Comments on: Plastic At My Singing Lesson and How to Recycle Used CD’s and DVDs. http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/ Learn to live life with less plastic... for the health of our bodies, our oceans, our planet. I don't buy new plastic. Join me on my plastic-free journey. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:55:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: John Costigane http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5454 John Costigane Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:32:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5454 Hi Beth,<br/><br/>It is the same old "chain of waste" system, with no responsibility taken for disposal of future waste items. This mindset has to change for sustainability to be achieved.<br/><br/>This is the stand-off over here between Zero Waste enthusiasts and supermarkets. They have reduced plastic packaging (waste) by a good percentage, ~30%. Further change can only be done by altered practices. We just have to keep on message meantime. Hi Beth,

It is the same old “chain of waste” system, with no responsibility taken for disposal of future waste items. This mindset has to change for sustainability to be achieved.

This is the stand-off over here between Zero Waste enthusiasts and supermarkets. They have reduced plastic packaging (waste) by a good percentage, ~30%. Further change can only be done by altered practices. We just have to keep on message meantime.

]]> By: Ruth http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5451 Ruth Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:31:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5451 It can be surprising what people will want if you list it on Freecycle or Craigslist. Personally I have better luck getting a response on the "free" category of Craigslist than anything else. A while back I listed a box full of plastic CD and DVD cases on Craigslist, thinking, no way would anyone actually want these. They were gone in a day or two. It can be surprising what people will want if you list it on Freecycle or Craigslist. Personally I have better luck getting a response on the “free” category of Craigslist than anything else. A while back I listed a box full of plastic CD and DVD cases on Craigslist, thinking, no way would anyone actually want these. They were gone in a day or two.

]]> By: Lara S. http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5446 Lara S. Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:11:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5446 I have a pendrive which I take with me everywhere :) Also, before I had it, I used my cellphone, my mp3 player or my digital camera (I had to take the USB cable with me, but it wasn't very annoying).<br/><br/>You could also suggest your teacher to ask students to bring the CD back, so that she can burn the new lessons in the old CD, since I don't think one singing lesson can fill up an whole CD (you have to select the option, before you burn it, to make the CD available to be burned again in the remaining memory space). <br/><br/>About the "biodegradable" plastic of the other post: I don't believe it at all. Microscopic bits of plastic will probably remain there forever.<br/><br/>About the fleas, I don't think spraying vinegar on them will help, I mean I don't know if fleas will stay or not, but the kitties will hate you, remember that they have a very powerful sense of smell and vinegar smell on their skins could really stress them. I have a pendrive which I take with me everywhere :) Also, before I had it, I used my cellphone, my mp3 player or my digital camera (I had to take the USB cable with me, but it wasn’t very annoying).

You could also suggest your teacher to ask students to bring the CD back, so that she can burn the new lessons in the old CD, since I don’t think one singing lesson can fill up an whole CD (you have to select the option, before you burn it, to make the CD available to be burned again in the remaining memory space).

About the “biodegradable” plastic of the other post: I don’t believe it at all. Microscopic bits of plastic will probably remain there forever.

About the fleas, I don’t think spraying vinegar on them will help, I mean I don’t know if fleas will stay or not, but the kitties will hate you, remember that they have a very powerful sense of smell and vinegar smell on their skins could really stress them.

]]> By: Kay Pere http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5436 Kay Pere Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:49:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5436 Beth: Kudos for riding your bike there. I wish more of my students could do this. A few are within walking distance but our area is very spread out, so most drive here.<br/><br/>We have a nice comfortable living room where parents can wait and relax in cold weather or they are welcome to enjoy our yard when it's warmer. Still, some wait in their cars in my driveway with the engine running for a half an hour and the heater or air conditioning going depending on the season. Makes me cringe. I'm trying to encourage change in this area. Beth: Kudos for riding your bike there. I wish more of my students could do this. A few are within walking distance but our area is very spread out, so most drive here.

We have a nice comfortable living room where parents can wait and relax in cold weather or they are welcome to enjoy our yard when it’s warmer. Still, some wait in their cars in my driveway with the engine running for a half an hour and the heater or air conditioning going depending on the season. Makes me cringe. I’m trying to encourage change in this area.

]]> By: The Minimalist http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5435 The Minimalist Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:54:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5435 You rock as usual. You rock as usual.

]]> By: Fake Plastic Fish http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5432 Fake Plastic Fish Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:08:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5432 Ruchi -- the simplest thing would be to ask them directly instead of all this speculation. I'll send them an email. I have a feeling they mean things like hazardous heavy metals inside computers. I don't think they mean ground plastic from CDs. <br/><br/>Kay, your studio sounds great! And my singing lessons are even more eco-friendly because I ride my bike to them instead of driving or taking the bus. Ruchi — the simplest thing would be to ask them directly instead of all this speculation. I’ll send them an email. I have a feeling they mean things like hazardous heavy metals inside computers. I don’t think they mean ground plastic from CDs.

Kay, your studio sounds great! And my singing lessons are even more eco-friendly because I ride my bike to them instead of driving or taking the bus.

]]> By: ruchi http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5431 ruchi Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:58:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5431 Well, they do say this<br/><br/>"No hazardous materials or obsolete components go overseas to be processed or disposed of"<br/><br/>I guess it depends on what they define as hazardous or obsolete, eh? Well, they do say this

“No hazardous materials or obsolete components go overseas to be processed or disposed of”

I guess it depends on what they define as hazardous or obsolete, eh?

]]> By: ruchi http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5430 ruchi Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:56:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5430 Whether a client is sending in a Technotrash Can, getting a truckload of technotrash picked up, or simply sending GreenDisk a box, the technotrash is always delivered to one of our certified facilities located throughout the U.S. Each facility follows the standard procedures developed by GreenDisk that ensure technotrash is handled, tracked, and processed properly. <br/><br/>Hmmm ... I guess it just says the facilities that handle the technotrash are in the US. I could swear when I did research on Greendisk a year ago it said they did not ship to China. Whether a client is sending in a Technotrash Can, getting a truckload of technotrash picked up, or simply sending GreenDisk a box, the technotrash is always delivered to one of our certified facilities located throughout the U.S. Each facility follows the standard procedures developed by GreenDisk that ensure technotrash is handled, tracked, and processed properly.

Hmmm … I guess it just says the facilities that handle the technotrash are in the US. I could swear when I did research on Greendisk a year ago it said they did not ship to China.

]]> By: Annie http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5429 Annie Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:50:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5429 If no one on freecycle takes you up on the CDs, East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse always wants CDs. They're convenient to you on Telegraph in Oakland. If no one on freecycle takes you up on the CDs, East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse always wants CDs. They’re convenient to you on Telegraph in Oakland.

]]> By: Hoolia http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-singing/comment-page-1/#comment-5428 Hoolia Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:39:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/03/to-cd-or-not-to-cd-how-even-a-singing-lesson-can-be-an-opportunity-for-less-plastic/#comment-5428 Beth,<br/><br/>This is a bit off-topic, but I wanted to let you know I found two websites that sell alternatives to plastic bags such as ziplocks or bulk food plastic bags. You may have mentioned them before and I just didn't see the post, and if so, please forgive this long comment.<br/><br/>The first one is Plum Creek Mercantile: http://www.plumcreekmercantile.com/collections/snack-bags-1. While it does use some plastic for a window in its bulk food bags, they say it's all nontoxic, phthalate-free. I would guess the same for the Velcro attachments on the snack bags, but not sure.<br/><br/>The other is freshsnackpack.com, and while their reusable bags are plastic, they're PVC-free, made of EVA plastic and intended for years of use to replace ziplocks. However, they are made in China.<br/><br/>I know these resources aren't entirely plastic-free, but for those of us struggling with not using ziplocks and using glass or metal not always an option, I thought I'd let you know about these websites. And Plum Creek Mercantile also sells lunch kits that are stainless steel, bamboo utensil sets, and small stainless containers. Beth,

This is a bit off-topic, but I wanted to let you know I found two websites that sell alternatives to plastic bags such as ziplocks or bulk food plastic bags. You may have mentioned them before and I just didn’t see the post, and if so, please forgive this long comment.

The first one is Plum Creek Mercantile: http://www.plumcreekmercantile.com/collections/snack-bags-1. While it does use some plastic for a window in its bulk food bags, they say it’s all nontoxic, phthalate-free. I would guess the same for the Velcro attachments on the snack bags, but not sure.

The other is freshsnackpack.com, and while their reusable bags are plastic, they’re PVC-free, made of EVA plastic and intended for years of use to replace ziplocks. However, they are made in China.

I know these resources aren’t entirely plastic-free, but for those of us struggling with not using ziplocks and using glass or metal not always an option, I thought I’d let you know about these websites. And Plum Creek Mercantile also sells lunch kits that are stainless steel, bamboo utensil sets, and small stainless containers.

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