Smile, that’s the rule!

A few weeks ago, in a supermarket in Strasbourg, I witnessed an exotic scene for a so-called French woman from the inside. An old gentleman, slightly stooped, with well-combed hair, came in with his shopping bag on wheels, greeted the cashier cheerfully then, while talking about the cold and the snow that was coming, handed her five empty beer bottles. She answered him with a big smile, while lining up the Meteor (locally produced brand) in a bin.

Blessed Alsace, who has never abandoned this practice of deposits which saves around 76% energy and 50% water compared to recycling glass, according to Ademe. Beyond the environmental benefits, I felt the social bond that the deposit can create.

The old gentleman received much more than 20 cents per bottle returned: a smile and a snippet of conversation. Who will say the price, in our lonely times?

Our sorting bins are sad, and mute to boot. Four days later, I found myself in one of those precious (and all too rare) Repair cafés* with a broken electric lawn mower. The volunteers at work did not succeed in resuscitating her but the atmosphere was nice and I had a good chat. Faced with the culture of waste that Pope Francis denounced, we have all the tools in hand so that ecology becomes much more than a necessity: a source of joy.

* repaircafe.org/en