... that's right, a recycling bin the size of a garabage can!
We have been anxiously waiting..... a LONG time for her arrival... and she is beautifully breathtaking... isn't she?
We love recycling... we love that our garbage can is rarely more than half full... we love that it's one of the free things we poor people can do to save the planet.
We take recycling very seriously...
We recycle everything that is recyclable--which is interesting............ because until now, our city did NOT. Our city only has the capacity to recycle one kind of plastic--I, however, recycle all plastics. Our city only has the capacity to recycle certain kinds of paper/cardboard--I, on the other hand, recycle all paper products. I figure that I have to at least do my part--I put everything that is recyclable in the recycling bin. If the city doesn't have capacity to actually recycle it, they can either throw it away (and let it be on their conscience- I CAN NOT DO IT) or they can find another way.
So thanks to me (not really, I can take no credit) the city, so tired of dealing with my recyclables that they cannot recycle, found another way. It has struck a deal with another nearby city, with recycling plants galore, apparently, to send them anything we cannot recycle ourselves. Hence our new bins that can take all recyclables--we don't even have to sort. (aren't you jealous?)
We try to be "green" in other ways too... that we can afford...
We try to buy organic when possible--but always organic milk--after seeing what they give to non-organic cows I can't bear the idea of my kids or me drinking it. I would love to buy more organic fruits and vegetables--knowing that most produce carries up to 40-50+ DIFFERENT pesticides and chemicals (did you know that?... it is mindboggling!)
We can't afford to buy a new hybrid car... but I leave the house as little as possible (and NO, not just because leaving the house with two small children is absolutely exhausting)
We compost...
Here is a before picture...
and here is an after picture... it turns into DIRT... it is amazing!
look there is even an avocado sprout!
Yes, it looks kind of gross at first, but it is immensely satisfying at some primitive level. I love that we compost... (my neighbors might not, though)
We use mostly green cleaning supplies (except for the toilet--call me old-fashioned, but I just think toilets require something really strong).
The only thing I just can't bring myself to give up... is................
(ahhh... the shame!) ............disposable diapers...
Partly because of the tremendous upfront cost--one decent cloth diaper costs about the same as a box of diapers... but you can't get away with buying one diaper a month.
Partly because disposable diapers are just so gosh-darn convenient. (I am so pathetic, I know!)
But mainly because my mom used cloth diapers with 6 of her 7 kids... and since I was one of the oldest, I remember having to clean out the diapers in the toilet... it was so gross as a 7-8 year old that I was traumatized for life as far as cloth diapers are concerned. I am sure they have come a long way since then and I feel such astounding guilt everytime I throw away a bag of dirty diapers... but I just can't make that leap.
I am sorry Earth... I'll find a way to make it up to you.
2 comments:
It is wrong to be jealous over a recycling container??? We are die-hard recyclers, but basically takes over our garage until we haul it to the recycling center. So much work. Humpf!
Oooh, I want one! I grew up in the very 'green' state of Washington, and still haven't quite accepted that people here in the desert don't seem to think the same way. I am especially shocked at how blithely they seem to waste water. Hello! It's a desert!
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