And as recycling becomes more privatized, the imbalance becomes even starker. A weekend collection event, no matter how well attended, cannot shift the trajectory of environmental decline. But it can shift our awareness. It can show us what we already know but don't yet know how to change.And change is precisely what we need to do.I didn’t choose the name SISUSUSI for its symmetry. I chose it for what it stands for: a quiet strength that moves forward despite the odds- a willingness to keep going even when the path feels foolish or small.Standing in that bin, under the artificial light, surrounded by the castoffs of modern life, nauseated by my own contribution to the rising tide of waste, I felt both the absurdity of it all and the flicker of hopefulness. A ship of one with plenty of room for anyone feeling the same.The work may feel foolish. But that is precisely what it will take to turn this ship around.
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We’re just prisoners of our own devices...Are you curious about senate bill 582 and how it impacts Oregon businesses? the kitty will lead the way :)
