 One-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tons per year. And according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the top three foods Americans throw away are “inedible parts, prepared foods and leftovers, and fruits and vegetables”.
For those inedible parts that would normally be thrown into the trash, composting is an amazing option. But when it comes to prepared food, leftovers and fruits and veggies, we can do better, right? Put an egg on it. The simplest way to make food scraps into a full meal, or leftovers into an entirely new one, is to add an egg. Have half an onion lying around in your fridge? Cook it on a cast iron skillet until soft and crack an egg over top for a diner-esque meal. Make a kitchen sink omelette with leftover vegetables or greens, or use up leftover rice or quinoa by adding a fried egg and your favorite sauces, dressings or spices on top. Treat greens like herbs. Veggies don’t have to just be the main event, they can be used to flavor other dishes or be the base of delicious dressings, dips and sauces. Got a bunch of leftover arugula about to go soggy? Blend it up with fresh herbs, like cilantro or parsley, a dash of red wine vinegar and a little bit of olive oil to make a fun twist on chimichurri sauce or whip up a yummy pesto sauce with carrot tops by blending with basil, garlic, and enough olive oil just to hold the sauce together. Got a lot of dressing leftover? Freeze the excess in ice cube trays then take out and defrost as needed. This allows you to extend the life of your greens even further and takes the pressure off of having to use them up right away. Treat herbs like greens. Have a lot of extra herbs left from making a recipe? Use them up in creative ways like making an herb salad. This is common in middle eastern cuisine. Or add some herbs into your morning smoothie. Mint tastes delicious with strawberry and banana, and cilantro can add a fun kick to a pineapple and mango smoothie. Bake it. A lot of people don’t realize that you can add fresh herbs, produce and cooked or raw grains like oatmeal and quinoa to a baked good, like a loaf cake or muffins. Find one basic recipe that works for your needs, then substitute whatever leftover herbs, fruits or grains you have on hand.
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 Your recipe called for fresh herbs, your herb garden is exploding with growth, or maybe that little fresh bundle of fragrance just called out to you while you were grocery shopping – whatever the reason, you now have a bundle of amazing fresh herbs and nothing in mind to use them with. What now?
Hang Fresh Herbs to DryIf you want to cook with your herbs later, then hang them to dry. Using a twist tie, repurposed rubber band, or a string, tie the herbs together into a bunch. Then, hang the bunch upside-down from a kitchen cabinet handle or even from a push pin stuck in the wall. Let them dry for a few weeks. Once they’ve dried completely, crumble the leaves off of the stems and store in a jar, then use them to cook whenever you’re ready. That easy! Enjoy a Hot Cup of Herbal TeaHerbs are not only amazingly flavorful, but also host a wide variety of medicinal properties. Take advantage of both by adding fresh or dried herbs to just boiled water for a nice cup of herbal tea. Mix and match to make your own tea blends, or add herbs to a tea that you already have. For a stronger flavor, shred or finely chop fresh herbs before adding the water, and also cover your cup and allow the herbs to steep for 10-15 minutes before drinking. Herb Infused Water Throw fresh herbs into a refrigerated pitcher or container with water for a refreshing infused water drink. The combinations are endless! Here’s some recipe ideas to get you started. Add to a Relaxing Hot Bath Let your leftover herbs help you unwind by drawing yourself a nice hot bath and adding those bad boys to it. Sprinkle in other essential oils or bath salts to chill even harder. Use in a Homemade Household Cleaner Grab a spray bottle or a container, stuff your herbs inside, fill with vodka (optional) and distilled white vinegar, and let sit for a couple weeks before using. Voila! You can get even creative with adding other food scrap leftovers such as the peels of lemons, oranges, grapefruits, or other citrus fruits. But, we’re all human, so if and when your herbs do accidentally turn for the worst, into the compost bin they go! 20/7/2019 0 Comments Homemade Zero Waste Dog Treats I’m so excited to share with you some of my favorite products and tips that are helping me to continue my zero waste lifestyle with Foxy by my side. Lots of dog treats and biscuits I came across at the pet store came packaged in plastic, and were also packed with wacky ingredients and preservatives. These biscuits are made from just four wholesome ingredients, so I can feel good about feeding them to her.
Here’s the recipe (makes about 30 dog treats): Equipment needed:
Ingredients:
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. If using a banana, mash until no longer chunky in the bowl first before adding other ingredients. If omitting the banana, you may need to increase the amount of stock you use. Start by using the amount called for, then increase as needed. You’re looking for a smooth, cohesive dough that is not too sticky. Lightly flour your work surface with whole wheat flour and roll out dough to a ¼ inch thickness. Use the dog bone shaped cookie cutter to cut out little cookies. You can also simply use a knife or pizza cutter to cut whatever shapes your doggo will like. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of your treats, until golden brown. If you use parchment paper, make sure to compost it! Allow to cool fully before feeding to your drooling dog who’s probably been hanging around the kitchen waiting for you to “accidentally” drop scraps on the ground. Store treats in an airtight container for up to a week, or freeze the extras to keep for up to a month! What other zero waste recipes do you make for your pets? 20/7/2019 2 Comments Reducing Your Waste at University Here are some brilliant tips and products they recommend for all those potentially trashy (literally) college scenarios. Reuse boxes for move in. Rather than buying big plastic tubs, or new cardboard boxes for moving into your dorm or temporary living situation in college, think ahead by asking a local grocery store to save some large cardboard boxes for you to move in with, or see if they have any on hand from recent shipments. You get free boxes (woohoo!) and the cardboard gets a second life. Seal it up with paper tape. Use paper tape to seal them up for your move-in journey so that afterwards they’ll be 100% recyclable in paper recycling. Skip the bubble wrap. Wrap breakable items in clothes, towels and bedding that you’re already bringing along with you. Flying to school? Here are some tips to minimize waste when you fly. If school is a flight away for you, you’re probably only taking a few suitcases rather than a load of boxes. But if you’re looking to keep your travel as sustainable as possible. Equip your dorm sustainably. Before you run out to Tesco, Asda, Argos or hop on to Amazon to buy a ton of brand new items for your dorm room or apartment, it’s important to realize that the space you’re in is temporary. Most students won’t live in their dorm room for more than a year. You don’t want to end up with a bunch of non-recyclable items or unnecessary decor or furniture when the school year wraps that you either have to A) figure out how to responsibly get rid of or B) send to landfill. Get secondhand items wherever you can. Beyond college, most people upgrade to a regular-sized fridge. Ask around to older friends at your school if they know anyone who has a mini fridge, furniture, or appliances they no longer need or want. Check out local thrift stores for small furniture items, mirrors, lamps, storage baskets etc. You can even give things a fresh coat of paint or troll Pinterest for some amazing up-cycling ideas. Opt for natural materials over plastics. When choosing between two items – say a plastic storage basket or one made from metal – opt for the non-plastic item. Even if you end up recycling the item at the end of the school year, each time plastic is recycled, it’s downgraded, and eventually gets to be a type of plastic that is non-recyclable. Ask yourself, “how much use will I really get out of this?” It’s easy to run through the aisles of Target and grab every picture frame, trinket box and votive holder because they’re cute. But don’t just grab items you won’t want to take with you after the school year ends. Set yourself up for recycling success. Recycling is so much easier if you have a dedicated bin or container in your room for recyclable items rather than having to walk an empty can down the hall or outside every time you want to recycle. Grab a bin from a secondhand or thrift store, or reuse a cardboard box you used when you moved in, and collect your recyclables in batches. Have a set of real dishes on hand. Avoid using paper plates and disposable kitchenware, and keep a real plate, bowl, cup and set of utensils in your dorm. You can get dishes for super cheap at thrift stores. Just wash in the bathroom sink when they get dirty. Stock up on bulk snacks, or food in recyclable containers. Cheap, late night food can be a lifesaver during 3 am study sessions. If you’re looking to keep your dorm or apartment stocked with snacks and quick meals, skip the styrofoam cup of noodles and plastic bags of chips for options like soup in aluminum cans, pickles in a glass jar, fresh loose fruit like bananas and apples, snacks from the bulk section of your local grocery like nuts, dried fruit or candy in reusable produce bags or bread from the bakery instead of pre-sliced bread that comes in plastic with peanut butter from a glass jar. Equip your dorm sustainably. Before you run out to Target or hop on to Amazon to buy a ton of brand new items for your dorm room or apartment, it’s important to realize that the space you’re in is temporary. Most students won’t live in their dorm room for more than a year. You don’t want to end up with a bunch of non-recyclable items or unnecessary decor or furniture when the school year wraps that you either have to A) figure out how to responsibly get rid of or B) send to landfill. Get secondhand items wherever you can. Beyond college, most people upgrade to a regular-sized fridge. Ask around to older friends at your school if they know anyone who has a mini fridge, furniture, or appliances they no longer need or want. Check out local thrift stores for small furniture items, mirrors, lamps, storage baskets etc. You can even give things a fresh coat of paint or troll Pinterest for some amazing up-cycling ideas. Opt for natural materials over plastics. When choosing between two items – say a plastic storage basket or one made from metal – opt for the non-plastic item. Even if you end up recycling the item at the end of the school year, each time plastic is recycled, it’s downgraded, and eventually gets to be a type of plastic that is non-recyclable. Ask yourself, “how much use will I really get out of this?” It’s easy to run through the aisles of Target and grab every picture frame, trinket box and votive holder because they’re cute. But don’t just grab items you won’t want to take with you after the school year ends. Set yourself up for recycling success. Recycling is so much easier if you have a dedicated bin or container in your room for recyclable items rather than having to walk an empty can down the hall or outside every time you want to recycle. Grab a bin from a secondhand or thrift store, or reuse a cardboard box you used when you moved in, and collect your recyclables in batches. Have a set of real dishes on hand. Avoid using paper plates and disposable kitchenware, and keep a real plate, bowl, cup and set of utensils in your dorm. You can get dishes for super cheap at thrift stores. Just wash in the bathroom sink when they get dirty. Stock up on bulk snacks, or food in recyclable containers. Cheap, late night food can be a lifesaver during 3 am study sessions. If you’re looking to keep your dorm or apartment stocked with snacks and quick meals, skip the styrofoam cup of noodles and plastic bags of chips for options like soup in aluminum cans, pickles in a glass jar, fresh loose fruit like bananas and apples, snacks from the bulk section of your local grocery like nuts, dried fruit or candy in reusable produce bags or bread from the bakery instead of pre-sliced bread that comes in plastic with peanut butter from a glass jar. Revamp your shower caddy. Make everyone on your dorm floor envious of your plastic-free shower caddy. Swap out these common plastic or non-recyclable items for their sustainable alternative: Plastic bottle of shampoo – Plastic-free shampoo bar Non-recyclable tube or bottle of face wash – Tea tree and charcoal facial bar soap Synthetic loofah – Natural bath sponge Plastic razor – All-metal stainless steel razor Plastic bottle of body wash – Refillable body wash Keep your space clean sustainably. Go paper towel-less and stock up on DIY cleaning rags. You can make your own rags by ripping up old beach or bath towels or t-shirts. Upcycle a Windex bottle or get yourself an empty glass spray bottle, and make your own all-purpose, natural cleaning spray to fill it with. The ingredients to make your own cleaner overtime will actually also save you money. That’s something all broke college students can get on board with. Build a waste-free toolkit. Stock your backpack or school bag with a “waste-free toolkit” so you’ll be ready to avoid any potential trash that might come your way. Here are some great things to always keep on you: A reusable string bag: It’s super compact and light to keep in your bag, but can also expand like crazy to hold up to 40 lbs. It’s perfect for last-minute grocery trips or even lugging your dirty clothes to the laundry room. Reusable water bottle + filter combo: Refilling a reusable bottle at a water fountain or in the sink is a no-brainer way to never use a single-use plastic water bottle again. If the tap water at your school isn’t great, keep a filter in your bottle to clean any impurities out of your water. Reusable coffee cup: For most college students, coffee is a lifeline. Keep a reusable cup on you to avoid single-use cups. Some cafes even give discounts for bringing your own cup! To-go cutlery: Say no to non-recyclable plastic forks, knives and spoons and keep a portable set of utensils on you. Cloth napkin: Because spills and messes happen, keep a cloth napkin or rag with you to wipe up unexpected messes, or to even blow your nose with. Reusable straw: Plastic straws are non-recyclable, but sometimes you just want to sip your iced coffee or smoothie through one. Keep a reusable straw with you so you’re always prepared! To-go container: For food hall leftovers, or picking up some takeout, keep an empty airtight container with you to avoid using single-use takeout containers. We love these, but a basic mason jar works too. Learn to say “no” to freebies. Brands want to capture the attention and loyalty of college students, so they’ll often have brand reps on campus that pass out lots of free goodies from their companies. When you’re a broke college student, you’re pretty much conditioned to take anything that someone tells you is free, but before you reach for that Geico Insurance trucker hat, ask yourself “do I actually want this, or am I taking it because it’s free?” Here are some of the swaps that I did since I transitioned to this lifestyle:  You know that minimizing your environmental impact is what’s up – to produce less trash, to reduce or eliminate your demand for wasteful single-use products, to directly address climate change as a consumer – but honestly your life just isn’t there quite yet. It’s a process that takes time and practice – it’s not an overnight change, no matter how much we wish. In that spirit, here are some simple steps you can take to help reduce your trash. Here we go –
#1 Begin composting! Compostingis the superstar of reducing your waste. One of the first steps towards a trash-free lifestyle is to begin collecting compost at home and finding a way to properly dispose of our favorite stanky pal. Compost is the practice of collecting biodegradable stuff – such as food scraps and food waste – and letting it all quickly rot so it can turn back into a healthy, nutrient-dense soil. When these materials instead go into places like landfills, they rot slowly and as a result release harmful greenhouse gases like methane. It’s essentially the reason why “trash is bad”. While society has invented non-biodegradable problems such as everlasting poisonous plastics and toxic landfills, conversely collecting compost is versatile and eco-friendly. Everything from rotten food, soiled paper towels, cotton balls, compostable to-go food containers, snotty tissues, cooking grease, bones, to even worn out clothing made of all-natural materials (like, you know, those ratty 100% cotton undies that are totally shredded and gotta go) can probably get thrown straight into your compost. Yes, it can be stinky – but it’s still totally worth it. There are so many ways to compost that it’s truly a topic for another discussion – here are some ideas to get you started. But the easiest is definitely municipal composting, where the city comes around and picks up your compost just like they already pick up your trash and recycling. If you don’t have municipal composting (most people don’t), then call in your area for more information and tell your city that you want municipal composting. Right now. Or else. #2 – Recycle. Properly. Are you one of those folks who truly does care about preserving our environment, yet habitually fails to recycle properly? I know you’re out there! You don’t have to fess up to me, but it’s important to be honest with yourself about your attitude towards the waste that you produce. The best policy is: if you use it, you also must accept the responsibility of properly disposing of it. Unfortunately, recycling guidelines are not uniform across recycling facilities. Google recycling in your town to better understand their guidelines, and always keep an eye out for information about how to better recycle at city-sponsored events, the library, public buildings, etc. In general, make sure your recycled goods are free of most food debris. Aluminum is by far the most efficient material to recycle with a 92% energy savings per recycled can, since generating new aluminum is highly energy intensive. Plus, aluminum is easily recycled back into the same product, while glass and plastics are often “downcycled” into other products, like carpet or landfill liner. Don’t forget about products such as light bulbs, batteries, old computers and electronics, printer ink, unwanted chemicals such as paint or construction materials, and more. Each of these can be recycled as well, or at least safely disposed of. Check out places like Best Buy to help you responsibly get rid of some of these more difficult items. Here’s more information about used oil, hazardous household wastes, and used tires. Another key aspect to this entire chain is supporting businesses that use recycled materials in their finished products. Recycling isn’t perfect, but it’s much better than a landfill. #3 – BYOB (bring your own bag) Don’t be a fool and get stuck at the store buying so much stuff that you’re forced to take a plastic bag just so you can make it home. Instead, always carry a reusable bag with you. Personally I love 100% cotton cloth tote bags because they last longer and I trust them to regularly carry heavy items home without ripping, but there are also more compact options such as these great clip-on bags from ChicoBag that fold down into tiny pouches and work great as well. ChicoBags are perfect for small purses or even can be clipped onto your keychain. 100% cotton bags can be composted once they do finally give out, but polyester reusable bags are often made of post-consumer recycled plastics which is a pretty good deal too. If you have a car, make sure to keep a stash of reusable bags in your trunk or glove box. Leave a few extra bags at work too, just in case. Bring smaller cloth bags to the farmers market or grocery store to safely carry home delicate produce in. After a few uses or whenever they get dirty, just toss them in with your laundry, #4 – Scrub-a-dub-dub, used glass jars in a tub Give a bath to your reused glass jars and plastic baggies to extend their lifespan far beyond their intended single-use. Items that were once single-use – such as glass peanut butter or pickle jars – can easily be washed and reused. Upcycled glass jars are a space-saving way to bring your zero waste lunch to school or work, and any leftovers after you’re done eating can be placed back into the jar and carried home to your compost bin. Glass jars are an easy way to store leftovers in your fridge, too. 20/7/2019 1 Comment Reduce Waste In Your Kitchen Food waste, and waste related to eating are a ridiculous portion of our waste stream. In fact, it’s estimated that 50% of all produce in the US gets throws away, totaling an annual 60 million tons of produce worth $160 billion – just trashed. Wasted food occupies about 20% of our waste stream. And that just accounts for food alone – we still haven’t discussed the looming problem of disposable plates, forks, spoons, plastic clam shells, coffee cups and lids, plastic bags, and so much more. On top of that – much of this food has been shipped from far places in single-use packaging, like plastic containers and plastic-coated cardboard boxes. Let’s just say the first step is admitting we have a problem. With these staggering images in mind, there is so much we can do in our home kitchens to alleviate some of the environmental stresses of such excessive waste. A way to compostIt’s only logical to start by considering what kind of waste a kitchen primarily produces, which is likely food scraps. I know what you might be thinking – but food is biodegradable. If I throw it in the trash it’ll end up biodegrading in the landfill anyways, right? Wrong. Unfortunately, because most landfills are so tightly packed, they create an environment free of oxygen, making it very difficult and sometimes impossible for items like an apple core or orange peel to biodegrade. And even if those items did biodegrade in a landfill, where would they go? They wouldn’t return back into the earth, and instead would release methane gas which is anywhere from 20-150 times more potent of a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide over a 100 year timeframe. This is why the process of composting – which allows space and oxygen for items to breakdown properly – is so crucial. In order to keep compost, you don’t have to go through the whole stinky (but awesome!) process of actually turning your rotting food scraps back into soil. Instead, try keeping your scraps in a container, big bowl or paper grocery bag in the freezer to eliminate any potential smells or bugs – until you can properly dispose of it. Google “composting near me” to find resources on farmers markets near you that collect compost, local organizations that offer compost drop offs or pickups, or maybe you’ll find your city offers composting for free if you sign up! Pro tip: keep a big bowl next to you while you cook to toss in stems, seeds, peels and any food scraps you plan to collect for compost. That way nothing will accidentally get thrown in the trash or down the garbage disposal. Quality old-school cookware Don’t bother with new fangled contraptions such as plastic-coated Teflon pans, which are all too easy to ruin and aren’t known for their lifespan. Instead, stick with tried and true cookware such as cast iron pans. Cast irons are straight up baller because they basically last forever. My cast irons are a hand-me-down from my grandma. And they double as a weapon if anyone tries something funny in my kitchen. Just sayin’. Get another zero waste star by checking out the home goods sections in thrift stores for secondhand cast irons and other cooking tools. Just simply give them a good wash (but not your cast iron pan, they shouldn’t be cleaned with soap), and start cooking up a storm. Compostable and recyclable dish washing tools Washing your dishes shouldn’t require producing trash. Check out options such as this wooden dish brush with replaceable heads, copper sponges for scrubbing away cooked-on food on your pans and cookie sheets, or try using a hand towel made of 100% natural materials such as cotton – the dish brush and towel are 100% compostable and the sponge is 100% recyclable once they all get too funky to be trusted to clean anymore. A reusable coffee cup Ditch the leaking paper cup and flimsy plastic lid, and upgrade yourself to coffee luxury with a real cup. Not only is a reusable coffee cup better for our mother earth, but it also features other perks such as being spill-proof and keeping your coffee hotter for way longer. Plus, it just tastes better when you’re sipping out of a nice container. Insulated to-go mugs are great for cold drinks like smoothies too! Reusable strawsYou knew it was coming – if you haven’t already, get on that reusable straw wagon with the rest of us! Plastic straws are basically just awful – most recycling facilities can’t recycle them, it’s the 11th most common item found in ocean trash, and in the US we use an estimated 500 million per day. I mean, come on. Glass or metal storage and to-go containers Store your food right and tight with reusable options such as metal or glass containers. If you’re taking your food to-go and intend to microwave later, glass might be a better option. If you are more concerned about weight, go with the metal containers. Jars on jars on jars Is any zero waste kitchen complete without the quintessential mason jar? Wash and reuse jars that foods like peanut butter, pickles, and spaghetti sauce come in to build up your mason jar collection on the cheap. Check out thrift store for more size varieties. For maximum flexibility, get yourself some wide mouthed masons, the ones with straight sides – you can even freeze food in those bad boys (just leave a few inches space at the top for frozen expansion!) Pro tip – let your jars and lids dry completely after washing, then store them together with the lid securely screwed on. That way you never have to scramble looking around for the right lid. Here are some of the things that I swapped since my transition to this lifestyle: What other tips or hacks do you have for reducing waste in the kitchen? I’d love to know!
20/7/2019 0 Comments Plastic Free July Have you heard about Plastic Free July?
What started as a small movement in Australia in 2011 has since expanded to over 150 cities with millions of participants worldwide. The goal of Plastic Free July is to challenge people to not use any single-use plastics during the month in hopes to help them form more sustainable habits beyond just July. If you want to still live your best life while also avoiding single-use plastics, the key is being prepared. Here are some helpful tools and tips to help you stay plastic free this July. BYOC (Bring Your Own Cup) July is HOT. And there’s nothing quite like a cool iced coffee in the morning after waking up with your sheets sticking to your sweaty thighs (just me?). To keep your daily coffee shop trip plastic-free, bring along your own reusable cup, thermos or mason jar. Be bold and kindly request your drink in your own container, and feel free to even throw in “I’m challenging myself to not use any single-use plastics in July!” to spread the word on the movement. Skip the plastic straw The average person uses about 1.6 non-recyclable plastic straws per day, plus plastic straws are one of the most common forms of plastic pollution in the ocean. Adopt the phrase “no straw please” when ordering a drink at a bar or glass of water at a restaurant. Or get yourself a reusable option like a stainless steel, bamboo or silicone straw for sipping your iced coffee. Shove reusable bags everywhere (get your head out of gutter) It takes a second to get into the habit of bringing reusable bags with you when shopping, so set yourself up for success by pre-placing bags all over your home, car and in your work or school bag. Just say “nah” to plastic cling wrap Try a more sustainable alternative to wrap up leftovers like aluminum foil which is 100% recyclable, or my personal favorite, reusable beeswax wrap. Buh bye protein bars, hello bulk snacks A huge source of single-use plastics for many people comes in the form of prepackaged grab-and-go food like a protein or granola bar. You can get all of the same nutrients and flavor from common items in the bulk food section of Whole Foods or a natural foods store like nuts, dried fruit and granola. Or, reach for a piece of real fruit instead when you’ve got a hankering for a snack. Or if you’re really feeling up for it, experiment with making your own snack bars using bulk ingredients, or items that come in recyclable packaging. Test out a plastic-free period If you have a pretty regular cycle, you bleed once a month (love you mother nature, except for that one part). If that’s you, chances are during July you’ll have a period. Tampon applicators and most pad and tampon wrappers are single-use plastics. Unless you’re a menstruating person who’s comfortable with free bleeding (go you!) you’ve gotta find a way to keep those fluids in check. My personal choice is a menstrual cup. It’s a soft silicone cup that’s inserted inside of you in the morning, and only has to be removed once a day to be emptied, rinsed and then reinserted. There are also reusable, washable pad and panty liner options as well that are great for someone who doesn’t like putting something inside of them Let July be your month to leap into the wonderful world of alternative period products! Meet your new BFF, your reusable water bottle The plastic free tool that’s always got your back – a sturdy reusable water bottle. Especially in the hot temps of July, staying hydrated is incredibly important. Treat your water bottle as if it’s your third hand and don’t ever leave home without it. If you’re down for good old tap water, fill it up in the bathroom sink, or if you’re at a bar (as many people are for the majority of July…don’t kid yourself) ask the bartender to fill it up. If your local tap isn’t the best, or you just prefer filtered water, get yourself a small water filter that can fit inside your bottle. Switch up your personal care routine Though many personal care items such as deodorant sticks, plastic razors or fash wash in a plastic tube aren’t technically “single-use” plastics, many of them are non-recyclable in traditional municipal recycling. Use Plastic Free July as your excuse to start exploring some different options like a package free shampoo bar, all stainless steel razor or cream deodorant that comes in a glass jar. Here are some of my go-to plastic-free personal care items. Are you ready to take the challenge? My store is also running weekly sales to help make it more affordable to transition to a plastic free life, so make sure to check it out. 20/7/2019 1 Comment No more Plastic Straws! Did you know that the average American uses about 1.6 non-recyclable plastic straws per day? In total, Americans send about 125 school buses full of plastic straws to landfills every single day – many of those flimsy plastic straws end up being washed into our oceans and waterways, affecting marine life and the health of our water systems.
Those statistics are horrifying. Especially when you factor in that for the most part, straws are pretty unnecessary. Yes, iced coffee can be enjoyed without sipping through a straw (and ps, there are reusable alternatives if you do like the sipping experience). We’ve become accustomed to grabbing a plastic straw at our local cafes, picking up that straw your waiter throws down on the table to sip your glass of water with, stirring our cocktails with those teeny tiny plastic stirrers that are almost impossible to get a sip out of – yes, choosing to drink from a straw is a conscious choice, but the act has become so second nature as single-use plastic straws are embedded into our eating and drinking culture. To stay updates about sustainable technology News click here 20/7/2019 0 Comments How To Recycle Old Clothing Did you know that the EPA estimates that textiles make up 5% of all landfills in the US?
Or that only 15% of unwanted clothing is actually recycled? Or that the average US citizen throws away an estimated 70 lbs worth of textile waste annually? When we think of waste, we often envision things like crushed up plastic water bottles, soiled food wrappers and dirty diapers – not a perfectly wearable pair of jeans that got thrown away just because they don’t fit anymore (raise your hand if you’re guilty). Even in the case of an old stained t-shirt or pair of shredded underwear (like waaaay past the emergency-laundry-day underwear stage) there are plenty of textile recycling programs to keep even the most unwearable items out of landfills. First and foremost, I’m a proponent of being a conscious consumer. Purchasing clothing you know you love and will wear often, or doing like I do, and purchasing clothing second hand that is already in the waste stream. It’s a deeper issue than just finding solutions for what to do with all your old clothing – ultimately, the bigger solution is shifting our buy-what-you-want-for-cheap-and-then-toss-it culture, to one of buying what you love and what will last. But, if you’ve got a giant bag full of Ed Hardy graphic tees and gaucho pants from your not-so-consciously-consuming days collecting dust in the back of your closet, here’s how to keep them out of the trashand out of your sight. RESELL “Recycling” clothing doesn’t necessarily mean only sending it to get shredded up and turned into something new. Recycling can simply mean passing items on to be used and loved by someone else. If you’ve got items in great condition, and want to make a little extra cash, take them to a local consignment shop or thrift store, or try a trusted online reseller like PoshmarkorthredUP. DONATE If you want your clothing to live on, but don’t want to mess with reselling, donating your items to a local homeless shelter or community center in your town is an amazing option to help others while keeping your clothing out of landfills. First though, make sure there is an actual need for the clothing items you have before just dropping them off. Donating isn’t an excuse to just pawn your unwanted clothing onto someone else that also doesn’t want or need them. Also, make sure to only donate items in good, wearable condition though. Don’t just use a clothing donation drop off as your “trash can” for your smelly old gym socks with holes in the toes. Though the practices vary between organizations, they might end up sending unwearable items to landfills, defeating the whole the purpose of why we’re here in the first place, right? So what do you do with your items that just can’t even anymore? I recommend two options: UPCYCLE Old t-shirts, cotton dresses, jersey lounge pants, etc. make amazing cleaning cloths. If you don’t want to go out and buy reusable rags or washcloths, make your own! Simply cut up old clothing into squares or rectangles (or pentagons, or hexagons, or whatever your shape of choice is) and clean your dirty ass apartment with your new nifty upcycled rags. Already got rags on rags on rags? RECYCLE There are tons of amazing sustainable resources and organizations that will take your too-far-gone clothing, accessories and textile items, and repurpose them for other uses. Uses like making home insulation, pillow stuffing, car seat stuffing, and even “new” fabric made from recycled fibers.  Just because something is biodegradable, doesn’t mean it will properly break down when thrown in the garbage. In order for an organic item to decompose properly, it needs oxygen. But because most landfills are so tightly packed to get in as much trash as they can, they squeeze out all the oxygen, making it nearly impossible for something like an orange peel, apple core or piece of paper to decompose. So what’s the solution? Composting is the natural process of decomposition and recycling of organic material into a humus rich soil amendment known as compost. For any business or institution producing food waste, this organic material can be easily decomposed into high quality compost. Good things to compost include vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, plant prunings and grass cuttings. These are fast to break down and provide important nitrogen as well as moisture. It's also good to include things such as cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper and fallen leaves. There are two different ways to compost: Commercial Composting+Backyard Composting.In commercial composting, you collect the approved of compostable items and send them away to be composted by another facility or organization. In backyard composting, you collect compostable items yourself (for most people, in their backyards…hence the name), monitor the composting process and then get beautiful compost to use throughout your yard and garden. Commercial Composting How can I have access to commercial composting? Some cities offer composting services the same way they do trash or recycling, so first check with your local waste management facility to see if it’s something offered. Because composting isn’t as widely offered as something like traditional recycling, there might be a cost associated. Other places to find commercial composting near you:
Where do I keep my compostable items until they’re ready to be picked up / dropped off? Any large airtight container should do the trick to keep compost items safe to store in your home under your sink or in your pantry. Or keep items in a big bowl, paper bag or compost bag in your fridge or freezer to keep it from smelling or attracting bugs. Whether you bring your compost to be dropped off or it’s picked up, transport it in a bag that is also compostable like a paper grocery bag, or specially-made compost bag. Backyard Composting What do I need to backyard compost? You need a place to build your compost pile. This could be a big empty trash bin or simply a small patch of your yard where you’ll collect items. To compost properly you also need the components of green matter (fruits, veggies, grass clippings, etc.), brown matter (twigs, dirt, dead leaves, etc), water and air. Get this mixture, and you’re good to go! What items are compostable in backyard composting? Any plant or animal based product is compostable, though it’s not recommended to compost meat, dairy or fish scraps at home. But anything else from your old bamboo toothbrush handle, to used matches, to hair from your hair brush, to stale tortilla chips are all backyard compostable. What’s the process like and how do I maintain my backyard compost? It’s recommended to find a dry shady place outside to keep your compost pile or bin, but not too far from a water source like a hose. Wetting the pile, and stirring periodically with a shovel or pitchfork will also help the items to break down. It can take anywhere between two months to two years for items to fully break down. You can learn more about backyard composting here! What can I use my homemade compost for? Compost is rich in nutrients and natural fertilizers so it’s great for gardening, landscaping and potting indoor plants. If you’ve got a plethora, grab a wheelbarrow and share some with a neighbor. Have you started composting? What tips, tricks and resources have you found helpful? |
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