recycling

Now that we’ve all made the commitment to recycle it seems we need to learn a million different kinds of recyclables.  Well, really only 7 but man oh man this gets exhausting!  Who knew there were so many different kinds of plastic?

If you’ve never done this, go get a plastic container out of your fridge and look at the bottom.  You should see a pyramid shape with a number in the center.  The number is a code that tells recyclers what kind of plastic they are dealing with and what can be done with it. 

My community accepts 1,2,3,4,5,7.  Does anybody know what happens with the #6 if I just throw it in the recycle bin? 

Here’s a snapshot of what each simple means but I’d recommend reading the article linked below from The Daily Green.

Here’s a really great article from one of my favorite sites The Daily Green that explains what each recyclable is turned into.  If you read it, be sure to click the Digg button to show your appreciation for the article.  I found it very helpful.

image courtesy of zondron

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over 2 billion disposable razors end up in landfills every year. 

Now, I suppose the absolute greenest thing to do would be to just stop shaving my legs, but, ew!  I’ve probably been shaving since I was around 13.  Let’s just say that I’ve used one disposable razor every week since then.  That means I’ve contributed almost 1500 disposable razors to the landfill by myself.  Shame on me!

Well, my relationship with disposable razors ends today.  I purchased this great Preserve razor from Whole Foods but you can also find them at Target.  This razor has a triple blade so my legs are ultra smooth after using it. 

The Preserve razor handle is made from recycled material and is completely recyclable. 

From the package: 100%recycled plastics in handle with at least 65% recycled Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups.

You can also mail back the handles postage paid by printing out the label at their website. 

My triple razor cost around $7.00 which is about the same price as other reusable razors.  They also make recyclable ones in packs of 4 if you just cant bring yourself to buy the reusable one.  I also love the ergonomically shaped handle which means I’ll cut myself way less. 

What do you shave with?

Last year when I started gardening, I discovered one of those plastic grocery bags while digging a hole for my plant.  I have no idea how long it had been buried there, but I’ve lived in this house for almost 5 years and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t my buried bag.  According to National Geographic, those plastic bags can take hundreds of years to decompose and when they finally do, they release tiny bits of toxins into the soil (or lakes or whereever the end up). 

To keep these plastic bags from messing up the environment, we’re supposed to bring reusable bags to the grocery store.  I never remember to do this and it’s one of the things I really hate about myself.  The picture above is my broom closet.  It’s the worst room in my house.  In fact, when I told my boyfriend that I was planning to publish a picture of our broom closet on the Internet, he really freaked out.  I don’t blame him - it’s horribly embarrassing.

Ever since I dug up that old plastic bag in the yard, buying groceries nearly sends me into a panic attack.  I never think about the bags until I’m checking out and I hear that crackle of the plastic bag when the bagger snatches open the first one.  Furthering my guilt, the bagger only puts 2-3 items in each bag and double-bags the milk.  I stand there anxious, trying to prevent myself from lecturing the bagger about environmental issues because I realize that would make me look crazy, and mean.   Then I load all forty million bags in my trunk cursing myself all the way home for not remembering the reusable grocery bags.

Once the bags come home with me, they go in the bag (broom) closet to be reused as bathroom trash bags and lunch bags and even though it doesn’t look like it, many of them go in the recycle bin.   I hope the Green Gods appreciate that I have good intentions even though I’m forgetful.

Here’s a cool site that’ll tell you every horrible detail about the evil plastic bags, how you can take action against them and some cool reusable bags.

Do you BYO canvas grocery bags, or do you have a secret grocery bag closet?