Green Living
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Something I struggle with...
I recycle everything I can. But I'm still disturbed with how much is getting recycled. I need to figure out how to bring home less that even needs recycling. The "reduce" part of Reduce Reuse Recycle. I've started buying my oatmeal in the bulk section at WF as well as things like flour and sugar but I need to go further. Can anyone suggest ways to do this?
Re: Something I struggle with...
We buy in bulk whenever possible. When we buy bulk grains and whatever, we reuse containers. We just bring them back to the store with us (after washing them) and refill them there instead of grabbing a new bag or a new container. We also buy things from places like CostCo when we can, because it cuts down on packaging.
This site has been helpful about cutting back junk mail in the past. It looks like I need to start updating info again because we've started to get more since we moved.
Those are the two biggest things that we've done to help cut back. It is hard; I can't wait to see other suggestions!
I forgot, I also do that. I haven't gotten junk mail in a long time. It's great. Some days I don't get any mail at all!
We buy big quantities, even if the unit price is a little more. For example: spices by the bag instead of the jar, 10 lbs of dried beans (or even 2 lbs of dried beans), large mustard--it will stay good for ages. What canned/packaged foods can you buy fresh or make from your bulk ingredients? Soups, cookies, etc. We cook in bulk and then freeze almost everything.
We also buy in bulk and bring our own containers to the store. I use reuseable grocery and produce bags, including a compact Chico Bag clipped to my purse so I haven't used plastic or paper grocery bags in ages. I also work very hard to reduce packaging waste. Like I bring my reuseable produce bags to the store and buy one or two portabello mushrooms (our grocery stores have them loose in a large bin) rather than a styrofoam package of cremini or white mushrooms wrapped in plastic wrap. I also bring my own Pyrex containers to restaurants for leftovers. I refill my own soap pumps with Dr. Bronners, and we're down to one roll of PT a month. These efforts have reduced our trash considerably, so there's less to recycle and even less in the trash can.
ETA: Plus a SS water bottle, bottled water was the first thing to go when we started our green journey. I also bring my drink for lunch in a repurposed Lipton iced tea bottle.
Ok, so I almost never (only cause you should never say never) use plastic water bottles, I have BPA free reusable ones. I almost never take a bag for things when I'm shopping, I do my very best to always use my chicobags or others. I don't even put my produce in plastic bags. My main problem is things like cottage cheese cartons and such. I'm a single gal and I would never be able to use a jumbo sized carton of things like that. I don't have a Costco or Sam's club membership, it wouldn't make sense to. It makes more sense for me to buy the smaller cartons so I'm not wasting food. It just seems to rack up so quickly! I have quite a collection of old containers but one can only use or save so many before becoming the crazy yogurt container lady. I suppose I could save them and put them up on freecycle, or donate them to a kindergarten if they can use them. Any other ideas?
Definitely do this! I'm a high school teacher and I bring all of my plastic stuff to school to use instead of having to buy containers. I puy my scissors into a huge animal cracker container, my glue sticks are in a mini eclair tub, mixed paint for screen printing is in others.... the list goes on. Just about any piece that could be reused goes there first. I'm sure other teachers in your area would love to be able to save on the bottom line and help the environment at the same time!