(Hint: There is a duplicate of this post over at my Today's Organized Kitchen blog, with a different giveaway! You can enter both!)
Did you know that Americans consumed 50 billion single serve water bottles in one year? It is estimated that only 2 in 10 bottles are recycled. Where are the rest? You got it, in landfills. These PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles take 1000 years to biodegrade! Then, you need to consider the energy consumed in the manufacture, transportation and disposal of these items. Does this concern you?
Now, let's talk about Styrofoam (Polystyrene) cups & containers! While the technology for recycling polystyrene is available, the market for recycling is very small and shrinking. Most of it ends up in the landfills, and it often breaks up into small pieces that can choke animals & clog their digestive systems.
I plan to eliminate these things from my home and lifestyle! Won't you join me? It's pretty simple really.
- Get a nice sturdy travel mug for you hot beverages
- Purchase a reusable sports bottle for drinking water on-the-go
- Take your own "to go" box when you eat out. Stick it your purse and when it's time to corral the leftovers, you won't be taking styrofoam home.
(Tupperware's FlatOut collapsible bowls are perfect for this!)
Edited to add: My buddy Doodles reminded me that I neglected to mention plastic bags! Here some info that she has provided on her blogs that are MUST READ! Thanks, my friend!
Recycle a T-shirt into a reusable bag> HERE
Reusablebags.com>HERE
Giveaway!
I think this is so important! If you'll leave a comment on this post by Saturday April 11th, I'll enter you in a drawing to win the 2-pc. FlatOut Set mentioned above! And please, spread the word!
Cheers! Chris
I agree wholeheartedly. We've bought the lasting water bottles to use and we carry our own coffee cups to church on Sunday (our church has recently gone "styrofoam free"). I think the collapsible carriers are a great idea! PAM
ReplyDeleteI am in love with those collapsible carries since we live in the RV they would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteHave had the items you suggested for a couple of years now. We wouldn't go on a hike or a road trip without either.
Please include plastic grocery bags also...........switch to canvas or cloth bags.
BTW good to see you!!!
Hi pammie joe! Ok, I definitely have to talk to our church hospitality group about switching to our own mugs! Great idea! Of course I'll have to volunteer to wahs the "guest" mugs...
ReplyDeleteDoodles! How could I have forgotten the plastic bags! I am going to search for the great post on your blog and add the link! They are another thing I have eliminated from my home!
I plan to take my own mug to work starting next week! i HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT FOR A LONGER TIME, BUT AFTER READING YOUR POST i AM GONNA DO IT
ReplyDelete(oops sorry for the caps)
I love to enter your give away!
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy on MJF
I completely agree!~ It makes me sad to think of all of the waste that we have had to deal with from passed generations, and it makes me stop and wonder if this is the sort of thing going on, then what will it be like for my children?!
ReplyDeleteGreat way to encourage everyone to get involved in recycling. We use the fabric shopping bags and recycle all cans, plastic, etc.
Every little bit counts!!:)
hugs
Jessie-CRsHelpmeet @ MaryJanesFarm
I love the idea of having a travel mug for my coffee and a stainless steel jug for my water. But I never thought about taking a dish of my own for left-overs or take-outs. What a great idea. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteTammyb
I agree completely! I have my travel coffee mug, and also a large mug that I use for tea.
ReplyDeleteI know at the garden club I belong to, I finally convinced them that having disposable cups,plates, etc and printing off lots of copies of things were not eco-friendly.
Now everyone has to bring their own cups/plates and they send out meeting agendas, etc instead of printing them off.