I am definitely more into this resolution than Bret. We are currently on vacation. He decided we could be a little lax about our trash. I have convinced him otherwise.
However, we did not have any of our grocery items (produce bags, shopping bags, plastic containers) nor do we know the lay of the land well. We found a Fresh Market, but they didn't have organic milk in a bottle. So we could have gotten gross milk in a recyclable plastic bottle or organic milk in a non-recyclable carton. I chose the carton. When we have to go between helping the environment and helping animals, I will choose animals every time. You might say one purchase makes no difference, but I can't live my life that way. If one action changes nothing, what is the point of anything? I'd rather be an idealist than live a life without hope for the future.
Our renewed problem is going out to eat and getting straws. So we have racked up some straws on this trip. We MUST remember to ask for no straws. It is shocking how many people just put the straw in the drink for you. So unnecessary.
So we made no trash on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday's trash was due to a miscommunication Bret went to get me a chai from Panera while I waited in the car with Audrey. I gave him my to-go cup, but he didn't know he had to give it to the barista when he ordered. He told the guy he had his own coffee mug and the guy I guess thought he meant he was going to go put the self-serve coffee in it for he never asked for the mug. The cup was paper, but the lid was plastic. It will go in our "ours" pile because I really should have gone in to get my own chai.
It is also hard ot keep audrey from making trash. She wanted jelly on her bread and one of my nephews' juice boxes. How do we deny her what they have when we are all together. So I made trash.
Lord love a duck! This resolution is trying.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Week 2 in Review
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| HIS |
As promised, here is the 2013 trash heaps broken down by participant.
As you can see I am winning. I will try to get 2 boxes of the same size or something so you can compare in the future. This way, I do not need to tell you daily what trash we each made. The weekly picture will speak for itself. (and show me winning)
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| HERS |
I am still pretty excited about our experiment.
We have decided to see in a few months what is not breaking down in the compost. It will be interesting to see what, if any, additional trash that will make. We put a LOT in the compost. We will keep you com-posted (ha!) so you can adjust y our own compost pile accordingly.
You do compost, right?
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| OURS |
And I have discovered the best way to deal with dog poop is to work really long hours and never walk the dogs. That way, they poop in the house and I pick it up with toilet paper and flush it and it becomes bio-solids. No run-off, no plastic bag!!!
Ok, I do not recommend you try this at home, but it is the way life has been going this week. As soon as it stops raining (it is going on 2 days now), I will walk both dogs. Poor things.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Day 12, 13 and 14: Smooshed Tomato
Must-do Website: https://www.dmachoice.org/ get off of junk mailing lists. Be sure to follow the link to opt out of credit card offers as well.
Today, I need to play "catch up" (smooshed tomato=ketchup=catch up-- get it? get it? )
Saturday, we rediscovered earth911.com. It really is the best jumping off point for anyone who wants to make an eco-difference. For us, it helped us where to recycle lots of additional things. All of my non-can aluminum is recyclable. I just need to take it to a center.
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| not pictured; Bret's mint wrapper |
Sunday, Bret got us both off all the junk mailing lists he could and signed us up for paperless billing on all accounts. We have agreed to count the plastic windows in the envelopes we get in the mail as trash against us--because it does end up in a landfill. (When paper is recycled, these windows are discarded). But no trash for either of us on Sunday.
Monday, I got a WaWa breakfast sandwich. I purposely went to WaWa because they wrap their stuff in butcher paper-- totally compostable (not recyclable because it is food contaminated) However, my sandwich maker put a little plastic sheet around half of my hoagie. Bret started his new job and ate a int after lunch to not offend the people he wwas meeting. A was given a York Peppermint Patty by our server at dinner. I couldn't be rude, so we accepted the trash.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Day 11: Snacks
Today's Trash (Sapna): 3 Apple Stickers! Not fair!
Today's Trash (Bret): None. He did not leave the house today to avoid a repeat of yesterday.
I went to an all-day training at work today. They often give us snacks at these things and today they were even providing lunch. Just in case these options were not trash-free, I decided to take my own little stash of food. BUT MY APPLE WAS COVERED IN STICKERS!!!! So this is my trash for the day. I didn't even eat the very tempting candy in the middle of my table because I did not want to be responsible for the trash. Maybe this resolution will help me get down to my fighting weight because I always have to pass up candy and teachers come across a lot of it.
Update on 2012 trash: We are not going to photograph it. We are going to focus on our 2013 trash. The "his" and "hers" trash heap breakdown will be photographed this weekend.
Today's Trash (Bret): None. He did not leave the house today to avoid a repeat of yesterday.
Update on 2012 trash: We are not going to photograph it. We are going to focus on our 2013 trash. The "his" and "hers" trash heap breakdown will be photographed this weekend.
Day 10: Forgetful Mind/ Lost Mind
I totally forgot about my bad paper cut yesterday. I had to use 3 band-aids. I reached into a bin to get a book out at school and sliced my fingers against the pages of another book. There was blood and I was working with students so I dressed my wounds and made trash. I put the packaging in my pocket, but by the time I got home-- only one little backing was left.In my excitement about the green packaging, I forgot about the tape on the box I got in the mail yesterday.
So I made no trash today, but forgot about some I made yesterday.
Bret LOST his mind today. Did I ever tell you that this trash-free resolution was all his idea??? Well, today he went crazy and made a bunch of preventable trash. And he tried to justify it all. He has taken the week off before he starts his new job on Monday. He realized that the week is almost over and he just had to really let loose. He went wild and crazy and bought cupcakes AND an eggroll--in plastic and styrofoam respectively. And the eggroll came with a plastic cup of dipping sauce. Apparently, the cupcakes were for A to help her be brave for her 'flu shot and he was going to eat the eggroll at the restaurant, but then he got a call and had to go. He totally dropped the ball.
So I am going to play on his weakness. This trash-free thing is now an on-going competition. We are going to split the trash heap into "his" and "hers" and not just compare our trash daily. Bret refuses to lose, but so do I. Who are you going to put your money on?
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Day 9: Packaging Products
Today, I made only apple sticker of trash. It was a close call, though. I got some textbooks in the mail and, when I opened the box, they were wrapped in green bubble bags. I was distraught! But the bags are made out of biodegradable materials. Saved by green packaging!
Bret made trash. He bought something in the pictured plastic container. He is going to try to recycle it-- but we are both doubtful. It is a hard plastic-- like they used to make tape cases out of.
Humans really need to fight for green packaging. Too bad companies need to sell their products and turn a profit. So much waste in making things look appealing...
Bret made trash. He bought something in the pictured plastic container. He is going to try to recycle it-- but we are both doubtful. It is a hard plastic-- like they used to make tape cases out of.
Humans really need to fight for green packaging. Too bad companies need to sell their products and turn a profit. So much waste in making things look appealing...
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Day 8: Brought to You by the Number 5
Today's winner: The environment! We made no trash!
Mood: Happy!
Business to Support: Whole Foods
Why am I so happy?
#1--We made no trash. I mean, my apple sticker was nowhere to be found (sometimes I accidentally eat it because I forget to take it off). And I am convinced that the foil lid from my yogurt is recyclable if I can only find the right facility. So there is a pile of foil in the kitchen. But it will not count as trash until I actually throw it away.
#2--the plastic lids on all of my vitamins and medicines are made out of plastic 5--which we already determined could be recycled at Whole Foods!!! Actually, most bottle caps are made out of plastic 5. So don't throw them away! And the Whole Foods recycling thing is totally legit. Go here to find out more. Then do your part and recycle your plastic 5!
Mood: Happy!
Business to Support: Whole Foods
Why am I so happy?
#1--We made no trash. I mean, my apple sticker was nowhere to be found (sometimes I accidentally eat it because I forget to take it off). And I am convinced that the foil lid from my yogurt is recyclable if I can only find the right facility. So there is a pile of foil in the kitchen. But it will not count as trash until I actually throw it away.
#2--the plastic lids on all of my vitamins and medicines are made out of plastic 5--which we already determined could be recycled at Whole Foods!!! Actually, most bottle caps are made out of plastic 5. So don't throw them away! And the Whole Foods recycling thing is totally legit. Go here to find out more. Then do your part and recycle your plastic 5!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Day 7: A Trashy Week in Review
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| The pit bull likes to pose with the trash. |
Level of Frustration: Minimal
Bags of Trash: half of a grocery bag
Major Lifestyle Changes: Eat out less, carry own to-go containers, no ramen noodles
So it has been a full 7 days of our experiment. Things aren't going perfectly, but we have made progress. Most importantly, Bret and I have not killed/maimed/ flipped out on each other...yet. Creating no trash keeps us constantly thinking and constantly adjusting choices. We have been watching out for each other and gently reminding one another when a trashy choice is about to be made. Except when we both forget-- as in the sample cup scandal of Saturday.
Today's trash: another apple sticker. I see no way around this other than picking my own apples. Maybe the local apples at Ellwood's are sticker-free. But I always buy the organic apples...and they always have stickers. I will check out the local ones next time I am there. Until then, expect at least and apple sticker a day in trash.
Today's trash picture features the trash from all week. I am not including the aluminum pans because I am not giving up hope that we will find a place to recycle those. I am also not including the the 4 bags of rottweiler poop I picked up because that is just gross. (And I threw them away as soon as they were created)
Our main issue so far is trash-making policies. Pharmacies cannot reuse our bottles, Lowe's employees are required to put purchased keys into a labelled bag, the vet's office insists of cleaning between patients (ok, I am fine with this one).
Our main source of trash is food packaging. The biggest trash-maker was our trip to Moe's even though we ordered everything for eat-in and _tried_ to make sure no trash was being made. That will continue to be a struggle.
The non-edible compost is already too big. One trade-off in the rules has already been made. But all in all, I think we did well. We will see how we fare as our 2012 products dwindle and we have to buy more dog food, detergent, deodorant, birthday gifts, etc.
Day 6: A Swap
Today's Winner: Sapna (the sticker off my apple) (which I offered to eat)
Today's Loser: Bret (packaging for a aquarium filter, the window from a pasta box, the weird plastic they now put at the tops of bunches of bananas
Next Research Topic: Where can we recycle aluminum foil?
New rule: Trash making purchases will be photographed when used (e.g. lids to Rxs will be depicted as trash when they are going to be thrown away)
After being locked outside of the house with the WHOLE family (Bret, Sapna, A, rottweiler and pit bull) for a little under 2 hours, I have decided to make a swap. I will buy the reusable tampons and pads. In exchange, I reserve the right to bag and dispose of dog poop when we are not at home. The vet visit got me thinking...the walk confirmed my preferences. I just can't walk around with a bucket of poop for however long to bring it home to the compost pile. So, I will adjust the rules. Dog bathroom trash is off limits; female bathroom trash is counted (but not to be pictured).
Right now all that is going down the drain other than human waste is toilet paper. I guess occasionally a little food slips down the garbage disposal when we wash dishes. Oh! and soap and shampoo and stuff. We are doing our best to buy more eco-friendly soaps and scrape off as much food as possible. Bret even looked into reusable toilet paper. But that will increase laundry so much, that it is not going to be more environmental.
What a poopy dilemma.
Today's Loser: Bret (packaging for a aquarium filter, the window from a pasta box, the weird plastic they now put at the tops of bunches of bananas
Next Research Topic: Where can we recycle aluminum foil?
New rule: Trash making purchases will be photographed when used (e.g. lids to Rxs will be depicted as trash when they are going to be thrown away)
After being locked outside of the house with the WHOLE family (Bret, Sapna, A, rottweiler and pit bull) for a little under 2 hours, I have decided to make a swap. I will buy the reusable tampons and pads. In exchange, I reserve the right to bag and dispose of dog poop when we are not at home. The vet visit got me thinking...the walk confirmed my preferences. I just can't walk around with a bucket of poop for however long to bring it home to the compost pile. So, I will adjust the rules. Dog bathroom trash is off limits; female bathroom trash is counted (but not to be pictured).Right now all that is going down the drain other than human waste is toilet paper. I guess occasionally a little food slips down the garbage disposal when we wash dishes. Oh! and soap and shampoo and stuff. We are doing our best to buy more eco-friendly soaps and scrape off as much food as possible. Bret even looked into reusable toilet paper. But that will increase laundry so much, that it is not going to be more environmental.
What a poopy dilemma.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Day 5: A Trip to the Grocery Store
Today's lesson: People who do not want to make trash need to learn how to cook EVERYTHING
Today's winner: plastic lids. they are everywhere!
Today's discovery: Whole Foods recycles plastic #5!!!
We made our first grocery trip of 2013. It was a bizarre shopping experience. We did not focus on what we needed or wanted, we focused on what products we could buy and not make any trash. The answer?: not much. We ended up getting some fruits and vegetables, a can of tomatoes to make our own pasta sauce, some spaghetti in a cardboard box (the tiny plastic window will be trash), and milk in a glass bottle (the plastic lid will be trash). We perused the bulk foods and I think we will be eating a lot of rice, lentils, granola, nuts, and bulgur in the future. mmmm....
All we can eat are fresh fruits and vegetables, canned items, and bulk products--grains, nuts, beans, honey, legumes, and dried fruit. Yes, we can live well off of all of that. We even will be a lot healthier. But I am sad that I can't get the cereals I like or an easy-to-make dinner in a box (because they always have plastic bags inside) And it is going to be a lot of work. Or be very expensive. I am going to have to start baking my own bread or paying a lot of money to get it from a bakery in order to avoid plastic bags. We are going to have to accept that spaghetti comes with a plastic window or only buy it from the expensive farmer's market in the non-winter month or make it ourselves.
At least we found out plastic #5 is recyclable. This opens up the world of yogurt, butter tubs, chinese takeout soup, etc. to us. And hopefully sample cups. We got drawn into a beautiful spiel about a beautiful sample and took the little plastic cup filled with deliciousness before we even realized the trashy implications.
So today's trash--- 2 aluminum taco wrappers from Bret and A's lunch, 4 sample cups (A grabbed 2 samples), the plastic lid that I didn't want on my queso, the plastic container my guacamole unexpectedly came it, and the plastic lid that I did not want on the hot chocolate I got for Audrey. Lesson learned. I have asking for a drink without a straw down pat. Now I need to remember to ask
what sort of container I will be served in.
Medicine is still a problem. I went to Target to refill a prescription. oh! I discovered the way to tell people about what we are doing. How does this sound? "My husband and I are doing and experiment is extreme environmentalism"--well, it is the line I used on the pharmacy tech before asking her to reuse my old pill bottles. She couldn't--against policy or health code or something-- but it was easy for me to say without feeling foolish AND she gave me the name of an organization that might be able to help. So more research...but I think my phrase is succinct and respectable.
Still researching. Still learning lots. Still excited about the possibilities.
Today's winner: plastic lids. they are everywhere!
Today's discovery: Whole Foods recycles plastic #5!!!
 | ||
| Not pictures: 4 tiny sample cups, 1 tiny spoon |
All we can eat are fresh fruits and vegetables, canned items, and bulk products--grains, nuts, beans, honey, legumes, and dried fruit. Yes, we can live well off of all of that. We even will be a lot healthier. But I am sad that I can't get the cereals I like or an easy-to-make dinner in a box (because they always have plastic bags inside) And it is going to be a lot of work. Or be very expensive. I am going to have to start baking my own bread or paying a lot of money to get it from a bakery in order to avoid plastic bags. We are going to have to accept that spaghetti comes with a plastic window or only buy it from the expensive farmer's market in the non-winter month or make it ourselves.
At least we found out plastic #5 is recyclable. This opens up the world of yogurt, butter tubs, chinese takeout soup, etc. to us. And hopefully sample cups. We got drawn into a beautiful spiel about a beautiful sample and took the little plastic cup filled with deliciousness before we even realized the trashy implications.
So today's trash--- 2 aluminum taco wrappers from Bret and A's lunch, 4 sample cups (A grabbed 2 samples), the plastic lid that I didn't want on my queso, the plastic container my guacamole unexpectedly came it, and the plastic lid that I did not want on the hot chocolate I got for Audrey. Lesson learned. I have asking for a drink without a straw down pat. Now I need to remember to ask
what sort of container I will be served in.
Medicine is still a problem. I went to Target to refill a prescription. oh! I discovered the way to tell people about what we are doing. How does this sound? "My husband and I are doing and experiment is extreme environmentalism"--well, it is the line I used on the pharmacy tech before asking her to reuse my old pill bottles. She couldn't--against policy or health code or something-- but it was easy for me to say without feeling foolish AND she gave me the name of an organization that might be able to help. So more research...but I think my phrase is succinct and respectable.
Still researching. Still learning lots. Still excited about the possibilities.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Day 4: The Gift of Trash
Today's lesson: we do not create much trash, but we cause lots of trash to be created.
Today was Bret's last day of work. He has next week off and then he starts his new job.
Work loves Bret. Love=trash. One old lady baked Bret a bunch of cupcakes. She gave them to him in 2 aluminum trays with plastic lids. We are looking into recycling the aluminum. Our curbside only picks it up in can form. But the plastic lids are definitely trash. How could he say no, though? If an act of love creates trash, so be it.
My mother gave me some trash as well. She always buys way too much food and then tries to unload it on me. If we are lucky, she does this before the expiration date. I try not to enable her and mostly refuse her food. I figure one day she is going to feel guilty about all the food she wastes. However,
this excess has been going on since I moved out in 1996. She still shops for 5 when only 2 live in the house now. Old habits die hard. Anyway, she had a lot of yogurt. The kind A likes. So I took it because my mom won't eat it. So now I have some unrecyclable plastic #5 containers. It was bought in 2012, so technically, it does not count.
As Anne (of Green Gables fame) once said, "I know I chatter on far too much... but if you only knew how many things I want to say and don't. Give me some credit." I feel this way now about trash. This experiment has me really thinking about my purchases and making better decisions. I know it is only day 4, but already I didn't get a drink at the mall, or get fast food for lunch, or buy some socks that I didn't really need but thought were cute--all because of the packaging they came in. So I know I am creating trash, but if you only knew how much trash I am _not_ creating, you'd be proud.
Today was Bret's last day of work. He has next week off and then he starts his new job.
Work loves Bret. Love=trash. One old lady baked Bret a bunch of cupcakes. She gave them to him in 2 aluminum trays with plastic lids. We are looking into recycling the aluminum. Our curbside only picks it up in can form. But the plastic lids are definitely trash. How could he say no, though? If an act of love creates trash, so be it.
this excess has been going on since I moved out in 1996. She still shops for 5 when only 2 live in the house now. Old habits die hard. Anyway, she had a lot of yogurt. The kind A likes. So I took it because my mom won't eat it. So now I have some unrecyclable plastic #5 containers. It was bought in 2012, so technically, it does not count.
As Anne (of Green Gables fame) once said, "I know I chatter on far too much... but if you only knew how many things I want to say and don't. Give me some credit." I feel this way now about trash. This experiment has me really thinking about my purchases and making better decisions. I know it is only day 4, but already I didn't get a drink at the mall, or get fast food for lunch, or buy some socks that I didn't really need but thought were cute--all because of the packaging they came in. So I know I am creating trash, but if you only knew how much trash I am _not_ creating, you'd be proud.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Day 3: Vet Visit
Today's Winner: it's a draw really.
Today's lesson: medical waste is massive
Next Goal: get over feeling foolish.
We will have to revert to pioneer medicine to be trash-free. I took the rottweiler to the vet today for his annual check-up. Other than a UTI and the start of cataracts he is doing a-ok. However, the vet visit produced trash and a situation I could not deal with.
The vet tech cleaned the examining room with spray and paper towels before we entered. All those paper towels went into the trash. I guess I should have rooted through the trash to get them out after she left so I could compost them, but --quite frankly-- I have no interest in seeing the inside of a vet's trash can. The needle used to draw the dog's blood was packed in plastic wrap to keep it sterile. That was trash I definitely should have asked for to add to my pile....but how do I ask? "Oh. Don't throw that away. I need that!" Then I will have to explain why and feel totally foolish. I guess that is the rub. I have got to get over feeling foolish because I really do believe in this experiment. And I don't really care what people in general think about me. But in the moment, those are not the thoughts that come to my brain.
For the UTI, the vet gave me pills in a plastic bottle with an unrecyclable lid. By this time, I felt down and out. I just took it and left full of questions. How do I tell people about this without taking too much time or sounding crazy? What do I do when I visit my people doctors with their disposable gloves, swabs, needles, everythings? Should I give up on western medicine? Will my pharmacy reuse my pill bottles?
And then I panicked into error. On the way back to the car, the dog pooped. I had to make a decision between creating trash (bag it and dump it) or riding 30 minutes back to my house (with 2 errands needing to be run on the way) with poop in a plastic container as well as 2 dogs and a 3 year old or just leaving it. Well, the last option seemed like a cop out and I pride myself on being a responsible pet owner. The second option seemed unbearably stinky with a potential for lots of complaining. So I went the easy way out and made trash. The bag I used was from 2012, but the poop wasn't.
Bret caved and ate a individually wrapped chocolate from the Christmas stash in the break room at work. So he made trash too. Definitely less trash than my vet visit created, but for more personal reasons. Totally preventable. So we will call today a draw.
Today's lesson: medical waste is massive
Next Goal: get over feeling foolish.
We will have to revert to pioneer medicine to be trash-free. I took the rottweiler to the vet today for his annual check-up. Other than a UTI and the start of cataracts he is doing a-ok. However, the vet visit produced trash and a situation I could not deal with.
The vet tech cleaned the examining room with spray and paper towels before we entered. All those paper towels went into the trash. I guess I should have rooted through the trash to get them out after she left so I could compost them, but --quite frankly-- I have no interest in seeing the inside of a vet's trash can. The needle used to draw the dog's blood was packed in plastic wrap to keep it sterile. That was trash I definitely should have asked for to add to my pile....but how do I ask? "Oh. Don't throw that away. I need that!" Then I will have to explain why and feel totally foolish. I guess that is the rub. I have got to get over feeling foolish because I really do believe in this experiment. And I don't really care what people in general think about me. But in the moment, those are not the thoughts that come to my brain.
For the UTI, the vet gave me pills in a plastic bottle with an unrecyclable lid. By this time, I felt down and out. I just took it and left full of questions. How do I tell people about this without taking too much time or sounding crazy? What do I do when I visit my people doctors with their disposable gloves, swabs, needles, everythings? Should I give up on western medicine? Will my pharmacy reuse my pill bottles?
And then I panicked into error. On the way back to the car, the dog pooped. I had to make a decision between creating trash (bag it and dump it) or riding 30 minutes back to my house (with 2 errands needing to be run on the way) with poop in a plastic container as well as 2 dogs and a 3 year old or just leaving it. Well, the last option seemed like a cop out and I pride myself on being a responsible pet owner. The second option seemed unbearably stinky with a potential for lots of complaining. So I went the easy way out and made trash. The bag I used was from 2012, but the poop wasn't.
Bret caved and ate a individually wrapped chocolate from the Christmas stash in the break room at work. So he made trash too. Definitely less trash than my vet visit created, but for more personal reasons. Totally preventable. So we will call today a draw.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Day 2: Post about Compost
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| "Who individually wraps pretzels?" asks Bret |
Today's Winner: Sapna!!!
2012 trash: oh yes. pictures at week's end
Compost: mostly dog hair
Queries: What is admissible down the drain?
I made no trash today! The only "stuff" I used were a paper napkin and chopsticks. The wrapper the chopsticks came in was paper and, therefore, recyclable. The chopsticks and napkin will compost.
Bringing us to the issue of compost. We have been composting food items, kleenex, lint, etc. Bret read up on how to safely compost dog poop. The verdict on dog poop is that it can be composted as long as it is in a hole in the ground (to prevent runoff before it has broken down) and as long as the end result is not used on food plants. I read up on reusable tampons (still wigged out about this) and they mentioned the toxins associated with the bleaching process. I was never going to compost tampons, but this made us think that maybe our (2012 purchased) kleenex might not be food-safe either. So now we must have 2 compost piles. I furminated the rottweiler yesterday and got a full bucket of hair--that is going to go in this new compost pile because I am pretty sure dog hair does not make for nutritious soil. But here is the problem--between Bret's allergies and the dogs' pooping and shedding--this non-edible compost (you know what I mean) pile will be HUGE and might not break down to soil as quickly as I would like. We are going to have a hairy, snotty, poopy pile in the backyard. This marks the end of our backyard cookouts.
Bret made today's only trash. He fell victim to a treat basket in the break room at work. He unwrapped and consumed a chocolate covered pretzel before he realized what he was doing. Frankly, I am glad. His self-righteousness over my mess-up yesterday was getting unbearable. This stopped his "more-environmental-than-thou" attitude.
The question of the day is, however, what can go down the drain? I started this whole endeavor with the caveat that bathroom trash would remain status quo---but could there be another way?? I am already wavering on my tampon resolution-- now I am starting to feel guilty about flushing toilet paper. The internet offers alternatives--but this increases laundry and is just not pretty.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Day 1: Habits
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| Today's Trash |
New Trash: 3 items (5 distinct pieces)
2012 Trash: lots (we unpacked some Xmas toys for A)
Today's winner: Bret
Moral of the day: drink your coffee black
We went out for breakfast today and I created all of the above depicted trash without even thinking. That was the problem-- some motions are so ingrained that I didn't even realize I made our first trash until Bret pointed it out.
I ordered coffee and 2 waffles and 2 waters for A and me.
First, my coffee arrived. I emptied one little creamer into my coffee like always--and Bret says "You lose." (We had made a bet to see who would make the first trash of the new year.) I didn't even realize I was doing it. I guess I will have to carry my own milk supply or drink my coffee black. Or only have coffee at home. Sigh.
Then our waters came. Because she is only 3, they put A's water in a styrofoam cup with a plastic straw (I had the foresight to order my water without a straw--even though I felt foolish). Upsetting. I do not 100% agree that I am to blame here, but I will chalk it up to a learning experience. Kids are our responsibility; her trash is our trash.
Then the food. How could a waffle come with plastic? I will tell you how-- butter. They put the butter in a disposable plastic mini cup. I didn't want my butter to come in a little unrecyclable plastic cup, but it did and I must take full responsibility. All things to think about in the future. Sigh.
Bret is sitting here and monologging about the various ways he can reuse the trash I made today. He is definitely going off the deep end with this. Sigh.
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