We can do better

This Earth Day is a reflective day for me. We all hear more and  more that Global Warming is an imminent threat to our Earth and that each one of us can do something to help; so today my household will resolve to do something to help.

I am embarrassed to admit we are not the most diligent recyclers around here. We typically throw things in the recycling bin when we think of it—which isn't terribly often. But now, we will have a dedicated recycling can in our kitchen—one for items the county recycles (paper/metal/plastic,) and one for glass, which our county won't pick up, but we can bring to a recycling center.

I also just ordered ten canvas grocery bags right here. We will use canvas on all of our shopping trips—to the grocery store, Target, Petsmart...no more plastic bags that stick around for a hundred years in our house.

It's not a lot—but its better, and it's a start. I would love to hear what others are doing to make their households more eco-friendly today.

UPDATE: The bags came today and they are great. Now I can't wait to go grocery shopping! Hopefully the check out people won't look at me like I'm nuts.

Comments

[shona]

Good for you, but I'm just going to warn you, most places will try to look for the tag on your canvas bags + you'll end up having to do a lot of explaining. Trust me, 8 1/2 years later, I'm still having to tell the checkout people what to do with my canvas bags + asking them NOT to put them in a plastic bag, but rather, put what I have bought into them. Now, if you only shop at Wild Oats...

I made the switch to all natural cleaning products, they are more expensinve, but I have been buying Seventh Generation products, my boyfriend is very fond of a 1000 uses for vinegar website + Borax is a wonder product.

[shona]

Oh, I forgot to ask, don't you guys have Curby recycling pick-up? It's great,except that they do not accept glass (????) Unfortunately Rutherford does not have anything, we have to either pay for a private service or take everything to a center.

[Felicia]

We recycle everything we can and I'm always shocked at how much we have to put into the recycling bin every two weeks. Most of the creatures I make are made from old clothes that have passed their use.

[Abby]

I have been using canvas bags for a little while now and most stores take money off the bill for each bag that you bring. Make sure that you ask because not every cashier knows about it. Its not much like 20 cents but it still nice to see that they still offer some customer service.

[clare]

So happy to have seen the grocery totes here! I recently posted in etsy forums about this, but the etsy sellers want to sell them for way too much money, especially when you need 10 ! The whole idea is to get folks to give up plastic bags, not make a hot selling item. They just did not get it. Thanks for the link, these look perfect.