Comments on: Collect Your Plastic. Change Your Life.

By: Larry Lawernce

Larry Lawernce — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:22:38 +0000

WOW. This is tough to do. We have really tightened the non-plastic belt. I agree that minimizing our carbon footprint is important, but I have an issue to discuss. I tried to get my company to stop using most plastics in their production, and they laughed. They say that many of the plastic materials they buy out last the metals by 10 to 1, and cost about a third. Also the cost to make the metals is high because of the cost of energy to get it hot enough to pour. We use some stuff called UHMW from http://www.iplasticsupply.com as a wear piece on our machine, and we have tried using aluminum, but it needs rubber bumpers and synthetic grease to make it work the same as the plastic stuff. Is there another non-plastic that can replace these types of material?

By: Sonja

Sonja — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:13:30 +0000

I think I can actually post the link. I hope it works. http://poptech.org/popcasts/brooke_betts_farrell_waste_as_treasure?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4cd32527ff4ad0ce%2C0

I encourage anyone who is in agreement with Danielle, and wanting to eliminate waste/carbon footprint, to visit this link and watch the video. You can pass this on to companies and individuals who can utilize their services and become more environmentally friendly businesses making more cost effective decisions, not only for their bottom line profit, but for people living in their communities. :o)

By: Sonja

Sonja — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:08:09 +0000

Inspiring idea! I’m gonna follow your lead. Love the values you are instilling in your little ones (our future leaders). I want to attach a link, but I don’t know if the blog settings will allow it. There is a wonderful idea to eliminate waste in our landfills and waste from making it to our coastlines, or “floating garbage patches” in our oceans, via some folks in Houston who founded RecycleMatch. If you’ll navigate to “PopTech: Popcasts: Brooke Betts Farrell : Waste as Trash” you will be able to see more and pass it on. Truly genius idea!

By: Danielle

Danielle — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:37:45 +0000

Wanted to update: Not 24 hours after writing my (above) comment… I changed my mind… thanks to my husband, of course ;) Instead of doing the “Show Your Plastic Challenge” at least once a month….We will be showing off our plastic waste for 52 weeks this year!! :)

Happy New Year Everyone!!

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 13:52:32 +0000

Hey! Thank you to everyone for your kind and supportive comments. I love that many of you are going to commit to taking the Show Your Plastic Challenge this year!!! I’m going to plan on doing the challenge at least once a month in this New Year!!

@Mary Ann: While purchasing in bulk has really helped me reduce the amount of plastics that I use…. I also do other things such as making my own bread (I just made burger buns!!!), pasta (I’ve even made ravioli), popsicles, granola bars, brown sugar, etc. (One of my goals this year is to learn how to make corn tortillas!!) Oh, and I use glass jars or old yogurt containers for bulk :)

@Kurt: We haven’t had Newman O’s since that week in September!! During our plastic-free food week (and the months that have followed), I’ve made the commitment to myself to not purchase things that I consider unnecessary. Sure we LOVE us some Newman O’s (and some other packaged products), but I don’t love the packaging. Truth is I dislike the packaging more than I like the cookies. So when we’re in the mood for cookies, I make cookies. (And Thank you Beth!!!…. I can’t wait to try to make those cookies!!! Homemade is ALWAYS better!)

@Lisa: Cheese in paper is AWESOME!! BUT… I didn’t know that I could get it in paper until I asked ;) Call around to locally owned food stores….you might be pleasantly surprised…. and even if you can’t find a place to wrap paper in cheese… you will have planted a little seed ;)

@Melody: I, too, strive to buy local. In fact, from April to December 80-90% of our foods are local. One of the best things about buying local is that you get to talk to the grower (or raiser) of your food. If you haven’t already, I would suggest talking to the farmer about getting meat without plastic. Can you purchase a bulk pack instead of individually wrapped?? Or maybe they have a solution that you haven’t thought of :)

By: Vegan Snorkeler

Vegan Snorkeler — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:19:14 +0000

Inspiring! Thank you for the helpful tips. I’m always trying to use less plastic, but I think I’ll really turn this into a full on resolution in 2011.

By: Melody

Melody — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:12:32 +0000

Thanks for showing how a family can reduce their plastic use. We are gradually shifting away from single use plastics, but I find myself having to pick between plastic free or local from the farmer’s market. I can get things like rice and popcorn from the bulk bins at a local store, or locally grown in a plastic bag. Similarly, the local grassfed meat is frozen in plastic to bring to market. If the local health food store would put my meat in my own container, it’s still meat from far away (which probably came to the store in plastic.)

By: pamela

pamela — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:14:21 +0000

Thank you for reciprocating and visiting my blog today, great to see you! Sorry for the duplication but the one above isn’t carrying today’s post ‘Join the (plastic) dots’
?oops?
xxx

By: pamela

pamela — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:10:41 +0000

Thank you for reciprocating and visiting my blog today, great to see you!
xxx

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:05:07 +0000

Rebecca, that’s an awesome list. It’s not totally complete, as I see they don’t have the Oakland Whole Foods, and I’m wondering why Berkeley Bowl is not on there. (Berkeley Bowl is a huge grocery store out here which sells both conventional and organic/health foods and has a huge bulk section.) But it would be a great start for anyone looking for a nearby bulk food store.

Sofia, I’m ready when you’re ready. :-)

Grace, you too.

Denise, there is no such thing as sin in the Fake Plastic Fish Show Your Plastic Trash challenge. It’s all for educational purposes. You collect all your plastic, both recyclable and non-recyclable, and you will list them separately on the form in two different sections. Take a look at the instructions and form: http://fakeplasticfish.com/showyourplastic/challenge-show-us-your-plastic-trash/

Kurt – I’ve never found bulk sandwich cookies, precisely because they would just crumble. Have you thought of making your own? Here’s a recipe I found online. Personally, I would substitute organic coconut oil (in a glass jar) for butter and shortening. http://www.grouprecipes.com/71340/homemade-oreo-sandwich-cookie.html I know, more work. But they probably taste better!