Recycling can sound so easy. But what keeps people from doing it? I think it's convenience--or lack of it. Just the other day I was eating a sample at Jamba Juice that came in a tiny plastic cup. When I finished, I asked if they recycled--they didn't. Here's where I think people feel they have no choice but to toss that piece of plastic in the garbage: when there's no recycling bin in site. There is another option--take it with you. The container I had was just a tiny one intended for condiments and only had a soft pretzel in it. I easily set it on the floor of my car and drove off with it. Sounds silly? Sure, but I've done it many times. Once I'm at home, I drop my recyclable trash in my recycling bin--easy as that.
Is it always possible to recycle everything? No. If I've eaten something especially messy, I might not want to have it in my car and do end up tossing it in a garbage, but most times, it's definitely doable.
This is not only true for food containers, but papers as well: shopping lists, MapQuests, etc. So next time you're out and about and see no recycling bin in site, think about whether you can take it with you.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Hamburger, Hold Everything I Won't Eat
Happy Earth day. As a teacher, I've been asked what I plan to do with my class. Although we won't ignore it, I don't consider earth day a one day a year phenomenon. That's like saying today is math day. We'll learn math today and not worry about it the rest of the year. Instead, I hope that my class has been learning how to cut down on the waste we produce and sometimes reuse it or recycle it. Here's my tip this week...
Think about a meal you often order when eating out. Imagine what your plate looks like at the end of the meal--what's still left on the plate, week after week: the tomato on your cheeseburger? the lettuce from your buffalo chicken sandwich? the tartar sauce from your fish sticks? For the most part, we know what we'll like and won't like from a restaurant, especially if you order the same dish repeatedly. How about requesting the items you know you won't eat be left off the plate?
If you're trying a new dish or restaurant, you can also ask what comes with the dish or as a garnish. Although it might take the cook an extra millisecond to read the order, really, having them hold the side of sour cream is also saving them money.
Think about a meal you often order when eating out. Imagine what your plate looks like at the end of the meal--what's still left on the plate, week after week: the tomato on your cheeseburger? the lettuce from your buffalo chicken sandwich? the tartar sauce from your fish sticks? For the most part, we know what we'll like and won't like from a restaurant, especially if you order the same dish repeatedly. How about requesting the items you know you won't eat be left off the plate?
If you're trying a new dish or restaurant, you can also ask what comes with the dish or as a garnish. Although it might take the cook an extra millisecond to read the order, really, having them hold the side of sour cream is also saving them money.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Animal Rescues
How many of you watched Oprah on puppy mills this last Friday? Very sad and eye opening. As you may have gathered, I have a pet guinea pig. Did you know that in addition to shelters and rescues for dogs and cats, there are guinea pig and bunny rescues?
About five years ago I heard about Critter Corral, a local rescue for guinea pigs. This non-profit organization takes in guinea pigs people don't or can't keep and ones that have been abandoned. Believe it or not, some people think domestic animals can just be left loose in the wild. I adopted two guinea pigs from Critter Corral: Melba Toast and B.B. Joe. Melba came from owners that got rid of her because they had too many. B.B.'s family moved and didn't want to take him with them.
It is surprising how many guinea pigs don't have homes and end up in shelters. What makes me sad is that pet stores continue to buy small animals, such as guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, etc., from breeders. Unfortunately, not all of them sell and then end up at shelters (or worse). This is especially true for guinea pigs (and probably other small mammals) that are all one color (especially albinos) and ones that are older and bigger.
What can we do to make a difference? Adopt animals from shelters/rescues instead of pet stores. If pet stores aren't selling many animals, maybe they'll stop carrying them. You can also help by having your pet spade or neutered. If you're interested in seeing or having a puppy, kitten, or baby guinea pig, you'll find plenty of those at the shelter as well. Many organizations also allow you to sponsor a pet. At the Critter Corral, by giving a donation, you are sent a picture of a guinea pig you sponsor. This would be great for children who aren't ready to have a pet of their own.
A terrific animal website to peruse is petfinder.com. It allows you to search for an adoptable pet by location, animal, size of animal, etc.
DeJunktify Your Home
So I just had a dentist appointment yesterday (and no cavities--yay!). As a child, at the end of your dentist appt. you get to pull something fun (but junky) from the treasure chest. As an adult, you get a bag of goodies: a toothbrush, maybe a tiny tube of toothpaste, and a thing of floss. As you leave the dentist's office (or any dr.'s office), there is also usually a little basket of free samples. How many times did you take some of the samples? How many times did you really use those samples vs. letting them rot on a shelf full of other mini toiletries? Right now I'm going to count what I can find on my shelf within one minute--be right back...
...I'm back. So, what I found were 10 toothbrushes (I might have purchased 2 or so but the rest were free) .
So this time I took a stand: as the dental hygienist began to hand me my bag of free stuff, I flipped through it and took the only thing I really saw as valuable--the floss (they have the absolute best and is pretty much the only reason I agree to have my teeth cleaned twice a year). Since I own an electric toothbrush, do I really need a regular toothbrush EVERY time I visit the dentist? That goes for free samples at "checkout time" as well. I already like the toothpaste I use--I don't need some new funky flavor to try.
By refusing free stuff, not only am I helping reduce the waste that's produced in the world, but I'm also clearing the clutter in my house. Anyone need an extra toothbrush?
...I'm back. So, what I found were 10 toothbrushes (I might have purchased 2 or so but the rest were free) .
So this time I took a stand: as the dental hygienist began to hand me my bag of free stuff, I flipped through it and took the only thing I really saw as valuable--the floss (they have the absolute best and is pretty much the only reason I agree to have my teeth cleaned twice a year). Since I own an electric toothbrush, do I really need a regular toothbrush EVERY time I visit the dentist? That goes for free samples at "checkout time" as well. I already like the toothpaste I use--I don't need some new funky flavor to try.
By refusing free stuff, not only am I helping reduce the waste that's produced in the world, but I'm also clearing the clutter in my house. Anyone need an extra toothbrush?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
The Plane as the Plot
Did you realize how many different microcosms there are at the airport? Think back to your last trip and all the different situations you face at the airport. Waiting in line behind a family that is cranky, balancing a bagel on your lap as you try to butter it and your flight is called, the bathrooms.
Now imagine all the stories (or nonfiction articles) you could write based on those situations:
a child's first plane ride
how to eat healthy at the airport
Add to that any "What if..." scenarios you can and you have enough ideas for a year:
What if a dog was flying alone--as a passenger
What if you got on the wrong flight and ended up on the moon
Here's your exercise: Make a list of as many different possible stories you can think of that could happen at an airport or on an airplane. Or, if you're not in the mood for plots, make a list of as many different settings at an airport or character ideas as you can.
Now imagine all the stories (or nonfiction articles) you could write based on those situations:
a child's first plane ride
how to eat healthy at the airport
Add to that any "What if..." scenarios you can and you have enough ideas for a year:
What if a dog was flying alone--as a passenger
What if you got on the wrong flight and ended up on the moon
Here's your exercise: Make a list of as many different possible stories you can think of that could happen at an airport or on an airplane. Or, if you're not in the mood for plots, make a list of as many different settings at an airport or character ideas as you can.
At the Airport
On Tuesday I was unable to write as I was at the airport--and what a topic to think about environmentally...
First stop: bag check-in: When you receive your printed ticket, you receive an envelope to "store" it in. How long do you actually need to store it? Until you get on the plane. Then you toss it. My question is whether they need to give the ticket in that envelope. Think of how many they must go through in a day or even an hour! On my return flight home, I will ask not to have one.
Next stop: getting through security: With the new no-liquids-law, people are having to dump their half drunken bottles of water and brand new bottles of shampoo. Okay, it's their fault for not knowing they can't make it through security with these things, but have you seen what you're supposed to do with your containers? Throw them in the trash, liquid and all. To my knowledge, there is not an area to empty liquids and there is not a trash sorter bin for recyclable, which almost 100% of those liquid-containing containers are.
Last stop (for now): on the airplane: cups, cups, and more cups. Yes, I'm back to my lecture on plastic cups. On the airplane, you are offered a drink (about 1 sip) of pop in a cup with ice. Afterward (aka an hour after you've finished your beverage and are sitting there holding it waiting for the flight attendant to come around with a trash bag), your cup gets tossed away with a random assortment of other recyclables as well as banana peels, half eaten sandwiches, and possibly a barf bag or two. Do you think they spend the time to sort through the trash? I will ask on my flight home because, again, there are hundreds of flights a day 365 days a year. That's a lot of those little cups being flown across the world to be dumped in a landfill hundreds of miles away. What I like to do is buy my own beverage from a newspaper store at the airport (yes, it's about $4) and then I have the power both to recycle it once I reach my destination, as well as to take sips from it whenever I'm thirsty and stow it away under my seat when I'm not.
Happy flying!
First stop: bag check-in: When you receive your printed ticket, you receive an envelope to "store" it in. How long do you actually need to store it? Until you get on the plane. Then you toss it. My question is whether they need to give the ticket in that envelope. Think of how many they must go through in a day or even an hour! On my return flight home, I will ask not to have one.
Next stop: getting through security: With the new no-liquids-law, people are having to dump their half drunken bottles of water and brand new bottles of shampoo. Okay, it's their fault for not knowing they can't make it through security with these things, but have you seen what you're supposed to do with your containers? Throw them in the trash, liquid and all. To my knowledge, there is not an area to empty liquids and there is not a trash sorter bin for recyclable, which almost 100% of those liquid-containing containers are.
Last stop (for now): on the airplane: cups, cups, and more cups. Yes, I'm back to my lecture on plastic cups. On the airplane, you are offered a drink (about 1 sip) of pop in a cup with ice. Afterward (aka an hour after you've finished your beverage and are sitting there holding it waiting for the flight attendant to come around with a trash bag), your cup gets tossed away with a random assortment of other recyclables as well as banana peels, half eaten sandwiches, and possibly a barf bag or two. Do you think they spend the time to sort through the trash? I will ask on my flight home because, again, there are hundreds of flights a day 365 days a year. That's a lot of those little cups being flown across the world to be dumped in a landfill hundreds of miles away. What I like to do is buy my own beverage from a newspaper store at the airport (yes, it's about $4) and then I have the power both to recycle it once I reach my destination, as well as to take sips from it whenever I'm thirsty and stow it away under my seat when I'm not.
Happy flying!
Friday, March 21, 2008
All About Cups
How do you like your coffee? Personally, my drink of choice is a café mocha, decaf, soy, no whip. Think of all the times you have gone to a Starbucks, Panera, Caribou Coffee, etc.: how often have them given you your hot java in a disposable cup? Out of those times, how many did you intend to have your coffee right there?
After thinking about all the cups that get tossed in the landfill daily, I began to become more proactive. When I go to a coffee house and know I plan to drink it there, I will request my beverage in a reusable mug. They do actually have mugs! Of course, they will have more work of washing the mugs, and washing takes water, but recycling takes tons of water and other resources. Better yet, I believe they will often fill your own take-and-go container. No hassle for them.
To take it a step further, I now also request a plastic (versus paper) cup for my cold drink when I go to chains like Panera and Noodles & Company. Again, if you take a look around any of these places, people are sipping away on their drinks, only to toss the paper cup in a trash can where it will sit for who knows how long. Not all places have plastic cups, as I have learned. But, regardless, I will sit, working away on my novel, while drinking a cold glass of water in a large ceramic mug.
After thinking about all the cups that get tossed in the landfill daily, I began to become more proactive. When I go to a coffee house and know I plan to drink it there, I will request my beverage in a reusable mug. They do actually have mugs! Of course, they will have more work of washing the mugs, and washing takes water, but recycling takes tons of water and other resources. Better yet, I believe they will often fill your own take-and-go container. No hassle for them.
To take it a step further, I now also request a plastic (versus paper) cup for my cold drink when I go to chains like Panera and Noodles & Company. Again, if you take a look around any of these places, people are sipping away on their drinks, only to toss the paper cup in a trash can where it will sit for who knows how long. Not all places have plastic cups, as I have learned. But, regardless, I will sit, working away on my novel, while drinking a cold glass of water in a large ceramic mug.
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