Don't throw that away!
Tiffany Washko, NatureMoms.com
The 3Rs of environmentalism are Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Recycle usually gets the most attention in the media but Reusing is my personal favorite. Why put all your energies into recycling your garbage when you can just create less garbage in the first place?
Reuse plastic bags from the grocery store or buy canvas bags to use instead of plastic ones. Use real plates, cups, and utensils instead of plastic. Reusables can be very fashionable and fun. Let me tell you about some of my favorite reusable items:
The Basura Bag: This grocery bag is a favorite. Basura bags are handmade using colorful recycled juice containers to form cool, one-of-a-kind styles. The totes are made in the Philippines by a women's cooperative, using used juice containers purchased through a network of local school children. Indestructible and non-biodegradable by nature, foil juice packs clog landfills, fields and streets throughout the Philippines. Using clever designs that combine the material's strength and brilliant colors, the co-op helps keep the environment clean via this very cool method of recycling.
The Laptop Lunch Box: The Laptop Lunch Bento Box is a lead-free tested lunch kit that enables parents to pack wholesome, low-waste meals for their kids. It uses a very cool bento box inspired setup that includes a snap shut tray housing 5 colorful FDA-approved microwave safe food containers and stainless steel utensils. It also includes an educational and comprehensive "User's Guide," with healthy lunch recipes and tips for reducing waste.
The Klean Kanteen Water Bottle: Klean Kanteen is a reusable, risk-free stainless steel container that does not leach toxins into its contents. Recent studies link toxins such as Bisphenol A (BPA) to breast cancers and reproductive mutations. Plastics leach carcinogens including BPA during regular use, exposure to heat and especially after cleaning. From manufacturing to use and disposal, plastics pollute our health and environment. If you want a stainless tell cup for your little one you might try a stainless steel sippy cup from Foogo.
The Wrap-N-Mat: Simply fold around sandwiches, veggie sticks, cookies and other goodies, fold the cotton wrapper closed, secure with the Velcro closure, and they're ready to go. To top it off, these smart reusable sandwich wrappers unfold into placemats! The FDA approved food grade PEVA lining easily wipes clean after every use and is certified by the manufacturer to be totally lead-free. They're durable and will give you hundreds and hundreds of reuses.
All products mentioned above can be purchased at Reusable Bags.
Reusing items and giving them another life is a great way to avoid landfill waste and the fact that so many stylish reusables are on the market today makes it even easier for the green mom to make a commitment to environmentally conscious living.
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I'm in the UK and would like to buy these things, anyone know of a supplier?
I really love your great ideas. I've always wanted to get into recycling. I go on line to do research on it but there are no websites based on recycling that I've seen. SO, I'm going to turn to books on recycling. Will you please tell me some info on recycling until I can get some books. Thanks.
Instead of putting food waste ie vegetable peel in the trash can I put into a container in my garden and let it rot down. This takes from 6 months to a year and I get free compost for my garden. If you do not have room for a compost heap try a bin with a tight fitting lid. Paper can be recycled in the same way as can grass cuttings and most all garden waste. If you use a bin and cut a hole in the side at the bottom then put a pipe in with a bucket underneath you can collect liquid fertilizer which you can dilute with equal volume of water then put it on your plants instead of commercial fertilizer thus getting free plant food. eve
The Bisphenol A risk is linked to drink containers made of polycarbonate. In fact, just last month, Nalgene bottles made from this material were removed from the shelves of a major retailer in Canada: http://www.tipsofallsorts.com/health/plastics/polycarbonate-bottles-removed-from-shelves/
If you are interested you might like to read - Warning On BPA Found In Plastics
The Bisphenol A risk is linked to drink containers made of polycarbonate. In fact, just last month, Nalgene bottles made from this material were removed from the shelves of a major retailer in Canada: http://www.tipsofallsorts.com/health/plastics/polycarbonate-bottles-removed-from-shelves/
If you are interested you might like to read - Warning On BPA Found In Plastics
Just wondering if you've ever seen a mine... mining isn't exactly "green"
Is old tupperware safe ?
Global warming is real. It will bring about more huanitarian crisis. It will cause more innocent children to starve and die. We are all partly to blame for this. We need to get our BOTTOM LINE ENERGY CONSUMPTION down to a reasonable standard. Don't expect any celebrity to set a good example. They will NEVER compromise their extravogant lifestyles. Not Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, Bill, Ellen, Lebron, Johnny, or Paul. They will ALWAYS squander energy like there is no tomorrow. Oprah owns a dozen mansions all over the world and personal jets. She travels the world extensively. Brad and Angie have already booked their seats on the first 'space tourism' flight. John has his own personal airport and 2 full size jet liners. So don't fall for this 'just make one change' CRAP. That is nothing but a cheap comment made by celebrities to excuse their OBSCENE consumption of resources. Like I said. They will not compromize their extravogant lifestyles. Not for global warming, the energy crisis, or the good of humanity. NEVER. NEVER. NEVER. So don't follow their disgusting example. Don't fall for their PR CRAP. They will say whatever it takes to keep their 'humanitarian' image. But they will NEVER make any real sacrifice. Eco friendly toilet paper is all fine and dandy. But we need to get that BOTTOM LINE CONSUMPTION OF RESOURCES down to a reasonable standard. Otherwise, our grandchildren will live and die in shattered world.
I love this article. May I feature it in my blog (and will definitely credit you)? Thanks in advance!
Regards,
Ria
Oh, btw, those "basura" bags from my country is really very chic! The bags are colorful and sewed in a very neat manner which can pass as a normal tote bag.
I bought a truckload of Klean Kanteens for my family and we all use them now. My 2-year old loved them from day one and finds it very novel to keep opening and closing the bottle and drinking from it.
I love the Reisenthal and Envirosax bags, and always carry at least one with me. We haven't taken a plastic bag for a really long time.
For snacks we use reusable glass bottles, all packed in a Built NY neoprene bag.
Yeah all bought from Reusablebags.com too.
Hi Tiffany,
This blog is amazing! It's so inspiring to hear about people raising children in an environment that teaches responsibility and sustainable practices from the very beginning. I'll definitely be doing the same when I have my own kids!
Anyway, I'm here because I'm working with the Center for Health, Environment & Justice on a National Day of Action for their Disney Go Green! campaign (http://www.chej.org/disney/dayofaction.htm). The campaign is aiming to get green cleaning products in Disney parks, hotels, and restaurants, where children and employees face a great deal of exposure to toxics.
I wondered if you or any of your fellow contributors would be willing to help us spread the word about the National Day of Action (Oct. 29) through your blog so we can put even more pressure on Disney to provide a safe environment for our children. I'd be happy to answer questions or write up a blurb if the information on the website doesn't help! Feel free to email me at rcvoss@gmail.com. Thanks!
Rachel Voss
Intern, CHEJ
I wanted to send an email out to you guys so maybe you can help others. I purchased a Go Green product from a website called power2savings. At first I were skeptical of there product but I was intrigued on a 60 day money back guarantee. I installed the unit in August and in October I seen a 12% reduction in my energy bill from the month before and a 14 % reduction ($73.00 savings) in my bill from October of 2007 (just to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges) I would recommend this product to anyone who has an electric bill. ANYONE.
One of the ways I've found to reduce the amount of garbage that I send to the landfill is to give away things that I don't want anymore but still could be useful to someone else. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. I like Listasaurus.com, a free classifieds web site. I list my items in "free stuff" and whoever needs it can come pick it up. Plus, I get paid a quarter for the ads I place. I've given away old toys, vacuum cleaners, baby items and even Christmas decorations. It's cool because I can add a video to show that the "junk" I'm giving away still actually works. It makes me feel good knowing I'm saving the stuff from the landfill. Every little bit helps!