Did you know today is Earth Day?
Have you noticed how much plastic there is in the world? Have you seen it lying on the roadside? I have and it disturbs me!
Plastic takes years...many many years to break down. Paper, cardboard and even metal break down faster than plastic! It's the disposable platic that bothers me the most. Use it one time and toss it in the trash where it goes away. Goes away to where? Where is away?
For a couple of months, I have been attempting to eliminate the amount of plastic I buy. My family is on board, but they don't like me to talk about it too much.
Here's what has changed:
1)Elminated most plastic garbage bags that come home. We still bring home 6-7 a month.
2)Buy honey in a glass jar.
3)Stopped buying pizza dough mix in a plastic pouch. I make my own...I use the dough setting on a bread maker.
4)Stopped buying plastic straws.
5)Switched to waxed paper bags for girls sandwhiches.
6)Refused the sandwich bag at Subway.
7)Stopped using lid and straw on take away drinks.
8) I only buy bar soap, particulary the bars not wrapped in any plastic.
I know there are a few more, but I can't think of them right now. I do have more work to do. I'd love to eliminate the bread bags, but I'm still working on my bread making techniques.
If you want to feel inspired to eliminate plastic or excess waste check out The Fake Plastic Fish blog
Do something nice for the earth today! If you want to share about it here, feel free.
April 22nd, 2009 at 07:26 pm 1240428419
I do try to use my own bags (when I remember to take them in the store.)
April 22nd, 2009 at 08:02 pm 1240430533
April 22nd, 2009 at 09:46 pm 1240436774
Plastic produce bags are a big problem to me. We try to rinse out and reuse the ones we have, and we may try making out own out of mesh fabric. If it's bigger items that won't scatter all over, such as apples or tomatoes, I don't use a produce bag, just put them loose in the cart. Only a few things require produce bags: snow peas, Brussels sprouts, etc.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:05 pm 1240437911
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm 1240488390
April 28th, 2009 at 03:53 am 1240890787
A couple of years ago, we went to Paris. We really noticed that nothing was encased in that nasty, hard plastic. Batteries and electronics were packed in cardboard. Wish that would happen here.