I’ve been reading Stephanie’s @ Keeper of the Home‘s e-book Healthy Homemaking. I’ve really not skimmed the whole thing yet which is kind of surprising because that’s pretty much my style…skim then re-read SLOWLY. Anyway, I’m spending a lot of time on this first baby step because between reading a bunch of books (including Animal, Vegetable, Miracle) and have been torn between doing the cheapest things and doing the best things. Reducing our waste, however, could easily be the best AND the cheapest. Depending on how good we get at it, it MIGHT be cheaper to run things to the recycling and just throw out a few bags instead of getting a tote with curbside pick up of both.
Before I started reading her book, I had already taken steps to reduce waste. I just thought of them as reducing expenses 🙂
- move from paper towels to microfiber cloths/rags
- move from paper napkins to cloth (I have TONS)
- bringing my own bags when I shop
- reuse plastic shopping bags (work great in the garbage in the bathroom(s))
- use (mostly) cloth diapers and wipes
The first thing we did was find our county’s website for what should be recycled. I should just be able to ask DH since he’s on the council, but he doesn’t retain that kind of information. I was really surprised at what they DON’T take–I’ve just been throwing all typically recyclable things in the bin. Our county only recycles #1 & #2 plastics and styrofoam not at all. Waxed cardboard and pizza boxes are out as well. Bummer!
I’ve been on a hunt for a good compostable junk bowl, but haven’t found one yet. I had purchased a lovely compost bucket a few years ago complete with charcoal filter at Gaiam (and totally lust over their compost wheel…but I digress):
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work so well for me. It works SOOOO well at keeping the stench down that I forget I have stuff in there until my house is infested with fruit flies (we like bananas). A bowl that gets funky and full and is a visual reminder that I need to actually take it out works much better for me.
We’ve reduced our waste from a 1/2 – 3/4 full tote to 1/4 full. We’ve been getting really good at eating everything so we don’t waste much there either. Any way, reducing waste works for me!