by Beth Terry
Well, here is three week’s worth of plastic waste. I’m back on track. And your tallies (Show Us Your Plastic Trash Challenge) have been coming in so fast, that I have created a special new place for them. More on that tomorrow.
Plastic used up this week but purchased before the plastic project began:
- 1 bandaid. I cut my finger with a sharp knife while making my Plastic Sea Monster costume. I really don’t have the energy to explain how this happened. :-)
- Expired Credit Union debit card. I have cancelled this account, mainly because I never use it.
New plastic waste:
- 8 plastic envelope windows. From Financial West Group, ING Direct, Comcast, PG&E Solar, USE Credit Union, Bay to Breakers, Green Sangha, & a payment from a bookkeeping client. As I’ve mentioned before, I am working to be removed from as many mailing lists as possible. Most of these envelopes were unavoidable. Since I’m on the board of Green Sangha, I will mention the possibility of changing the types of envelopes the organization uses.
- Plastic wrapper from new check order. I opened a brand new checking account at New Resource Bank in San Francisco and am trying to wean myself from my Bank of America account. New Resource Bank is local and invests in the community. They provide financing for solar energy projects as well as CD’s that are used solely to fund those projects.
- Race number from Bay to Breakers. Race numbers are made from Tyvek, a type of plastic. See link below for more information.
- Bit of plastic from the ends of a bunch of organic bananas. See below for more info.
- Piece of tape from a bar of handmade soap. Michael and I bought several bars of handmade soap from a roadside vendor during our trip to Santa Cruz last weekend. It wasn’t until we opened the wrapper that we realized the tissue paper was held together with a tiny piece of scotch tape.
- Plastic bag of World’s Best Cat Litter. Yes, we know there is a brand that comes in a paper bag. Read the saga below.
- Plastic spout and cap from a huge metal can of olive oil. Okay, before you go crazy on me (monkeyjen) about why in the world I am buying huge cheap-ass cans of olive oil instead of organic olive oil in glass, please allow me to explain. Over a year ago, I thought I would try my hand at making soap. I bought all the ingredients, including a huge can of olive oil, and then lost the energy and desire to actually make the soap. We can get great local handmade soap here plastic-free. Why should I spend my limited time making my own? So the can sat on the shelf for months until we decided to just go ahead and cook with it. Now that it’s gone, I’ll be bringing my glass bottle to Whole Foods to fill up from their organic bulk olive oil container.
Related posts:
- Learn what plastic credit/debit/gift cards are made from and how they can be recycled.
- Find out what envelope windows are made from.
- Learn about Tyvek and how it is recycled.
- Ever wonder why organic bananas have plastic on the ends?
- Why we don’t use SwheatScoop cat litter that comes in a paper bag.
