Post by Honeylioness on Nov 21, 2008 14:43:16 GMT -5
Question AND Challenge of the Week: What are you currently doing to reduce your footprint on our planet? What do you plan on doing? What financial rewards from your efforts have you reaped? Challenge:To think of a couple of ways to reduce your usage of our natural resources/footprint and implement them.
Honeylioness
Message #1288
07/23/08 07:02 PM
Now for the Question of the Week – SES said many of the things I was gonna say. Hmmmmmm.
* I have “converted” from plastic to canvas bags with re-enforced handles for all my shopping. I always keep a couple in the car for those unplanned “pop-ins” to the store.
* In my office we do a LOT of meals for meetings. And one of the primary companies we use bring supplies in these wonderfully strong paper bags with handles, all made from re-cycled newspapers. People have just been throwing these away. I snag them and use them for cleaning out the litter boxes. Not only do they biodegrade, they are free to me.
* The same caterer always brings these plastic “margarine” containers with lids full of individually wrapped pats of butter. And always too many. I snag these also and have gone sometimes weeks and weeks without having to buy butter or use what is in my freezer.
* Unless the produce is something small – like green beans – I do NOT put it into the plastic bags the store provides. It has never really made much sense to me. Any plastic bags that do come into the house are collected then once a month brought to the store and placed in the recycling bin they have there for them.
* I try to buy the LEAST packaged item I can, though some things are still ridiculous. I mean, what is it, toxic that it has to be double sealed in plastic, then put onto a piece of cardboard and wrapped again? Give me a break.
* I currently only drive about three miles to work, and can walk over to a store during lunch if I really need a soda or something. I am definitely walking more and combining more trips.
* I buy lots of items second hand or “gently-used”. Very few things in my home were purchased brand new aside from the stove, refrigerator, mini-freezer, china cabinets (bought them years ago when I was stupid with $), and a set of dishes my parents gave me as a present. I do draw the line though – used clothes are fine, often I find them with the original price tags attached, but I draw the line at underwear. Shuddering
* I am not so sure about going to compact florescent lighting. I am concerned about what we are going to do with all of them when they do die – how will we be able to safely dispose of them with the mercury they contain. I saw a recent article that some towns are banning them from the trash and you have to wait until the town has a Hazardous Waste Collection day to get rid of them.
* I am going to try and be more conscious of unplugging things I am not using and see what effect it may have on my electric bill.
* Work on pushing my condo association board into getting us recycling so I do not have to schlep it into another town’s collection site. Grrrrrrrr...........
Hey wait a minute. I am the President of the Condo Association Board…..YEAH!!!….I will be voting that into existence at the next meeting.
Honeylioness
Message #1288
07/23/08 07:02 PM
Now for the Question of the Week – SES said many of the things I was gonna say. Hmmmmmm.
* I have “converted” from plastic to canvas bags with re-enforced handles for all my shopping. I always keep a couple in the car for those unplanned “pop-ins” to the store.
* In my office we do a LOT of meals for meetings. And one of the primary companies we use bring supplies in these wonderfully strong paper bags with handles, all made from re-cycled newspapers. People have just been throwing these away. I snag them and use them for cleaning out the litter boxes. Not only do they biodegrade, they are free to me.
* The same caterer always brings these plastic “margarine” containers with lids full of individually wrapped pats of butter. And always too many. I snag these also and have gone sometimes weeks and weeks without having to buy butter or use what is in my freezer.
* Unless the produce is something small – like green beans – I do NOT put it into the plastic bags the store provides. It has never really made much sense to me. Any plastic bags that do come into the house are collected then once a month brought to the store and placed in the recycling bin they have there for them.
* I try to buy the LEAST packaged item I can, though some things are still ridiculous. I mean, what is it, toxic that it has to be double sealed in plastic, then put onto a piece of cardboard and wrapped again? Give me a break.
* I currently only drive about three miles to work, and can walk over to a store during lunch if I really need a soda or something. I am definitely walking more and combining more trips.
* I buy lots of items second hand or “gently-used”. Very few things in my home were purchased brand new aside from the stove, refrigerator, mini-freezer, china cabinets (bought them years ago when I was stupid with $), and a set of dishes my parents gave me as a present. I do draw the line though – used clothes are fine, often I find them with the original price tags attached, but I draw the line at underwear. Shuddering
* I am not so sure about going to compact florescent lighting. I am concerned about what we are going to do with all of them when they do die – how will we be able to safely dispose of them with the mercury they contain. I saw a recent article that some towns are banning them from the trash and you have to wait until the town has a Hazardous Waste Collection day to get rid of them.
* I am going to try and be more conscious of unplugging things I am not using and see what effect it may have on my electric bill.
* Work on pushing my condo association board into getting us recycling so I do not have to schlep it into another town’s collection site. Grrrrrrrr...........
Hey wait a minute. I am the President of the Condo Association Board…..YEAH!!!….I will be voting that into existence at the next meeting.