Monthly Archives: May 2008

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Eco Women Reuse Newspaper!

Posted on May 21, 2008 by | 1 Comment

The other day Enviro-Girl’s BFF asked her to do a post on this topic.  “I have gobs of newspapers every week–between that and regular paper, we recycle two to three grocery sacks of paper every week.  Is there a way to reuse it instead of just recycling it?”

Excellent question, Sarah!  Here are a few ways to reuse that newspaper and keep it out of your recycle bin:

Shred it and use it as pet litter

Use it for packaging and shipping instead of styrofoam packing peanuts

Use it as gift wrap

Use it in your compost bin

Use it to wash windows–spray it with vinegar and water and watch your glass SHINE!

Layer it 5 pages deep and cover with mulch to keep weeds out of your garden and moisture in

Stuff it into shoes when storing or drying out–newspaper absorbs odors and moisture

Make your own paper! A fun and easy activity for kids!

Use it as a tablecloth for messy meals–serve up ribs, corn on the cob, crabs in the half shell on newspaper for easy clean up.

Looking for more creative ideas?  Check out this site.

Finally, one way that Enviro-Girl’s family reduced it’s paper recycling was by canceling their weekly subscription and only getting a Saturday/Sunday newspaper.  They didn’t have time to read it during the week anyway and the editorial page was always raising Enviro-Girl’s dander, so it turns out that they don’t miss it much.  Online news sources like BBC.com and National Public Radio have kept Enviro-Girl in the loop just fine.

Another idea is to share a subscription with a neighbor or read the news at the local coffee shop or public library.  Talk about waste reduction!  Think of all the things we could share, and as a result reduce our consumption.  Sounds like a topic for another post, doesn’t it?

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Posted in house stuff

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Retailers with an Eco-Friendly Attitude

Posted on May 20, 2008 by | 4 Comments

While a lot of us try to buy locally produced goods from locally owned businesses, sometimes you just need a bag of Huggies or a can of WD40 — so, which big box stores have the most eco-friendly business practices? The answers will surprise you — they shocked Enviro-Girl when she read up on this topic.

Many people associate Big Box Stores with Bad Business Practices, but they have HUGE incentives to “Go Green” because it saves them money when they use less energy and less packaging. Waste hurts the bottom line in any business and these retailers have reduced their carbon footprint through a variety of practices, including investing in renewable energy. Other businesses “Go Green” because they want to appeal to their customers’ social consciousness. Whatever their reason, more companies are behaving more responsibly regardless of what legislation tells them. They’re doing it because the marketplace demands it and that folks, is the Bottom Line in Business. Good news, isn’t it?

Environmentally Friendlier Retailers include:

Whole Foods Market

Lowe’s

Walmart

Starbucks

Safeway

Staples

FedEx Kinko’s

Shaw’s Supermarkets

Kohl’s

Timberland

The Body Shop

Nike

Target

Home Depot

Toys R Us

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Fast fact: 10 Foods you don’t have to buy organic

Posted on May 19, 2008 by | 1 Comment

For a list of ten foods that you don’t have to buy organic — thereby saving your organic dollars for other purchases — click here.

Fast Fact tip courtesy of The Daily Green.

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Posted in fast facts, food, living green on a budget

More on greening your kitchen

Posted on May 19, 2008 by | 2 Comments

A few weeks ago Enviro Girl shared some tips for inexpensively greening your kitchen. Recycla has a few more to share with you — all having to do with your kitchen appliances:

  • Keep your fridge full — Refrigerators and freezers use one-sixth of the energy in the average American home. Every time you open your fridge warm air flows in, forcing the appliance to readjust its temperature. The more items in the fridge and freezer, the less the temperature changes when the door opens, which cuts down on overall energy consumption.
  • Use your microwave — Microwaves use 50-65% less energy than the standard oven. For reheating or steaming, opt for this instead of turning on the stove.
  • Use a dishwasher — Just because doing the dishes by hand feels virtuous, doesn’t mean you’re saving the earth. You can reduce your water consumption by 37% by using the dishwasher. Don’t pre-rinse, as it uses more water — just load load dishes dirty. Make sure to run the dishwsher only when the washer is completely full. Also, keep your hands off the heat-dry button; let dishes air dry.
  • Invest in your cookware — You’ll find yourself consuming less, if you pay a few extra dollars for cookware that lasts. Swear off Teflon and stick to stainless steel or cast iron pots and pans, use high quality wooden spoons, and cloth towels instead of paper.

That’s the list Recycla came up with.  Can any of you think of others?

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Posted in 3 Rs, food, house stuff

High Gas Prices are Good

Posted on May 16, 2008 by | 4 Comments

Enviro-Girl takes the unpopular view that the federal government should NOT give people a break on gas prices by “temporarily eliminating the gas tax.” In her view, Barak Obama is right on the money dismissing this idea as political pandering by John McCain and Hillary Clinton.  (This is not a political endorsement of any candidate, she’s just pointing out their positions on an issue.)

Why not give Americans a break at the gas pump?  Let’s dissect Enviro-Girl’s reasons:

*  The gas tax funds repairs to our nation’s infrastructure–without money, roads & bridges cannot be fixed.  The bridge collapse in Minneapolis illustrated how desperately that maintenance is needed–for our safety and for our nation’s economy.  (Try to imagine how we’d function if major highways and bridges were out of commission.  No freight could move, no people could travel.)  No gas tax = no fixing.

*  Gas is a limited resource.  Make it cheaper, the more people use it.  Make it more expensive, the less people use it.

*  Higher gas prices are the result of economic realities (i.e. Supply and Demand).  It’s tougher to get and there is too much demand for it.  The only way to change this equation is to reduce the demand.

*  Since the 1970′s Americans and the rest of the world has known gas is a limited resource, yet we’ve consumed it like oxygen.  We’ve had 30 years to make changes, knowing that gas prices were sure to rise.  We didn’t make lifestyle changes when it was our option, now that time is up.  High prices will change our attitudes about gas-guzzling lifestyles–big SUV’s, long commutes, and huge houses.  High prices will force substantial changes in our energy consumption and (here’s the happy ending, folks!) decrease our carbon footprint.

Sure, it sounds all warm and fuzzy and electable to eliminate the gas tax and reduce the cost of fueling our cars.  But in the long term it’s not a solution and it just won’t work.  It’s supply and demand and that equation just won’t change.  Our government has no business passing “feel good” policies that ultimately extend our irresponsible use of natural resources, further weaken our nation’s infrastructure, increase our dependency on foreign oil and decrease our incentive to rethink our nation’s energy policy.  Gas and politics is a stinky and dangerous combination, we’re better off keeping them separate.

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Posted in issues, Uncategorized

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Pucker up, part 1

Posted on May 15, 2008 by | 3 Comments

lipsSummer is almost here and, while most people remember to use sun screen, not everyone remembers to protect their lips. You wouldn’t want to kiss your sweetie with sunburned lips!

The Eco Women don’t like conventional lip balms, as they contain oil-derived petroleum jelly. Yuck! Luckily, there are other all-natural options to keep your kisser smoochable.

lipsportThere are a variety of all-natural and organic lip balms available, but the one company that offers a nice selection of lip balms with sun protection is Kiss My Face.

Some of their offerings:

One of the nice things about Kiss My Face lip balms is that they come in a variety of flavors. Recycla personally doesn’t care for minty lip balms. One of her daughters likes strawberry, but the other one prefers orange. So lip balm flavors are clearly a very personal choice.

Part 2 of this post will actually be in November, when Recycla will take a look at all lip balms and tell you which ones she likes for preventing chapped lips.

What about you, Eco Readers? Is there a lip balm you like that protects your mouth from the sun?

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Posted in personal care

I brake for rummage sales!

Posted on May 14, 2008 by | 1 Comment

A huge part of reducing our Trash Factor and Waste Factor is reusing–and there’s no place better to begin than shopping the rummage sale circuit.  (See also:  Garage sale, Yard sale, Moving sale, Estate sale and for you Brits, Jumble sale)  Spring is the hot season for shopping in yards and garages–in fact a lot of places hold “City-wide rummage sales” complete with maps and hot dogs for the kids.

Sure, shopping thrift shops is a good place to start, but the price point is so much lower at a rummage sale.  Consider:  recently Enviro-Girl had to buy serving spoons for the teachers’ lounge at Happyland Elementary School.   She went to Goodwill and found used serving spoons priced at $2.99.  She found brand new serving spoons at Target for $4.99.  She discovered used serving spoons at a rummage sale for $ .25.

Most rummage sales offer huge bargains on crap stuff.  Baby clothes and gear, sports equipment, holiday decorations, random dishes and small appliances, and boxes of Harlequin paperbacks are the usual fare.  But mixed in you’ll also find some wonderful treasures–dressers and chairs, yard equipment, and even brand-new-still-with-a-price-tag-attached-items.  Once Enviro-Girl found pieces that matched her dishes inherited from her great-grandma.  Another time she landed a hardcover copy of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History that she’d lent out twice and never got back.  Her whole front porch is furnished by rummage sale finds:  pots for plants, apple crates for small tables, stools and a watering can.

A few tips will make your forray into rummage sales less frustrating and more fruitful, but overall, if you’re looking to save in lean times and enjoy living in green times, buying used is a great way to start.

1)  No price at a rummage sale is final.  Counter-offer.  Once Enviro-Girl had $5 and mentioned as much to a lady holding a sale.  Enviro-Girl was buying clothes for her baby boy.  The lady grabbed a garbage bag and told her to fill it because whatever she didn’t sell at the rummage sale was going to Goodwill.  For $5 Enviro-Girl clothed Mr. T (and subsequently Mr. B and Mr. G) for two whole sizes!

2)  The newer and nicer the house, the higher the price point.  Seriously, a used Baby Gap onesie is no different than a used Gerber onesie, but these folks don’t know it and price their brand name wares like they’re brand new.  Avoid these McMansion neighborhoods unless you’re looking for Little Tyke toys or ugly holiday decorations.

3)  Old people have the best deals at their rummage sales.  Best prices, best stuff.  Their kitchen ware is unparalleled.

4)  Expect to be disappointed–figure 1 find for every 4 garages/yards you stop at.  Rummaging is a LOT of work.  But if you love to shop, it cannot be more disappointing than elbowing your way through Younker’s at 6 a.m. for a Door Buster sale.

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Posted in house stuff, living green on a budget

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Fast Fact: Recycle your CFLs

Posted on May 13, 2008 by | Leave a comment

While compact fluorescent bulbs do last much longer than regular light bulbs, they will eventually burn out. When they do, they have to be disposed of carefully, as they contain small amounts of mercury. For more information on how to dispose of your CFL’s properly, click here.

Fast Fact courtesy of The Daily Green.

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Posted in 3 Rs, fast facts, house stuff

Garbage

Posted on May 13, 2008 by | 2 Comments

Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash by Elizabeth Royte.

Ever wondered what happens to your trash and recycling after the big noisy truck picks it up from your curb? Read this book and find out.

Garbage Land is one woman’s investigation to find out where her trash and recycling go. Royte visits landfills, recycling facilities, and even the sewage treatment plant. She spends a day riding shotgun with the trash collectors. She weighs her trash and recycling and tries to reduce her consumption and output.

Royte discovers that trash is a complex issue and that there are no easy answers. Ultimately she realizes that consuming less is the best solution to the waste problem.

Both funny and informative, Garbage Land is a book that all Eco Warriors should read.

Photo courtesy of amazon.com.

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Posted in books

Organic where it’s most important

Posted on May 12, 2008 by | 3 Comments

With food costs soaring worldwide, it can be hard to stay dedicated to organic foods. With that in mind, here’s a list of the foods you should try to buy organic or simply skip altogether if the only option is chemical-laden food:

  • Apples — can be treated with tons of pesticides
  • Strawberries — the most contaminated produce, hands down (they’re treated frequently because they rot easily)
  • Cantaloupes — can contain the longest-lasting chemical effects because they absorb chemicals from the soil
  • Grapes — treated with plenty of chemicals because they’re delicate and tend to ripen quickly
  • Cucumbers — ranked second in cancer risk by the Environmental Working Group
  • Baby food — babies’ delicate immune systems can fall prey to fruits and veggies that were chemical-treated
  • Spinach — the chemicals used on them could be cancer-causing
  • Green beans — the EPA allows 60 chemicals to be used on them
  • Winter squash — like cantaloupe, can draw pesticides from the soil
  • Butter and milk — can contain bovine growth hormone and antibiotics

Another issue to consider with produce is eating seasonally. While it may be nice to eat strawberries in November, that’s not their natural season in the U.S. and they’ll be more expensive as they had to be shipped from further away. Don’t buy those berries! Just wait until the spring, when you can get the freshest, juiciest, most delicious strawberries from a farm near you.

Remember, you don’t have to be 100% organic. Just be as organic as you can afford to be.

List courtesy of the Green Daily.

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Posted in food, issues