The Conservative Edge

Most of us have probably seen or heard the studies about the health benefits from the consumption of coffee. I seem to recall that coffee can help prevent the development of colon cancer, among other things.

But another reason to keep drinking the java has to do with environmental health, instead of human health. Apparently, fireplace logs are now being made from coffee grounds. There are two reasons for the invention of these “Java logs.” Firstly, coffee grounds supposedly take up a lot of space in landfills. Secondly, coffee grounds are said to emit 78 percent less carbon monoxide than wood when burned.

I find this all a bit pointless, especially the idea of coffee grounds being bad for landfills. Coffee grounds are prime ingredients for the making of compost. That’s because the grounds are biodegradable. Compost can be made from leaves, twigs, egg shells, banana peels, apple peelings, grass clippings, and, yes, even coffee grounds. All of the previously mentioned ingredients can be combined in a drum or other container, and with proper dampening and agitation, they become organic compost material that is beneficial for gardens and flower beds.

This is just another manifestation of the borderline paranoia that resides in the various environmentalist movements. Indeed, I believe California has already instituted a restriction on fireplaces in any new home built within the state. There are even bans on tobacco smoking at many California beaches, parks, and golf courses. Reasonable concerns for environmental stewardship has instead grown into a radical political and social ideal that is being used to control and manipulate our lives. Something is terribly wrong when a guy like Michael Jordan can’t enjoy a cigar during a golf outing without being fined. Oh well—at least he can afford to pay the penalty.