Happy Earth Day!
Things aren’t looking good for Mother Earth these days but here are a few changes I have made to do my part.
REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE
That slogan has been drilled into my head for over a decade now. It seems like most Americans have gotten the message about recycling but not so much the reduce and reuse.
Most of our recycled products are shipped overseas, primarily China, and they have started to restrict what they will accept. Local municipalities are left to either pay more to recycle, which most can’t afford, or throw it all out – or worse – burn it.
I know where I lived in FL and here in WA, they stopped accepting glass and my current county is way more restrictive on the types of plastic they recycle.
So that has led me to be more proactive on the reduce/reuse end of things.
Bring my own bags while shopping. I’ve done this sporadically for years. I own approximately 7000 shopping bags but used to forget to bring them in. I switched to cuter one – my favorite this HANGRY bag from Blue Q that I got on clearance. It’s large, sturdy and easy to wipe down.
Reusable mug for coffee/water/straws. I use a big stainless steel cup for my water and a smaller one for my daily iced coffee. And a reusable plastic one for hiking. I do still use some bottled water but one case lasts me forever as opposed to going through one a week.
Reusable snack/sandwhich bags. I just started using these because I realized how many ziplock bags I was going through. They are made of silicone and so far work great. (@ $6.99 for 2 at Target)
Buy local. I also try to buy things at farmers market and stores where I can reuse their containers – like berry baskets, yogurt jars, milk bottles. You can usually rinse them out and bring them back. Most places I’ve been also give you a a refund ($1-$3) for doing so.
Go plant based. I’m not vegetarian but about 80% of my diet is plant based as I find more products that don’t use dairy/meat and also taste delicious.
I used to do more when I had my own place – we switched to a hybrid water heater, had a compost bin, organic garden that encouraged bees and pollinators and I hope to do more of that when I’m settled out here. But those are just a few things.
I also need to pick up mesh vegetable bags for produce shopping. That’s another area that I waste a lot of plastic on.
On the Book-ish front:
I’m reading How (not) to Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee. Finished Can’t Escape Love by Alyssa Cole (adorable novella!), Play Hard by Avery Cockburn (also adorable, fun and sexy)
Listening to - Podcasts
Still Processing: I listened to the Joy episode where they discussed Marie Kondo, what tidying to means on a higher level and the art of Swedish Death Cleaning.
Love this duo and they’re take on pop culture and I’ll be listing to more.
You’re Wrong About…Each podcasts takes a fresh look at an “event, person or phenomenon that has been miscast in the public imagination” Terri Schiavo, The Challenger Disaster, Enron, Anna Nicole Smith are just a few topics.
The hosts come off a little glib sounding at first but overall this is a fun new look at news stories that you thought you knew about.
So what are you all reading, listening to, watching?
*Excuse my wonky photo formatting - it was fighting me and I gave up lol
These are some great tips. I do some of this but I could do so much more. I appreciate your sharing these! I do love buying local, both in terms of food and other items when I can. And there are so many options for plant- based now. I never thought I'd go vegetarian, but since I have I love it.
ReplyDeleteI never liked the almond milk based products but I've tried and loved a few of the coconut ones.
DeleteI'm not vegetarian (yet) but I've always eaten more veggies than meat. I eat meat once or twice a week. It's more the dairy that is an issue for me. I love cheese and eat yogurt.sour cream and that kind of thing.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI try to RRR as much as possible. Defintely bring my own bags as much as I can and use reusable straws and cups. I wish I could figure out how to reduce meat in my diet but I find it hard!!
ReplyDeleteThat's been pretty easy for me. Not to eliminate it entirely but I love veggies/grains more. One way to get my husband on board was with vegetarian casseroles. They tend to be hearty so you don't miss the meat as much.
DeleteI need to look into these reusable sandwich bags! When I was exhibiting at a conference earlier this month I met another exhibitor who started bringing his own silverware to avoid using plastic ware. Such a smart idea!
ReplyDeleteCan't Escape Love is soo pure.
They get mixed reviews but I've been using them mostly for snacks and sandwiches and they work great.
DeleteThey're microwavable and dishwasher safe but I haven't done that yet.
I'm also looking into the silicone bowl lids. Another thing with mixed reviews. I keep checking for sales as a way to try them out. That's what I did with the silcone bags and mesh veggie bags.
That hangry bag is so cute lol. Oh that's cool, I didn't even realize there was such thing as reusable sandwich bags. These are some great ideas for reducing and reusing!
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of pricey but I got it on clearance for $3!
DeleteI've seen the bags around but only online. I think they're finally going mainstream.
Great idea, reusable sandwich bags. We really try to do our part etc. recycle, reuse, compost. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI might have to look into a counter top style compost bin out here. I'm renting and can't do the big barrel like i used to have.
DeleteI do really well at bringing my reusable grocery bags for grocery shopping but I need to get better at reusable coffee mugs/straws/etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm good at the reusable cups for coffee I make at home and water but I never bring my own cup if I go to a coffee place and I really should.
DeleteBut baby steps and at least you're headed in the right direction!
I am going through a reduction kind of mode, so I am still a meat eater but I am having a whole month of vegetarianism and avoiding processed sugar as much as possible at the moment! I also reuse and recycle as much as possible, and I also always bring my own bags. I have my own re-washable straws and these were some great tips!
ReplyDeleteMy recent post: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2019/04/the-influential-author-book-review/
My goals now are to reduce food waste and that plastic from the stores - either with product packaging and those produce bags.
DeleteSounds like you're doing great!
Those are all really good ideas. We bring our own bags to the market too.
ReplyDeleteI go through spells where I'm really great with it then get lazy but there's nowhere to recycle the plastic bags out here so that's a great incentive for me.
DeleteI am great with own shopping bags
ReplyDeleteBut silicon ziplock bags! I never knew that, we need those here
I am also horrible with plastic for fruit, they now sell these things but you have to remember taking them with you then too
The silicone bags are fairly new here too. They've just started popping up in stores and being affordable.
DeleteIt's the bags for fruit that I really need to crack down on. I realized how many I use now that I moved and they don't let you recycle them.
Cole's novella was great! I really enjoyed these two, and she packed it with so many fabulous, nerdy stuff too. I hope you like How Not to Ask a Boy to Prom. I really enjoyed both of Goslee's books
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was adorable geeky goodness!
DeleteReusable snack/sandwhich bags? Not something I was aware of, these I'll have to look into as an alternative to the overly big boxes Mr T tends to use because we weren't aware of a more environmentally friendly alternative.
ReplyDeletethey've been around for awhile her but not very accessible or affordable until recently.
Deletethey've been great for snacks and sandwiches but I want to test them with liquids. They're supposed to be microwavable and leakproof but we'll see.
We use totes for grocery shopping and our grocery store has 100% plant-based produce bags that can be recycled at the store. I really wish they would give a butcher paper alternative for the deli, though. 😒
ReplyDeleteI have stopped buying sponges and scrubbers, and instead use the net bags from citrus fruits. They rinse out completely and dry out completely, so there's no bacterial growth. They work better than scrubbers and they make quick work of burnt on food if you sprinkle a little table salt on the burnt area. I don't use Comet anymore either I use salt and baking soda. 👍✨
Oh that's cool about the produce bags. We just have regular plastic and now that I can't recycle plastic bags out here - I realized how many of them I use and waste.
DeleteI don't get a lot of mesh bags but that's a great re-purposing idea!
You're making me want to do better. I work hard to make sure I cut down on my waste but I wish more responsibility was put on the manufacturer to recycle the packaging they put things in rather than on consumers. I am good about taking reusable bags, though, that's something I'm committed too and rarely but drinks at coffee shops etc. I just wish there were more water fountains here in the UK as I would like to have water out and about.
ReplyDeleteThe money and waste that goes into producing the packaging is ridiculous and wasteful. Then they put it on us to recycle it - and now there's nowhere to put it. Grrrr
DeleteI recycle a lot into our bins which are collected every few weeks and use reusable bags whenever I go shopping. I think the companies who wrap everything in plastic should be doing to change it rather than shoppers getting blamed for buying it.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! The waste in packaging is the worst! Recycling it isn't enough - they need to reduce on their end first.
DeleteThat would make much more of an impact.
Awww, these are wonderful tips! I try my best to repeat (and practice!) the three Rs and have most success with the recycling too. I am getting better about bringing bags with me wherever I go and love the little ones that can fold up to fit in any pocketbook. Also I'm trying to thrift a bit more whenever I feel the urge to buy a little something for myself--you find so many unique items AND contributing to a greener planet at the same time. And going veg has been great (not completely vegan, but I haven't had meat since '97, which feels like a million years!).
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this! <3
I'm trying hard with plastics too. It's only been in the past couple of years that my local authority started accepting plastic so I was practically in despair before. Now, I try to recycle everything it's possible to recycle and I have reusable shopping bags, drinks cups, straws... Every little helps, right?
ReplyDelete