I don’t pretend to have all the answers to regaining balance. What often seems simple to envision more often than not seems nearly impossible to bring into reality. Everywhere I find inspiration and models in the natural world. Amazingly simple patterns so easily isolated within a complex world.
Still Learning To See 
I guess no one has the answers. And change can be remarkably hard to bring about. I just read today that CT has only about a 30% recycling rate. Discouraging. When we left Syracuse ten years ago, our county was at almost 60%, and working toward a higher level. And recycling is change that they’ve made so easy (at least here). All we have to do is put recyclables in a bin, not even sort them. But I notice several of my neighbors never put out a bin.
How true. I remember the first time I read about someone recycling. I thought “Oh BUNK!” Several years later I was and now we recycle or compost about 95% of what comes our way. You are right that this is a good example from which we can learn. Unfortunately the non-level playing field of the market place—basically heavily subsidized energy—makes it hard to really see how to achieve balance.