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Reducing my trash footprint....
I'm always looking for ways to reduce my trash footprint. I've seen how our landfills have become man-made mountains. And I've been hearing stories about trash "islands" in the ocean causing problems for aquatic life that mistakes the trash (usually plastic) for food.
While I won't be able to stop the flow of trash into the landfill -- I know they'll fill up with our without my help -- I can take steps to minimize that flow. I'm already recycling as much as I can -- paper, paperboard, #1 & #2 plastics, aluminum, steel, glass. But there are still other things I can recycle.
So, what does my trash look like? What is in my trash profile?
* Cat litter. I have cats. I use a clumping litter. There's not much I can do about reducing this.
* Facial tissue. I'm allergic to dust, and my nose runs, especially in the morning. While they're combustible, and dry out quickly, trash hasn't been burned by municipalities in years. And I can't burn any trash in my area.
* Spent plastic deodorant stick containers. I'd recycle them if I knew what type of plastic they were. But since it's not marked, I don't know. And so they get tossed.
* Cotton swabs (e.g. Q-Tips). I try to get ones with a paper stem and not a plastic stem.
* Kitchen trash -- spoiled food, scraps, bones, food wrappers, foam trays (e.g. from ground beef, chicken, etc.). I can put some spoiled food down the disposal.
* Beverage cups -- paper, plastic, foam -- and lids. I can reduce my intake by using reusable cups and mugs.
* Dairy containers -- yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream. These are made from #5 plastic --polypropylene -- which is not collected for recycling. While I can reuse them, they don't form an airtight seal.
* Food wrappers. There's not much I can do about these. Health regulations require certain levels of packaging, e.g. Cashiers at drive-thrus will give me my food in a paper bag, because their hands have handled cash, and the sandwich wrapper is not sufficient.
* Polystyrene foam food transport containers. I hate these. While they may help to keep warm food warm, they don't form an airtight seal. If I put them in the refrigerator, the food inside them will dry out after a few days.
* Plastic straws. While they're designed for single use, some of them can be washed and reused. I especially like the straws from McDonald's; they use a thick, flexible plastic. Some places use this straws that break easily. And clear plastic straws don't show up in the water. There are paper straws out there, ans some groups are lobbying restaurants to phase out plastic straws and use paper straws only.
* Paper and paperboard. I try to recycle as much paper as I can. Weekly sales flyers from stores, junk mail, expired coupons, bags from fast food restaurants, toilet paper rolls, food boxes -- they all get recycled. Thermal paper doesn't recycle. I think glossy paper can now be recycled, despite its high clay content.
I also compost. I have a 5-gallon pail for compostable items -- coffee grounds, tea bags, tea leaves, vegetable matter. I don't compost fruit because it attracts fruit flies. I take the compost to my UU Fellowship, as they have a larger compost bin. I don't have enough land to grow a garden and use the compost myself.
What else can I be doing? Got any suggestions?
While I won't be able to stop the flow of trash into the landfill -- I know they'll fill up with our without my help -- I can take steps to minimize that flow. I'm already recycling as much as I can -- paper, paperboard, #1 & #2 plastics, aluminum, steel, glass. But there are still other things I can recycle.
So, what does my trash look like? What is in my trash profile?
* Cat litter. I have cats. I use a clumping litter. There's not much I can do about reducing this.
* Facial tissue. I'm allergic to dust, and my nose runs, especially in the morning. While they're combustible, and dry out quickly, trash hasn't been burned by municipalities in years. And I can't burn any trash in my area.
* Spent plastic deodorant stick containers. I'd recycle them if I knew what type of plastic they were. But since it's not marked, I don't know. And so they get tossed.
* Cotton swabs (e.g. Q-Tips). I try to get ones with a paper stem and not a plastic stem.
* Kitchen trash -- spoiled food, scraps, bones, food wrappers, foam trays (e.g. from ground beef, chicken, etc.). I can put some spoiled food down the disposal.
* Beverage cups -- paper, plastic, foam -- and lids. I can reduce my intake by using reusable cups and mugs.
* Dairy containers -- yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream. These are made from #5 plastic --polypropylene -- which is not collected for recycling. While I can reuse them, they don't form an airtight seal.
* Food wrappers. There's not much I can do about these. Health regulations require certain levels of packaging, e.g. Cashiers at drive-thrus will give me my food in a paper bag, because their hands have handled cash, and the sandwich wrapper is not sufficient.
* Polystyrene foam food transport containers. I hate these. While they may help to keep warm food warm, they don't form an airtight seal. If I put them in the refrigerator, the food inside them will dry out after a few days.
* Plastic straws. While they're designed for single use, some of them can be washed and reused. I especially like the straws from McDonald's; they use a thick, flexible plastic. Some places use this straws that break easily. And clear plastic straws don't show up in the water. There are paper straws out there, ans some groups are lobbying restaurants to phase out plastic straws and use paper straws only.
* Paper and paperboard. I try to recycle as much paper as I can. Weekly sales flyers from stores, junk mail, expired coupons, bags from fast food restaurants, toilet paper rolls, food boxes -- they all get recycled. Thermal paper doesn't recycle. I think glossy paper can now be recycled, despite its high clay content.
I also compost. I have a 5-gallon pail for compostable items -- coffee grounds, tea bags, tea leaves, vegetable matter. I don't compost fruit because it attracts fruit flies. I take the compost to my UU Fellowship, as they have a larger compost bin. I don't have enough land to grow a garden and use the compost myself.
What else can I be doing? Got any suggestions?
no subject
Avoid fast food whenever you can. The packaging they give it to you in is only the tip of the iceberg of reasons not to support it. Life's too short to eat bad food.
I never thought of it, but I wonder if you go to a real food restaurant and have food left over if they would be OK with you bringing in your own reusable leftover container rather than giving you a throw away one? I eat out socially and I'm getting a little better at not eating the whole enormous portion just because they put it in front of me, but that does mean taking home a frequently leaky takeout container.