Last week I flew to Florida - my mission two-fold: to visit my older children, and to catch up with sustainable design entrepreneur Colin Wright. I was lucky to sit down and chat with this globe-trotting designer..., (perhaps the fact that he's my son did help - ah, family connections....)

A little background on Colin Wright before I jump in. In the summer of 2009, he sold all his worldly goods, sans a couple of laptops, some necessary toiletries and a few articles of backpack-fitting clothing. About now you're probably thinking, What would possess a basically normal LA native to take such drastic measures? (Which is pretty much the same thoughts his father and I had). Well, as owner of Colinismyname, a multidisciplinary design business that focus's on eco-friendly materials, Colin had a goal: to take his philosophy globally. His time frame – months, years, who knows is still up in the air, but every 4 months he packs up his meager possessions for another local..., decided by his loyal web followers on Exilelifestyle.com.

When I caught up with Colin he had just returned to the states from the first leg of his great adventure: Argentina. I was savvy enough to get in a few jounalistic questions about recycling along with my necessary Mom-ones (like, Are you eating, sleeping, brushing, etc) Here's what I found out..., about the recycling. (The other Mom-related answers will have to wait......)

Me: According to one of your blogs, you said this about trying to create a more green business struture: I recycle, and I have been slowly reducing my carbon footprint over the past few years, significantly decreasing the amoung of paper both myself and my clients use. My main tool in this effort, however, is technology. I reduce paper usage by doing more business online. I seldom drive my car because I take on more projects that allow me to work remotely. I purchase products that are well-made and sustainable, and reduce the number of consumables I purchase each year by consolidating and buying second-hand when possible.So, I know your business focus' on eco-friendly ways, but personally are you “green”?

Colin: Living in LA for the last couple of years, I did what I can. Recycling is offered curbside, and composting is encouraged. I didn't recycle compulsively like some of my friends though.

Me: Once you got to Buenos Aires did you notice any recycling efforts?

Colin: Not really. There are trash pick-ups like here in the states, but no recycling containers, even trash cans were hard to find. People generally throw things down – it was pretty common. Another thing you notice right off is that there is dog poop everywhere. It's never picked up, even on the sidewalks.

Me: As someone who promotes a “green business” and grew up in a country that promotes recycling, did this lack of recycling surprise you when you first got there?

Colin: It was hard to get accustomed to. At first, I think I was almost viscerally affected. But then again, there aren't a lot of garbage disposals and dishwashers there as well. You get used to living a certain way after a while.

Me: Why do you think Argentina doesn't encourage recycling like we do in the states?

Colin: For one thing, there is a lot of government corruption. For instance, the sidewalks in Buenos Aires are terrible- cracked and in total disrepair in most cases. There are agencies that are supposed to take care of them, just like we have in the states, but the money never gets to the right people. So I would assume that if there was a recycling agency for instance, the chances are slim that they would do any good anyway. Also, the cost of living is high and the wages are low for most people, so recycling is low on their list of priorities. The one thing that they do “recycle” in a way is cardboard. At night, people scavenge for cardboard. I'm not sure where they are taking it or how much they get paid, but on trash pick-up days there's always additional trash on the sidewalks, etc. from the trach rummaging that goes on the night before.

Me: Since recycling isn't encouraged, do products sold in Argentina use less packaging? Do the people use less plastic silverware, plates etc?

Colin: I didn't notice a lot less packaging. A lot of the items are coming from other countries, so they aren't directly Argentinian produced. It did seem like they reused their plastic silverware, etc. more than we do in the states.

Me: I know you traveled through Chili and Peru as well on your way back to the states. Did any of these countries embrace any recycling efforts?

Colin: No. All and all, there was no sense of “green” or sustainable living that I saw in South America. I had to basically explain to people what I up to. The concept of a sustainable business seemed totally foreign to most of the people I talked with.

According to Colin's blog site, exilelifestyle.com, New Zealand is the next stop for this mean, green, sustainable machine. I'll be checking in again with him as he tours and works on the island down under. I for one want to know more about how other cultures, other people take care of Mother Earth.

You know, as US citizens, we tend to believe that everything we do is the norm world-wide. We also have this misconception that every idea pebble we toss has ripple effects that are eagerly awaited by all other countries. But in reality this is a very myopic and unrealistic view.

Our planet stretches far beyond the 50 states; so with something as important as protecting the earth, we need to realize that can't do it alone. In fact, we need to get all of mankind on board. And in roder to do this, we need to learn more about our neighbors, understand their customs and traditions and work together. We can solve our problems globally and it will take some effort on all our parts..., but in the end, it'll be so worth it.