Year 2, Week 9 Results: 2.5 oz of plastic waste.
Soots has taken over many of Arya’s old duties while she is out of commission, the thorough examination of my weekly plastic waste being one of them. As I write this, Arya is lying on the floor at my feet, wishing I’d take the elegant collar off her neck and let her pull out her sutures. Friday, little kitty, Friday they come out. Then, you can lick your wounds all you want. For those who miss her, I’ve got video of Miss Hobble Bobble, as she’s come to be known, below. But first, the tally!
Plastic items used this week but purchased before the plastic project began:
- Plastic wrap from the final Wholphin DVD. I subscribed to these DVDs over a year ago before starting this project, and if the notice on the envelope was correct, this will be my final one.
New plastic purchased since the plastic project began and used this week:
- 1 big ass bag (34 lbs) of World’s Best Cat Litter. I sent an email to GPC Pet Products in July asking them to reconsider their packaging. Here’s the email reply I got in response:
From: “Kissell, Luke” (luke.kissell@grainprocessing.com)
To: Beth Terry
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:49:31 -0500
Subject: RE: Contact Us: Product Performance
Dear Beth,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at GPC Pet Products Maker’s Of World’s Best Cat Litter(tm).
We appreciate the comments you have shared with us regarding our packaging. As we look into the future, we will be looking at a new type of package. It is always nice to hear what our consumers have to say about what their likes and dislikes are about our package. This type of information helps us become more aware of what our consumers are looking for in terms of packaging. We take these comments very seriously.
I will forward your comments onto the appropriate personnel for review.
Again, thank you for your comments.
Have a good day,
Luke Kissell
Customer Service Coordinator
GPC Pet Products
Makers of Worlds Best Cat Litter(tm)
TF:877-367-9225 Ext 4790
Ph:563-264-4790
Fax:563-264-4788
I know there were several other people who thought they might also send letters to this company. Did you get the same response? I wonder if they’ll actually change the packaging.
- Plastic from the ends of a bunch of organic bananas.
- 1 plastic Rx bottle and lid. Hobble had to have antiobiotics 2x per day through a syringe for a week. I haven’t included the syringe in the tally as I’m keeping it for the next time one of them needs to use it. That way I won’t have to take a new syringe home from the vet.
- 2 red plastic drinking straws. Oops. My sister and her husband were in town visiting us last week, and wow did we ever eat. Restaurant after restaurant. I almost got away plastic-free until I ordered an iced tea during lunch on Friday and was having so much fun I forgot to request “no straw.” Remind me to tell you about the compostable straws I learned about yesterday.
So, one more week of plastic tallied up and put away.
And here’s the promised video: Miss Hobble Bobble’s Adventure.
If for some reason, you can’t view the embedded video, try this link to view it on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjfgMsm-9FQ
I was shopping in my regular grocery store the other day (HyVee in Iowa) and saw World’s Best litter in a cardboard box. It did have a plastic carrying handle. I didn’t buy it but may next time I need some to see what all is inside.
Rob, the song is “Hello” by The Cat Empire, one of the hottest bands ever. Truly hot. As in, if I wasn’t married to Michael…
BTW What is that catchy song in the video? I like it!
Go Soots! get all the picture attention!
Hi! I’m not plastic free, and probably won’t be, but I’m definitely cutting back since reading your blog and Life Less Plastic. Have you tried Feline Pine cat litter? I’m pretty sure it’s offered in a box as well as a plastic bag. I like it better than the World’s Best, because my cat eats the World’s Best, which grosses me out, plus I think it conceals odor better than World’s Best, which smells like food to me. Which also grosses me out, LOL.
Poor baby!
Is it wrong of me to laugh? Poor baby.
Oh Beth! You are MEAN to mock Miss Kitty’s hobbling around. I feel for er since I spent most of today hobbling around Manhattan in a similar fashion (well on 2 legs and sans collar)–Seems I seriously pulled a muscle in my back during kickboxing Friday. Thank goodness for Vicodin! And thank goodness I didn’t hear any of the meanies calling me names. LOL Glad to know she’s healing up ok.
Just bought my first bag of World’s Best Cat Litter after finally giving up on Sweat Scoop. (which I used for nearly two years) But I just couldn’t do it anymore. Basically the same complaints you’ve had about it.
But, as soon as I got home w/ said bag of World’s Best Cat littler, I sent a similar email to the company. I haven’t heard back yet, but will let you know if/when I do!
Saw this today…”The world in 1950 used 10 million barrels of oil a day instead of our 85 million, and only a third of that increase is due to population growth. The rest is just us– and it is mostly us in the West–driving, flying, buying, consuming, and discarding more in a month than our grandparents did in a year.”
Newspapers in the 50’s came without plastic wrapping from newsboys on bicycles, not adults in cars. Today both my newspapers came wrapped and the two were together in yet another plastic bag. A Rx arrived in a huge plastic bag (big enough for 50 Rx bottles, not the one I got). The stuff is so cheap and easy to customize, it almost begs to be wasted and it is.
Comical conical kitty.
Ohh, poor kitty!
I wrote to the World’s Best people too and got a similar response. It was a while ago and I don’t think I kept the email, but it was definitely the same gist.
aww…poor kitty. I know its not supposed to be, but Arya does look comical.
Great post! My family still have a long way to go to be plastic-free, but we’re making baby steps!
I don’t know if you have ever seen these but thought you would like them-
Talking about straws reminded me of them.
Poor kitty. My dog is hobbling in much the same way. (He was hit by a car.) His stitches are out and his hair is growing back. He is using his leg a little more every day and his strength is really coming back.
Can’t wait to read about compostable straws. I like to use a straw for my after work beverage. I have been washing my straws to make them last longer, but one I can compost would be great.
Ayra is looking good! And she eems to be getting around okay!