“Reduce, Reuse” Suggestions
Decatur Metro | March 20, 2009
Scott sends in a pic of an old BTTF Delorean
Apparently, even the AJC can’t believe the sheer, unbridled green-ness of our city.
In detailing the decrease in the cost of our trash pickup this year – thanks to an increase in recycling rates (first reported on the Decatur blogs) – the AJC’s April Hunt starts her article with three little words: “Only in Decatur.”
Damn straight! And just wait ’til the city unveils its trash-powered Delorean police cars (thanks Doc Brown!)…then everyone will marvel in our unsustainable growth rate in sustainability initiatives!
But seriously, major props go out to everyone in decreasing the amount of trash we generate as a city by 40% since the implementation of the “Pay-As-You-Throw” program. You are truly professional recyclers. But, this is no time to get cocky and rest on our bins.
Due to the lack of demand for recyclable materials thanks to the global recession, the city warns that this fee decline could only be temporary. Why? Because our partner in recycling – Latham Home Sanitation – is having a harder time selling these materials on the back end. So that means someone has to pick up the loss-of-revenue slack. And the suppliers (us) are the only ones left.
Therefore I join the city’s efforts to reemphasize the first two actions of that age-old, overused adage “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. So I ask you gentle readers, in what ways do you actively “reduce and reuse” to decrease the amount of garbage (be it trash or recycling) that goes on to the curb?
I’ll get the ball rolling and state the most obvious: reusable grocery bags. Additionally, we’ve recently begun using washable dishcloths instead of disposable sponges.
What else should I be doing?
Latest from Decaturish
I am using reusable water bottles – http://www.kleankanteen.com and taking my own coffee mug around in my car. Those two things can drastically impact your waste on a day to day basis… Also be mindful of the products you buy and how much waste is associated with each…
Carson Matthews
http://www.GreentotheScene.com
I also try to take my own grocery bags shopping, but often find myself in a checkout line without one (and feeling guilty!). I’ve been amazed how many times, though, I’m offered a plastic bag when the item(s) I’m purchasing can be just as easily carried out by hand. Always ask yourself “do I really need a bag?”.
We should also be looking for products that we do need to purchase packaged in recycled paper or made out of recycled materials. I recently saw on HGTV that there is a mulch made out of recycled tires. It cleans itself when it rains. Hmmm…wonder if we can find that around here.
1. Cloth diapers
2. Collapsible & reusable containers (I think Container Store carries them) rather than disposable take-out boxes from our wonderful Decatur restaurants
First, be very aware of the recycled content in your paper products. Based on the much-publicized Greenpeace toilet paper ratings and NY Times article a few weeks ago, we switched to Seventh Generation and have been impressed with its quality and price for being so environmentally friendly: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/forests/tissueguide
Several years ago we eliminated paper napkins from our home and really cut down on paper towel use by switching to cloth only. It seemed weird at first, using a “fancy” cloth napkin for cereal on the couch, but it’s second nature now. And we have enough (thanks, Crate & Barrel clearance!) that we never run out before laundry time.
We’ve also cut our toilet paper usage down to negligible amounts by installing an electric bidet. Again, one of those things that seems a bit weird at first, but pretty soon you’re wondering how you ever got along without it. Plus, my toilet looks like I could use it to captain the Starship Enterprise.
http://www.neoseats.com/
Decaturites might like to know that we at Whit’s End just added a line of summer footwear made from recycled products. Very comfortable and affordable too. They are called Rafters. Come check em out!
I use my own coffee mug. I drink way too much coffee, so I’m sure I reduce a ton just by using it. It saves money also since most places knock off .10 or so for using your own mug.
We use the reusable bags for groceries, too. And when we end up with plastic bags, as we invariably do sometimes, we use those for picking up after the dog instead of buying the separate bags for the leash.
I’m starting a vegetable garden with my daughter. Part of that will be doing our own compost. I’m excited about teaching her and reducing yet even more.
Our church recently did away with disposable coffee cups. Over time, so many people have left mugs (literally hundreds) that we decided to use the mugs.
We walk as much as we can when going out and going out to eat. Since we moved to Decatur our annual mileage has gone from 15,000 per year on each of two cars to 8,000 per year on each of two cars. Amazing what a difference it can make by just doing as much as you can locally.
I know we can do better. What other ideas are there?
Don’t try taking you own bags to YDFM.
totally, you should never walk out of the pharmacy with your prescriptions in a bag…or gum in a bag etc. I recently left a company where i had hundreds of green bags made with my name and their logo on there. I have literally hundreds if anyone can think of a good way to get them out. I am happy to donate them.
Sure you can. On days when they are not busy you can usually get them in without checking them if you have them in the seat of the cart. And even if you do check them it’s usually pretty fast to get them back.
YDFM is the worst for bag usage. If you don’t bring your own you wind up with on item per bag.
I fold them up and put them in my purse, or hide them under my sweater/jacket/shirt. I’m serious! I would stop going there (or anywhere) before I would walk out with an item in a plastic bag.
I’m not sure why so many people have trouble with bags at YDFM. I hand my bags to a person behind the counter as soon as I walk in the store, who hands me a claim check…when I’m done, I stop by the counter, hand them my claim check, and by the time I wheel my cart around to where the bags are kept, more often than not the person who took my claim check is standing there with my bags in their hand. The drop off/pick up adds maybe thirty seconds to my shopping trip.