(Caution, rant ahead! Don’t worry, it’ll be short)
Look, unless we here in the ‘land of convenience’ start PAYING ATTENTION, the entire planet will become one big garbage patch. Not just a Texas-sized patch in the Pacific ocean, but one day we’ll wake up and all of the oceans and the continents will be one big pile of plastic crap.
Translation: STOP BEING LAZY!
This is Satya, baby (see my last post)
Let’s face it, most Americans are lazy. I know, that may ruffle some feathers. But don’t you agree?
We jump in our SUVs to go around the corner to the store (maybe we’d be a little thinner if we walked), we throw stuff away when we know it can be recycled, we take a pill for things that could be fixed if we just ate right and exercised (oh, but that would be so hard…). We sit our kids in front of the TV instead of engaging or reading to them, we buy pre-made pre-packaged ready-to-eat food (devoid of nutrients) because we are too lazy to cook! We buy millions of bottles of water when we could just use one and refill it. We want our fast food/coffee/dry cleaning at the drive-through window NOW, and we want to be able to take home what’s left of the ENORMOUS portion we couldn’t finish at the restaurant, in a styrofoam container. Oh, and of course, it all has to be wrapped in plastic, in a plastic cup or in a plastic bag, for our convenience. AAAAAHHHHH!
Hell, most people are too lazy to even proof their posts on Facebook! Don’t the typos (even from very intelligent people) drive you crazy?!? Learn the difference between there and their, your and you’re, people! But I digress…
OK, I know, not everyone is like that, and a lot of it depends on where you live in this great big country of ours. But we all know some smart, aware people who still do really lazy things. Heaven forbid they make an effort to bring their own bags when shopping, or not buy that plastic water bottle – for future generations’ sake! Denial makes it all so easy: if you pretend not to know how bad the thing is you’re putting in your mouth, or how toxic the stuff is you’re ‘throwing away,’ then it’s all ok, right? Hey, don’t kid yourself with that urban myth that nothing really gets recycled, and it’s just a way for the government to make you feel good. Recycling happens, and thank the gods it does or we would all be living like slumdog millionaires…
We all need to PAY ATTENTION to what we buy, and what we do with the stuff it comes wrapped in. Here’s a great guide to reducing your waste-line.
Save the world – Stop using so much plastic
Almost everything comes in plastic these days. However, there are only a few types of plastic that can be recycled – or rather that recycling centers can reasonably profit from and recycle easily. The number on the bottom of the container tells all. And you know from my previous posts that plastic ‘thrown away’ is ending up in the oceans, and leaching toxic chemicals wherever it ends up.
Those ubiquitous red-on-the-outside-white-on-the-inside plastic cups everyone uses for parties? Not recyclable (#6). That plastic sushi box from the supermarket? Not recyclable (#6).
Most bottled water containers are recyclable (#1), but don’t be so lazy! There is so much info out there about how un-pure bottled water is: multiple studies have shown that most of it is just tap water, and most tap water is actually ok.
In addition, poor countries are having to fight to keep their access to water because we in the ‘developed’ world think it’s so cool to keep buying and tossing those bottles of clear stuff. MILLIONS of bottles are bought, drunk and tossed each month. Do you REALLY need another bottle, or could you possibly bring yourself to reuse the last one you wasted your money on? Better yet, get one that doesn’t have any BPA in it, and carry it in your car or your cool messenger bag. It really doesn’t weigh much when empty…
Here’s a guide to what your plastics are:
Look at the symbol on the bottom of the plastic container before you buy.
If the container you are holding is type 3, 6 or 7, DON’T BUY that product! Not only is that packaging more toxic that the others, but it is most likely not accepted by any recycling centers.
Here’s a guide to what your plastics are:
- #1 – PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) - recyclable
- #2 – HDPE (high density polyethylene) - recyclable
- #3 – V or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - Bad! Rarely recyclable, and toxic if heated or burned!
- #4 – LDPE (low density polyethylene) - recyclable: shopping bags, dry cleaning bags
- #5 – PP (polypropylene) - rarely recycled: yogurt, some margarine containers – take ‘em to Whole Foods! (see below)
- #6 – PS (polystyrene – “styrofoam”, and other) - rarely recycled; take ‘em to Publix! (see below)
- #7 – Other (bad) – not recyclable, could be any number of poly-combos. Known to leach hormone disruptors (into your food if you use this type for storage!)
Just because you put it in the recycling bin, doesn’t mean it can/will be recycled.
Here, in the city limits of Orlando, FL, they accept plastics #1 & #2 in the bins, and that’s it! In our county, in addition to above, they take #3 & #7 only if they have a neck (!) – but for some unknown reason the city does not. Whole Foods has a bin for #5, (which includes Brita water filters!) but that means you actually have to make an effort to take them there! Check with your city/county for recycling service info.
Do you eat out a lot?
All those polystyrene (‘styrofoam’) to-go containers are killing the planet (and possibly you). Some cities are banning its use, since it is rarely recycled, 'lives forever' and ends up as pollution. Did you know that you should NEVER heat up polystyrene (the toxic chemicals in it bleed into your food very quickly), and that means not using polystyrene plates/containers for hot food. Remember when all the fast food chains used polystyrene for their burgers? If they stopped using it, everyone can!
- Ask the managers of your favorite restaurants to use paper to-go containers
- DON”T TOSS THE CONTAINERS IN THE TRASH! Make the effort to rinse them out and take them to Publix the next time you go shopping.
- Urge your city/county leaders to ban polystyrene containers
You should never use ANY type of plastic in the microwave – sorry Tupperware. Although the FDA says that some plastic is safe to microwave, ever wonder why cancer, obesity, and all sorts of other diseases have risen so quickly in the past few years? How many people eat food everyday from little plastic containers they heat up in the microwave?? Hmmm…the 'L word' (lazy) pops into mind… speaking of lazy, for God’s sake, don’t use those Keurig coffee makers! They are a waste of space that only serve to give you one cup of coffee and a little plastic gift that will keep on giving for hundreds of years (don’t fall into the denial phase once you’ve thrown it ‘away!’).
Be grateful for all the choices we have – but read the labels on the packaging you buy, so you can make smart choices.
You'll be helping yourself in the long and short runs.
You'll be helping yourself in the long and short runs.
And don't forget: the world is depending on you!
Now go put those bottles in the recycling bin
(but only if they’re #1 or #2)!!!
Good links
More on packaging awareness - the 6 least recyclable packing types
Great comprehensive (and short) recycling guide
If Barbados can do it, so can we
Guide to plastic symbols
If your workplace uses plastic cups with the water cooler, do this
Recycling urban myths busted
Recycling symbol photos from lstock. All other photos by me.
