I am stopping my household weekly waste stream analysis. A weeks waste analysis, preformed once or twice a year, is good method to become aware of a households waste stream. For example, I used up to three rice milk cartons a week. I now make my own almond milk, which generates no cartons, great for my budget and super yummy, oh and I use the crushed almond meal for baked goods!
What I Learned
Choose products least damaging to the earth. For example I choose paper and glass over plastic. Little decisions here and there add up in a lifetime.
Bring your own bags grocery shopping. Refuse single use plastic bags.
Letter writing success?
Yesterday at Costco, to my delight I discovered that my favorite wine is no longer wrapped in plastic. I happily purchased the wine, voting with my dollar. A few months ago, I wrote a letter to Costco and Folie a Deux, criticizing the additional plastic wrapping on the Menage a Trois bottled wine.
Eat organic vegetables, compost the scraps, and use the compost on raised beds to grow more veggies.
Filter tap water and carry a stainless steel water bottle.
Feel good about waste reduction activities, actions are commitments to earth and its people.
My Goal
Attempt to make my own beauty products, including toothpaste and deodorant, using herbs oils and other easy to come by ingredients. The process of crafting skin products is enjoyable. Homemade is a lost art these days.
Make my own reusable cloth produce bags. Maybe this winter when the rains come.
What I Could Not Implement
Toilet paper has received complaints in this family. The unbleached recycled one-ply, non absorbent, scratchy and down right unpleasant TP, has prompted me to purchase cheap, non-eco groovy, soft TP.
The food budget currently is more of a priority than avoiding plastic wrapping. Bulk items will be forgone if a better priced item is wrapped in plastic. For example I am omitting grains and replacing them with nuts, Costco has cheap nuts, cheaper than bulk at the health food store.
