Comments on: Year 2, Week 20 Results: 4.0 oz of plastic waste.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:27:00 +0000

Regarding cat litter, have you tried Feline Pine Scoop? It comes in a cardboard box and is made from pine scraps from lumber production. It clumps really well and I think controls odor very well for an unscented product (though I only have one cat). It does, however, get tracked all over the house.

By: Fake Plastic Fish

Fake Plastic Fish — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:55:00 +0000

Canadian — Some of them may be cornstarch, but not all of them, and if they’re not labeled, I have to assume they’re plastic. And yes, technically I can put the whole thing in the paper recycling, but the plastic is actually a contaminant and for the purposes of this project, I am collecting all my plastic waste rather than recycling it.

Amy — Yep. I have switched to online statements for all my accounts. This envelope contained the actual new credit card. And unfortunately, Financial West Group is not yet set up for online statements. Kaiser sent me test results. I will see if I can get them to stop since they also post my test results on the web site. Why do I also need the paper?

By: amy.leblanc

amy.leblanc — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:51:00 +0000

"3 plastic envelope windows. From Chase VISA, Financial West Group, & Kaiser Permanente. All mailings I can't avoid."

you can avoid this by calling up your credit card companies/banks/financial agencies and tell them you want to a) switch to online statements and b) not to send you ANYTHING in the mail that isn't required by law (some things are). i did this with Chase and haven't received any mail from them in a really long time.

By: Fake Plastic Fish

Fake Plastic Fish — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:30:00 +0000

Hi Birthblessed. In the Paperback Swap, can you contact the person sending you the book directly in advance? That might be the best way to make sure you get minimal plastic each time. If not, do they have a message board where you can raise the issue? I don’t think you need me to figure out the wording!

By: heather t

heather t — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:21:00 +0000

You’re right – try making a gradual switch when changing kitty litters. Gradually mix in more and more of the new litter and less of the old. Give them time to get used to it.

By: Birthblessed

Birthblessed — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:21:00 +0000

I love how you wrote a letter to the retreat center and got such a good response. I'm horrible about that! Just this week I got a book from Paperback Swap and was SO frustrated; the sender had completely encased the book in plastic packing tape. The worst part was that the book was wrapped so skin-tight that the only way to get it free of its cocoon required damaging the book slightly. :(

What wording would you use in a letter to Paperback Swap to encourage them to educate folks on low-impact book packaging techniques?

By: Canadian

Canadian — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:33:00 +0000

I have heard that those plastic windows are normally made of cornstarch or something — do you know if there’s any truth to that?

Certainly the brochures the city sent me say I don’t have to remove them before recyling the envelopes.