Summer Water Savings Solutions
08 Wednesday Jul 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Energy-saving
in08 Wednesday Jul 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Energy-saving
in07 Sunday Jun 2015
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Mother Earth, Plastics
inJune 8th is World Ocean’s Day, and this year’s challenge is to stop plastic pollution. If you missed my previous postings on plastic pollution, here are a few facts:
So what can we do? Each of us can help prevent plastic from entering the oceans and waterways if we make some informed decisions.
Do you have any other ideas for reducing trash? Please share them! And check out www.worldoceansday.org for more information.
06 Wednesday May 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Simple Living
in22 Wednesday Apr 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Good Books
inTags
action steps, environmentally sustainable, green living, green living handbook, program, save the planet, take action
In honor of the 45th annual Earth Day celebration, I’d like to recommend a really helpful book called the Green Living Handbook: A 6 Step Program to Create an Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyle by David Gershon. This book is a winner of the EPA Environmental Quality Award.
Gershon guides you through a program that you can do as a family or as a group of friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. The group is meant to meet every two weeks and discuss a different topic and then work on action points. You take action to develop sustainable lifestyle practices in five areas:
The sixth action area, empowerment, enables you to help others take action for the planet. With each topic, Gershon informs you with valuable facts, then follows up with easy action points. For example, by not using paper grocery bags for one year, you can save the equivalent of one 15-year old tree. Not using plastic bags saves oil. The simple alternative is a cloth bag.
After you take action, you can assess your progress with the “Sustainable Lifestyle Assessment” at the end of the book. What I like about this book is that it breaks down what can seem like an insurmountable task (helping the Earth) into clear, do-able steps.
02 Thursday Apr 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Energy-saving
inTags
coal, electricity, energy-saving, fossil fuels, gas, home, natural resources, pollution, save energy, save water, tips, water
As Earth day approaches, we can take this month to think about ways to save the Earth’s precious natural resources. By not wasting water, electricity, gas and other resources, we can help the Earth and our health and save money too.
The Earth is a blue planet, but 97% of water is salty or undrinkable. Another 2% is frozen in the ice caps, leaving only 1% available for humans, animals and plants to consume. Depending on where you live, there may be drought, or contamination or depletion of water supplies. But no matter where we live, it’s always a good idea to be less wasteful. Here are a few tips on saving water:
Most of the electricity in the U.S. is generated from fossil fuels (67%, from coal and gas). About 16% comes from renewable sources like water, wind and solar; while 13% is from nuclear power. The less electricity we use, the less we pollute the air and water. Try making these changes:
I will be sharing more facts and energy-saving tips, including ideas on fuel-efficient transportation, during the month and beyond.
[Note: In addition to energy-saving information, I will continue to add articles based on my previous month’s themes. Sometimes, I can’t get to fitting in a whole theme’s worth in one month. So you will be seeing posts on disposables, GMOs, plastics, and vegetarianism.]
04 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Good Books, Plastics
inTags
Beth Terry, book, dangers, environmental impact, plastic, plastic free, practical advice, reducing plastic
Following up from February’s theme of “Phooey on Plastics”, I’d like to share a great book on the topic. Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too by Beth Terry should be required reading for anyone interested in protecting themselves and their children from dangerous chemicals in plastics, while helping the Earth.
Beth Terry is an ordinary person like you and me, who used to consume as much plastic as anyone without a second thought to its impact on wildlife, waterways, landfills and our health. But one day, she came across a photo of the decomposed carcass of an albatross chick. The little sea bird’s flesh “…had fallen away to reveal a rib cage filled with plastic bottle caps, disposable cigarette lighters, even a toothbrush–small pieces of plastic that had no business out there in the middle of nowhere. Pieces of plastic like those I myself used and tossed away every day.”
Then her journey to zero new plastic products began. The book includes sections on what plastic is, how it is manufactured, and why it is dangerous. But mostly, as she says, the book is about “…solutions rather than problems.”
She gives easy and practical tips for reducing plastics in our lives, from the kitchen and bathroom to travel and toys. All the while, she shares her humorous and down-to-earth observations. She also encourages us to not give up, giving nine reasons why our personal change matters. This book really set about a change in my own life, and I think it can do the same for you!
01 Sunday Mar 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Health and Beauty, Meat-free
inThis month, I’d like to talk about how reducing our meat consumption is better for our health, the Earth and of course the animals. Nowadays, vegan and vegetarian options are abundant, and more and more people are considering a meat-free or at least minimal meat diet.
First, let’s consider the health aspects. Eating meat is associated with a heightened risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. For example, Harvard studies showed that daily meat eaters have approximately three times the colon cancer risk, compared to those who rarely eat meat. (I’ll cover more health facts in a future post.)
Next, let’s look at the environmental impact of the meat industry. According to the book Divine Nature: A Spiritual Perspective on the Environmental Crisis by Michael Cremo, “The meat industry is linked to deforestation, desertification, water pollution, water shortages, air pollution, and soil erosion.” Here are some statistics:
Finally, we can’t forget the animals themselves and the pain and suffering they endure being raised for slaughter. From the beginning of their lives, animals are crowded into cages or pens too small for any movement, injected with antibiotics and growth hormones until their bodies become too big for their weak muscles and frail bones to support. “Free-range” animals don’t fare much better as no organization in the U.S. regulates this term.
As you can see, there are many reasons to avoid meat. In addition, the American Medical Association and the American Dietetic Association both agree that one can be perfectly healthy as a vegetarian. I will be posting more information, health tips, and recipes throughout the month.
24 Tuesday Feb 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Fun and Creative, Kiddos
inTags
amaryllis, avocado, bulbs, garden, pea plants, peas, plants, potted plants, seeds
I wanted to share a few blooming and growing things with you.
03 Tuesday Feb 2015
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Plastics, Simple Living
inTags
containers, packaging, packaging waste, plastic bags, plastic wrappers, recycle, recycling, reduce, reuse, trash, waste
I had received a flyer from my city’s Environmental Services Department about what items could be recycled, and fortunately a lot of things can be. Unfortunately, plastic shopping bags could not be recycled; they had to be returned to the retailer. But no where on the flyer did they mention other types of plastic bags or wrappers, like the ones that contain bread, crackers, cereal, chips, etc.
So I called the city and they informed me that these plastic bags could not be recycled. They were considered trash and had to be put in the black bin for the landfill. Imagine– millions of plastic bags used for a short time to end up in the landfill for thousands of years. This was really disappointing!
What are our options then if we don’t want to send those bags to the landfill?
As far as bread goes, you could choose a loaf that comes in a paper bag. Or invest in a bread making machine– just put in the ingredients, press start and in a few hours, you have homemade bread. For those who are more enterprising, there’s always bread from scratch.
As far as other food items, like crackers or cereal, you might want to check out the bulk bins at your supermarket or health food store. They often sell many varieties of granola, snacks, nuts, dried fruit, flour, sugar, beans, lentils, and grains. Of course, you’ll want to forego the plastic bags they provide and bring your own reusable cloth bags or containers.
Or look for ready-made products without plastic wrappers or bags. There’s also always the made from scratch option; sometimes that’s really fun!
When choosing produce, you can also skip the plastic bags. There are lovely cloth bags made for produce that you can use and use, and wash whenever needed! Here’s a link to a site that sells them: www.ecobags.com.
If you must buy something in a plastic bag, then reuse it as much as you can. Try reusing it to store other things, to pick up your dog’s poop, or to use in craft projects.
Working to be less wasteful can be a real challenge. Our society is set up so that manufacturers don’t have to be responsible for their packaging waste. And there aren’t always recycling options available. If we just take one step at a time to reduce our waste, it can make a big difference for our children and future generations.
31 Saturday Jan 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Health and Beauty, Kiddos, Plastics
inTags
chemicals, dangerous, endocrine disrupters, natural gas, off-gas, petroleum, plastic, plastics, pollution, trash, waste
In February, I’d like to highlight the impact of plastic on the environment and our health. By taking some simple steps, we can reduce our exposure to the dangerous chemicals found in plastic.
Plastic items are all around us, from our kids’ toys, our appliances and electronics to packaging, food storage, clothes and furniture.
Plastic comes from petroleum which must be pumped from deep within the Earth, or from fracking for natural gas. Both of these activities harm the Earth, its water supplies, air quality, soil health as well as the well-being of humans and animals.
The manufacturing of plastic creates a lot of waste that often ends up in our waterways, particularly the ocean where a soupy mixture of plastic twice the size of Texas floats in the Pacific. Fish and birds eat what they think are jellyfish or other food items and slowly die from bellies stuffed with plastic items.
Plastic litters our streets, beaches and parks. It fills our landfills where it will not decompose for thousands of years.
Plastic contains toxic chemicals, which can leach into our food and beverages, and off-gas into the air we breathe. Some of these chemicals are endocrine-disruptors, which mimic the natural hormones in our bodies, increasing the risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes, decreased sperm count and altered functions of reproductive organs. The effects of these chemicals are multiplied in children because of their smaller, growing bodies.
I know this is more bad news for us and our children. But armed with knowledge and awareness, we can take easy and even fun steps to decrease our dependence on plastics.
26 Monday Jan 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, GMOs, Health and Beauty
inTags
agribusiness, agriculture, biotech, breeding, crops, cross breeding, genetic engineering, genetically modified, GM, GMOs, hybrids
Biotech companies would have us believe that genetic engineering of crops or animals is simply a natural extension of the domestication of animals, the fermentation of beer or yogurt, or the selective breeding of plants.
Of course, humans have been breeding crops and animals for thousands of years. Whenever a farmer saw a desirable trait in a plant, they would save the seeds of that plant and grow it the next season. Take for example the Incas of Peru, who observed five thousand years ago that certain types of potatoes grew better at higher altitudes. So they planted potatoes at the elevations where they would grow best.
It wasn’t until the 1930s that farmers started experimenting with cross-breeding to create hybrid plants. They would combine the characteristics of two plants into one to create a “hybrid vigor.” But the problem was that the next generation would not replicate the same desired traits as the hybrid. This meant that farmers had to purchase hybrid seeds with each growing season–an obvious disadvantage to farmers and a major financial boon to hybrid seed companies.
Another down side to hybrids was that their wide use meant a lack of diversity. The mono-crop culture is inherently vulnerable to disease and pests. “Such problems led to the use of more pesticides and the development of huge agribusinesses– large multinational corporations that manufacture a variety of agriculture products, from chemical fertilizers to insecticides. Today’s agribusinesses control much of the world’s food production…” (Superfood or Superthreat: The Issue of Genetically Engineered Food by Kathlyn Gay).
These same agribusinesses have delved into genetic engineering as another way to control the food supply. In a forthcoming article, I will share details on how genetic engineering is far different from any other type of modification that has been used in the past.
17 Saturday Jan 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, GMOs, Health and Beauty
inTags
biotech companies, claims, economic inequalities, food distribution, food shortage, genetically modified, GMOs, world hunger
“Genetically modified food is billed by industry (and the government) as the next great thing to eliminate world hunger, a technological marvel that, for instance, infuses staple rice with extra vitamins.
But research shows demonstratively that hunger and malnutrition are caused not by any global food shortage, but instead by severe economic inequalities and lack of distribution and access. There is, without any need of new-fangled food technologies, more than enough food to feed the world.
“According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the world’s total food supply as of 2001 contained 2,800 calories and 76 grams of protein per person, per day– plenty to sustain a burgeoning population and stamp out hunger, if distributed equitably.
“Yet despite this global abundance, some 842 million people– 798 million of them in poor ‘developing’ countries– are undernourished. The real problem is not a food shortage but the fact that the same miraculous productivity that stuffs our supermarkets and fattens our waistlines dumps its excesses onto developing countries, often destroying their internal markets and burying poor Third World farmers in an avalanche of cheap American food, exacerbating hunger and dependency. This is a problem of economics, not science.”
–from Diet for a Dead Planet: How the Food Industry is Killing Us by Christopher D. Cook
16 Friday Jan 2015
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Good Books, Plastics, Simple Living
inTags
Amy Korst, book, environmental, garbage, home, less, practical tips, trash, wasteful, zero-waste lifestyle
I wanted to share a really helpful book with you about being less wasteful and generating less trash: The Zero-Waste Lifestyle by Amy Korst. It’s given me a lot of practical tips for our household and I bet it will help you too!
Korst starts the book off with some facts about trash and landfills, and then jumps right in with chapters on reducing waste in each room in the house. She also addresses cleaning, kids, travel, the workplace and holidays.
Don’t worry–she doesn’t pressure you or expect anyone to go zero-waste immediately. She takes you step-by-step and offers solutions that are easy, moderate or advanced, depending on how much you want to commit.
Trash is intimately connected to every environmental problem we face today, from climate change and habitat destruction to water pollution and chemical exposure. It’s also intensely personal and impacts every decision in our daily lives, including everything from how much money we spend to how much weight we gain.
Here are some of the benefits she lists of a trash-free life:
I hope you check it out!
15 Thursday Jan 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Fun and Creative, Simple Living
inTags
compost, compost bin, composting, food scraps, food waste, home, yard
I’m so excited, we got a compost bin! There was a special voucher program through our city’s Environmental Services Department. I just completed a form on their website and they emailed me a voucher for $30 towards a compost bin at a local home store/lumber yard. After the voucher, it was only a bit over $40. Plus, we got an aerator/tiller, and some organic soil. Can’t wait to start adding our food scraps, as well as other good ingredients!
Compost needs a good balance of “brown,” or high carbon sources, and “green,” or high nitrogen sources.
These things should never be added to the compost: meat, dairy products, diseased plants, dog/cat feces, magazines and oils.
We will be saving a lot of waste from going to the landfill. I’ll let you know how it goes!
14 Wednesday Jan 2015
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Health and Beauty, Plastics, Simple Living
inTags
beauty, cotton pads, disposable, handkerchiefs, hygiene, menstrual pads, razors, reduce, reusable, washcloths, waste
Cotton balls, wipes, disposable razors, Kleenex…there are better ways to get clean and presentable than throwing something out after one use. Let’s look at some of the durable options:
When you buy beauty and hygiene products, look for ones with all natural ingredients, and little to no packaging. In other words, opt for the bar of soap instead of the liquid soap in a plastic bottle. Choose packaging that is recyclable. Some cosmetics companies even offer refill programs. And some health food stores or specialty shops sell soaps, shampoos and lotions in bulk so you can refill your own containers. Also consider that maybe you don’t need dozens of products, just a few really high quality ones.
13 Tuesday Jan 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Simple Living
inTags
blooms, bulbs, flowers, indoor plants, jade plant, paperwhite, succulents
I thought we could all use a dose of beautiful flowers right now. Actually, I think any time is good for flowers.
10 Saturday Jan 2015
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Simple Living
inTags
batteries, cleaning, dinnerware, disposables, durable, food storage, home, kitchen, napkins, paper towels, rechargeable batteries, reusable, waste, wipes
In my series of posts on going durable and giving up disposables, I’d like to add this one to encourage you to make the switch. Here are non-disposable ideas for cleaning and taking care of your home, and enjoying good meals.
Remember that disposable or non-durable goods account for 25 percent of the trash (by weight) sent to the landfill. We can each do our part to make it zero or close to it, at least in your own household!
08 Thursday Jan 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, GMOs, Good Food, Health and Beauty
inTags
crops, genetically modified, GM, GMO, GMOs, ingredients, organic
The major GM (genetically modified) crops in the U.S. are soy, corn, canola, cotton and sugar beets, as well as zucchini and Hawaiian papaya. Non-organic dairy products can also be contaminated because animals are usually given GM feed in addition to growth hormones. It can also be a risk to consume non-organic honey and bee pollen if bees are helping to pollinate GM crops.
Since there are no GM labeling laws in the U.S., there is no certain way to know if the foods you’re eating are GM or not. Only if you purchase certified organic or certified non-GM products can you be sure. Otherwise, the major GM crops are the sources of many ingredients to watch out for:
It will take a little more time to shop if you’re not used to reading ingredients lists. But if you limit your processed food intake, you’ll be eating healthier anyway. Once you get in the habit of looking out for certain ingredients, it will be easier to eat safer.
For more information on GM foods, check out this informative book Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the GE Foods You’re Eating by Jeffrey Smith.
05 Monday Jan 2015
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Good Food, Health and Beauty, Kiddos, Plastics, Simple Living
inTags
bags, bottles, cloth, containers, disposable, kids, lunch, napkins, packaging, packed, reusable, snacks, stainless steel containers, thermos, utensils
When choosing lunchtime snacks, of course you want to give your kids and yourself healthy options–like fruits and veggies, whole grains and organic dairy products. But it’s also important to avoid snacks that come in single serving packaging. These wrappers are not usually accepted at the recycling center and end up in the landfill. And plastic Ziploc-style bags can only be reused so many times before they also have to go to the dump (not the recycling center). Instead, buy in bulk or make yummy treats at home and package snacks in reusable containers or bags.
Here are some great online resources for ordering reusable products:
02 Friday Jan 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, GMOs, Good Food, Health and Beauty
inTags
canola, corn, dangers, farming, food, food safety, genetically engineered, genetically modified, GM, GMOs, health, labeling, non-GMO, organic, soy, sugar, sugar beets
This month’s green theme is “Non-GMO January.” Here are some statistics:
So what does ‘genetically modified’ mean? According to an October 2014 article in Taste for Life magazine, “GMOs are created through gene splicing, which merges DNA from different species, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding. Most GMOs are bred to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide.”
What are the health risks? It has been only 20 years since the first GM crop hit the market, so there is little known about their long-term safety. But there have been some studies on GM food safety. For example, French researchers found that the Roundup (insecticide) components in GM corn combine to stress cells. In the study, rats fed GMO corn for longer than the typical 90-day GMO testing period experienced cancer, organ damage and early death.
What can you do? Some developed countries (including the European Union) have banned GMO food production and imports, and most have established mandatory labeling of GMO foods. In the U.S., this isn’t the case. Until such labeling exists, consumers must be diligent about reading labels to avoid likely GM ingredients.
Throughout the month, I will share more in-depth information on GMO’s and their impact on human health, wildlife and the environment.
01 Thursday Jan 2015
Posted Earth-friendly, Health and Beauty, Spirituality
inTags
emotional, goal, goals, green, health, new year, new year's resolutions, resolutions, spiritual, spirituality
So it’s 2015! I hope you’re having a great first day of the year and that you have a beautiful and rewarding year!
I thought I’d share some resolutions with you. In addition to my on-going goals (like exercising 5 times a week, and drinking more water), here are my green resolutions:
I also need to work on some spiritual and emotional improvement:
I will have to take things one step at a time. 🙂 If you’d like to share your resolutions, I’d love to hear them!
30 Tuesday Dec 2014
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Health and Beauty, Kiddos, Plastics, Simple Living
inTags
alternatives, aluminum, BPA, BPA-free, chemicals, disposable, glass, metal, plastic, plastic water bottles, reusable, stainless steel
The Container Recycling Institute estimates that Americans now consume about 34.6 billion single-serving (1 liter or less) plastic water bottles each year. But, in 2010, only 29 percent of all PET bottles on the U.S. store shelves were collected back for recycling. That’s a lot of plastic water bottle waste.
Considering this and the health risks associated with drinking from plastic bottles (see my previous post), it’s a good idea to invest in an alternative reusable bottle. Here are some great options:
It’s best to avoid aluminum bottles since aluminum reacts with food and beverages, and any coating used could contain BPA or other plastic chemicals.
Reusable plastic bottles and baby bottles, even those marked BPA-free, still pose health risks because the plastic ingredients replacing the BPA are as or even more dangerous than BPA. Just a reminder, BPA is a reproductive, developmental and systemic toxicant as well as an endocrine disruptor.
29 Monday Dec 2014
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Health and Beauty, Plastics, Simple Living
inTags
bottled water, bottles, disposable, health, plastic, plastic water bottles, plastics, pollution, tap water, toxic chemicals, water
So why buy bottled water? Is it tastier, healthier, more convenient? That’s definitely what bottled water companies would like you to believe. But let’s dispel some of the myths:
“Why create disposable containers and packaging out of a material meant to last forever?” —Plastic Free by Beth Terry
In my next post, I will share some great alternatives to disposable plastic water bottles.
29 Monday Dec 2014
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Simple Living
inTags
bowls, compost, compostable, compostables, cups, disposable, land fill, plates, recycling, reusable, trash
Here is an article I found in a newsletter from my city’s Environmental Services Department:
“Compostable products such as containers, utensils, plates and bowls are made out of corn, potatoes, sugarcane, etc. You may think you’re doing a good thing for the environment by using compostables. However, in the City’s Greenery Program they do not biodegrade into compost and eventually end up creating methane gas in the [] Landfill. Also, if they are mixed with other recyclables in the blue bin, they can contaminate the quality of plastics when they are made into new products. So please place all compostable products in the black trash bin and use reusable plates, cups and silverware whenever possible.”
Plus, the city does not accept plastic utensils in the recycling bin. For me, these are more reasons to invest in reusable items and avoid disposable (even if compostable) products.
28 Sunday Dec 2014
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Good Food, Plastics, Simple Living
inTags
bags, bulk, canvas, cloth, coffee mug, containers, disposable, durable, groceries, packaging, paper, plastic, produce, recycle, reduce, reusable, reuse, shopping
While most of us need to go grocery shopping at least once a week, and take other shopping trips throughout the week, we can generate a lot of waste if we’re not careful. Plastic or paper shopping bags, plastic produce bags, disposable containers and disposable cups…they all add up. And plastic bags cannot be placed in the standard recycling bins–they jam the machines at the recycling center! Let’s take a look at some wonderful reusable alternatives:
When you’re looking for the healthiest food and best deals for you and your family, also consider the waste involved. Avoid single-serving items and instead buy a bigger container and dispense as needed into smaller reusable containers at home. Avoid items with too much packaging, especially plastic packaging. Good luck, and take one step at a time!
23 Tuesday Dec 2014
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Fun and Creative, Simple Living
inTags
alternatives, baskets, cloth, fabric, felt, Furoshiki, gift bags, gift wrap, magazine, newspaper, paper, recycle, reduce, reusable, reuse, waste, wrapping paper
“…during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, Americans generate 25 percent more waste, which adds up to about a million extra tons of trash each year, according to the EPA. The majority of this waste is gift wrap or packaging…” –from The Zero-Waste Lifestyle by Amy Korst.
There are so many beautiful alternatives to wrapping paper that create little to no waste. Whenever we receive gifts, we can keep the wrapping again for another occasion. Usually, bags are in practically new condition. At least, the paper can usually be recycled unless it’s a composite material. Here are some other ideas for saving paper:
22 Monday Dec 2014
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Fun and Creative, Plastics, Simple Living
inTags
cups, dining, disposables, durable, higher quality, napkins, parties, plates, reducing waste, silverware, straws, trash, utensils, waste-free
One thing I love about using durable products instead of disposables, besides not producing so much trash, is that the durable alternatives are more attractive and higher quality. Once you’ve invested in these durable party supplies, you’ll never have to buy disposables again. Here are some ideas to make your holidays, as well as future parties and everyday dining, more classy:
21 Sunday Dec 2014
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Plastics, Simple Living
inTags
compost, disposables, packaging, recycle, reduce, reuse, single-use, trash
Only 75 years ago, most Americans produced virtually no trash. In 1960, the average American generated about 2.68 pounds of trash per day. In 2010, Americans were producing 4.43 pounds of trash per day. The arrival of single-use disposable products dramatically changed our landscape, quite literally.
A typical landfill will eventually leak toxic sludge into the soil and waterways, despite plastic liners. Landfills are the third greatest contributor of methane gas into the atmosphere. The insulated nature of a landfill does not allow anything to decompose. And the tons of plastic items in the landfill will stay around for thousands of years.
But once you understand what actually goes into trash, you can change what goes to the landfill. This pie chart shows the following:
For now, I will be sharing with you ways we can avoid disposable products.
19 Friday Dec 2014
Posted Earth-friendly, Good Books, Simple Living
inTags
buying, disposables, environmentally responsible, green, pollution, recycled, repair, reusable, reuse, simple, used, wasteful
In line with my theme for the month, “Down with Disposables December,” I would like to share a quote from the book The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life by Nell Newman.
“Buy not what you want but what you need. Anytime you buy anything, more of the earth’s resources are consumed. There’s more trash to toss out. More fossil fuels consumed to make the object, wrap it, and get it to your home. More pollution is created. It helps to cultivate the habit of thinking before you spend. You might want to ask yourself questions such as:
01 Monday Dec 2014
Posted Disposables, Earth-friendly, Health and Beauty, Simple Living
inEvery month, I’d like to introduce a theme to encourage all of us (myself included) to be more earth-friendly and therefore more people-friendly. So December is “Down with Disposables.”
Considering how much garbage is piling up in landfills, floating around in the ocean and being burnt into the atmosphere, we need to cut back on being wasteful. Up to several decades ago, people would never use something just once and then throw it out. Things were made to last, to be reused and repaired as needed. Now whole industries depend on us being wasteful. Let’s not be a disposable society with disposable values!
So instead of disposable napkins, Kleenex, paper towels, bags, bottles, containers, diapers…let’s invest (not that much) in cloth napkins, handkerchiefs, cloth towels, cloth bags, reusable bottles and containers, cloth diapers, etc.
Cloth napkins are more classy anyways and soft handkerchiefs feel better against your nose. Bringing canvas bags to the grocery store is an easy habit to get into. Plastic drinking bottles are horrible for the environment and our health anyway, so a metal or glass bottle is a great alternative. And disposable diapers are one of the worst things on the face of the Earth–for your baby’s health and the landfill. Cloth is so much gentler on their skin and saves you tons of money in the long run.
I will share more details during this month on great reusable items that you can use (and use and use). Good luck, just one step at a time!