Today's world, at least my world, is presenting me with a huge challenge. RECYCLE is the word of 2008. Oh, yes, I know the term has been around for a long time, but this year I feel the need to really make an effort to do my part.
My shopping list often includes bottled water, sports drink and multiple gallons of milk. Also included is cereal, at least three kinds at a time, meat in Styrofoam liners, muffins in cardboard boxes and loaves of bread in those long plastic bags. I put everything away when I get home and then those dozen plastic bags just glare at me!
When I look at the mess I have in my cabinets and in my frig, I feel very guilty for all the trash I am creating and it is only my husband and me at home.
OK! I use the plastic bags for garbage, wet swimsuits, dirty tennis shoes on the move, soiled kitty litter and for lining bathroom trash cans. A good solution to the trash bag guilt is to buy those green bags (each store has its own color and logo). That is a great solution! Can I be responsible enough to remember to take them with me each shopping trip?
Reusing the plastic bottles is a bit of a health problem, unless I sanitize each one after use before refilling with another liquid. Not sure about that one!
When I empty the cereal box, I cut the front and back panels to fit envelopes. I start with those 9x12 size...I can trim those smaller as I need them. It is a great solution to providing extra stability to an envelope when mailing photos...some relatives still don't have computers to receive those darling pictures on line.
The Styrofoam is a problem. Covered in blood from the meat, I always just want to trash them. I can't do anything with cheese wrapper either. My trash pickup is once a week and I have a full load every time.
Now, for the cans and bottles! Where I live, there is no pickup for recyclable products. Drive 20 miles one way and you can recycle. Not only has the food costs gone up, now I need almost two gallons of gas to get rid of the packaging.
What a challenge! Any ideas??
