My Plastic-free Life - Forum: Personal Success Stories

Beth Terry on BPA in library date due slips

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:32:01 -0800

Good that they are asking first. There is BPA-free thermal paper, but the problem is that the chemical they use in place of BPA might be just as harmful or worse. Better not to take a slip if you don't need one. Saves paper, too.

Eve Stavros on BPA in library date due slips

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 06:50:39 -0800

What a great question to ask your library!!! I'm going to email mine as well, and I hope they're as receptive as they were to ordering a copy of Beth's book for their shelves .

I don't know of any BPA-free thermal paper, but what I have noticed is that my library has started asking me if I want a due date slip rather than simply printing it out and handing it to me. So, at least they're giving us a choice now. Perhaps you could suggest to yours that they ask before they just unthinkingly hand them out (kinda like straws!).

Jane on BPA in library date due slips

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:44:30 -0700

I noticed that the date due print outs and hold slips from my local library are printed on thermal paper. I sent a letter to them to ask if the thermal paper they use contains BPA. I got an answer back right away and they said they are going to check with the department that orders the paper and get back to me. In my letter, I said to them that I was concerned because of the effect this would have on the health of the librarians who handle these slips all day, as well as the children and adult library patrons who often use the print outs as book marks for their library books, so handle them more than once. As well, I mentioned in my letter that this paper with BPA was showing up in recycled paper products.

I thought I would share in case other library patrons would be inspired to do something similar in their communities.

If someone knows of a commercial source of BPA free paper that I could tell my library about, I would love to hear it. A question that I have is: how do we know if the BPA - free paper that replaces BPA-containing thermal paper is any safer?

Eve Stavros on Pay it Forward - buy a reusable bag to give away

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:09:59 -0700

Vanessa, what a great idea! I'm going to look for opportunities to do this when I'm in line at the grocery as well.

Vanessa on Pay it Forward - buy a reusable bag to give away

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:27:32 -0700

Hello! Whenever I shop I buy a $.99 reusable bag and ask the clerk to keep it and use it for a customer who doesn't bring their own bag. Kind of like paying the bridge toll for the person behind you!

MotherLodeBeth on Zero Waste Home - inspiring!

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:30:09 -0700

Since we were kids we have always lived in a small home (400 sq ft right now). We rely on small vintage appliances that have no plastic, don't have a tv, don't buy much at the grocery store so avoid plastic there. Use pencils and fountain pens which we have owned since teenagers. Use cloth diapers, buy tooth powder in metal containers, and don't buy sodas or water. 100% natural fiber clothes which I sew using an old treadle machine, and we wear no plastic Birkenstocks which we get resoled/corked, and LLBean non plastic parts boots. Toys are non plastic vintage or hand made wood ones.

Bought some plain white nice gauze material and made my own vegetable/fruit bags which I take to the farmers market so I don't use plastic bags. LLBean has great washable canvas shopping bags and I use them when shopping and toss in the washer weekly before shopping, so they are clean. Make all meals at home unless we eat out and then it's a small eatery that uses non plastic plates, glasses, real silverware and smaller servings so no need to bring leftovers home.

You can get wood handle toothbrushes at most natural food stores and Amazon. We use wide mouth 1/2 pint glass Mason jars with reusable lids for soup, salad work lunches, and have glass Snapple bottles we saved three years ago with metal cap that we wash and reuse for water or homemade ice tea.

Only thing I see in our place that has plastic is the DELL computer,cordless land line phone, switch plate and outlet covers, kayak and ski equipment.....and alas the Dr Bronner liquid soaps. At least we can buy them in gallon jugs. Would LOVE to find a place to buy refillable Dr Bronner soaps.

Amy on Zero Waste Home - inspiring!

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:28:53 -0800

Yes, I have found great inspiration, advice, suggestions, etc. from both Bea and Beth. I am grateful there are others out there that can be so focused on their goal and then create a forum like this to support the rest of us! Having long been attempting to make changes in my families lifestyle habits, I have made huge strides in the last year since I have been following both the B's! Thanks!

MTNgirl on Zero Waste Home - inspiring!

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:13:46 -0800

I agree, I find Bea and Beth both very inspiring as well!

Eve Stavros on Zero Waste Home - inspiring!

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:35:19 -0800

While not 100% plastic-free, Bea Johnson's (nearly) Zero Waste Home is inspirational! She certainly has embraced a lifestyle of wholesomeness, healthy food packaging & preparation, and an almost spartan simplicity. Her blog on http://zerowastehome.com) . And, recently the whole family was on The View - hopefully a good way to reach millions more with this message.

I know I'm inspired to use less, do more, do better, and educate others ... thanks to people like Bea, and of course Beth!!!

Michelle on Taking my own cup & plates to events.

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:22:28 -0700

Ha ha! It sure does. I´m known for it here.

People think it´s a great idea & will say "how come you´ve got that nice glass, while I have this shitty plastic thing?!" Even the old boys, people don´t like drinking out of plastic. But they also say they never remember, I see my friends out & they say, "oh no, I forgot again!" Though a couple of times friends have brought mugs. We live on Atlantic Beaches, people I know surf & have taken part in beach cleans so see for themselves the plastic washing up.

Recently the organisers of an event wanted to get people to bring their own mugs. There was an article in the local paper. Unfortunately it never happened... but they have apologised & said it would take a lot of time & we´d need to start now for next year. But the article was published! So I hope a lot of people read it.

Beth Terry on Taking my own cup & plates to events.

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:38:57 -0700

Bravo! Thanks for the inspiration. Did anyone else ever notice what you were doing and did it start any conversations?

Michelle on Taking my own cup & plates to events.

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:52:08 -0700

This summer I had moved into the Village so ended up going to loads of outdoor events. For EVERY one I took along my own cup, plate, fork, bottle obviously. Some times going out with a bag of crockery isn´t my idea of fun! But, this summer I reckon I could of easily filled a whole big bin bag with all the plastic I REFUSED! So it was well worth it. Next year, I´ll invest in metal, lighter crockery!

KarinSDCA on Repaired my bluetooth!

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:47:37 -0700

Woo hoo!!!

KarinSDCA on Bringing my own container

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:45:31 -0700

These are awesome! :)

Beth Terry on Repaired my bluetooth!

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:57:06 -0700

Yes! Yes! Yay! Hurray!