Comments on: The “Go Trash Free” Challenge! http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/ A blog for natural families with green values Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:46:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sara http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-112086 Sara Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:06:03 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-112086 I am a Torontonian chiming in to say we have not put anything out on the curb for pickup for over two weeks. But that is because the city (trash pickup workers included) is on strike with no end in sight. As green minded as we think we are, there is nothing like a strike to shake our reality and force us to admit how lazy we've become simply because someone else will come and take it away for us every week. So what if it is neatly sorted into all of the responsible categories. Output is still output. We are frustrated with our accumulating piles of output for a variety of reasons. But the silver lining is that our strike is a wakeup call for many of us. Neighbours are getting creative. Those of us who have procrastinated starting that composting project are no longer procrastinating. All around the city we are taking a good hard look (and smell) at the waste we are producing. Ultimately not a bad thing if it forces us to start better habits. For anyone else who needs a little kick in the backside to put Tiffany's great ideas in action, just pretend that your local trash removal service is no longer available! Great post Tiffany!! And very timely for some of us! I am a Torontonian chiming in to say we have not put anything out on the curb for pickup for over two weeks. But that is because the city (trash pickup workers included) is on strike with no end in sight. As green minded as we think we are, there is nothing like a strike to shake our reality and force us to admit how lazy we’ve become simply because someone else will come and take it away for us every week. So what if it is neatly sorted into all of the responsible categories. Output is still output. We are frustrated with our accumulating piles of output for a variety of reasons. But the silver lining is that our strike is a wakeup call for many of us. Neighbours are getting creative. Those of us who have procrastinated starting that composting project are no longer procrastinating. All around the city we are taking a good hard look (and smell) at the waste we are producing. Ultimately not a bad thing if it forces us to start better habits. For anyone else who needs a little kick in the backside to put Tiffany’s great ideas in action, just pretend that your local trash removal service is no longer available!

Great post Tiffany!! And very timely for some of us!

]]> By: PureMothers http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-111979 PureMothers Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:19:08 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-111979 I think this is awesome and we're making strides at home too. But I just don't know how to reuse a tube of toothpaste or a battery - and some things just need batteries. Although we will be replacing with the new green batteries that came out sans mercury and cadmium. I would be wary of bone ash because cow bones can contain high amounts of lead. You don't want your veggies to be high in lead either. Fortunately, we don't eat mammals in our home so we don't need to address that one. :-) Just a FYI tip. I am impressed with your commitment to going trash free. I would love to hear how you tackle the other items in your home unrelated to the kitchen and that last longer than a few days. ie. pens, laundry powder packaging, toothpaste, floss. You get the idea. Do you not buy these items or reuse the containers? I think this is awesome and we’re making strides at home too. But I just don’t know how to reuse a tube of toothpaste or a battery – and some things just need batteries. Although we will be replacing with the new green batteries that came out sans mercury and cadmium.

I would be wary of bone ash because cow bones can contain high amounts of lead. You don’t want your veggies to be high in lead either. Fortunately, we don’t eat mammals in our home so we don’t need to address that one. :-) Just a FYI tip.

I am impressed with your commitment to going trash free. I would love to hear how you tackle the other items in your home unrelated to the kitchen and that last longer than a few days. ie. pens, laundry powder packaging, toothpaste, floss. You get the idea. Do you not buy these items or reuse the containers?

]]> By: Rapunzel http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-111582 Rapunzel Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:47 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-111582 This is a great challenge! Not having a compost (yet) I'm not able to join you yet but I'll be reading & learning how you all do so hopefully I can jump on board sometime soon! This is a great challenge! Not having a compost (yet) I’m not able to join you yet but I’ll be reading & learning how you all do so hopefully I can jump on board sometime soon!

]]> By: Tiffany http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-111406 Tiffany Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:11:44 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-111406 Daria, Menstrual cups, sea sponge tampons, or cloth pads are green options. Daria,

Menstrual cups, sea sponge tampons, or cloth pads are green options.

]]> By: Daria http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-111403 Daria Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:25:45 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-111403 What do you do with feminine hygiene products? Can you actually deal with them in a "green" way or do you have to use a Diva Cup? (I live in a country with no green mentality. Recycling is barely starting out very shyly, so excuse the probably dumb question.) What do you do with feminine hygiene products? Can you actually deal with them in a “green” way or do you have to use a Diva Cup?
(I live in a country with no green mentality. Recycling is barely starting out very shyly, so excuse the probably dumb question.)

]]> By: Caroline Woodward http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-110827 Caroline Woodward Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:58:27 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-110827 This is a great idea. I have been so good at bringing my shopping bags to the market/grocery store, that I've run out of the stash of bags I've been using for trashcan liners. Perhaps this is the solution! This is a great idea. I have been so good at bringing my shopping bags to the market/grocery store, that I’ve run out of the stash of bags I’ve been using for trashcan liners. Perhaps this is the solution!

]]> By: Amber http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-110821 Amber Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:46:15 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-110821 I love the idea. I'm not sure that I'm ready, but you've made me re-think some of my excuses. I have greatly reduced my trash recently, I wonder what it would take to cut it in half. Hmm.... I love the idea. I’m not sure that I’m ready, but you’ve made me re-think some of my excuses. I have greatly reduced my trash recently, I wonder what it would take to cut it in half. Hmm….

]]> By: Martina http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-110778 Martina Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:29:37 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-110778 Love the idea. Am on board. I've always wanted a compost, and now we're building one. Thank you for this important post - it really got me motivated! I grew up in Germany, and my father had this weird ambition 20 years ago when recycling first became known/popular to reduce his trash to the absolute minimum. He was the first in our neighborhood to compost with worms - I was embarrassed back then, now I'm embarrassed that I didn't support him more. Love the idea. Am on board. I’ve always wanted a compost, and now we’re building one. Thank you for this important post – it really got me motivated! I grew up in Germany, and my father had this weird ambition 20 years ago when recycling first became known/popular to reduce his trash to the absolute minimum. He was the first in our neighborhood to compost with worms – I was embarrassed back then, now I’m embarrassed that I didn’t support him more.

]]> By: Lizzie http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-110744 Lizzie Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:38:23 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-110744 you have some great ideas I never thought of, like bring my own containers for left overs while eating out. brilliant! good luck!!! you have some great ideas I never thought of, like bring my own containers for left overs while eating out. brilliant! good luck!!!

]]> By: Michelle http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2009/06/23/the-go-trash-free-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-110680 Michelle Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:56:40 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=2997#comment-110680 There is a website called FREECYCLE. www.freecycle.org It's local so you can watch the stuff near you. If you really need -say: a new set of shelves; or are - say: wanting to get rid of a set that is still serviceable.... then this is a great place. They don't like resale people, but the recycling is great. That old monitor may not work for you, but a freecycle 'geek' might just know what to do to fix it and make it useful to him or her. If there's not one in your area, email the freecyclers and ask that they set up shop in your hometown. PS. Love this site!! There is a website called FREECYCLE.
http://www.freecycle.org
It’s local so you can watch the stuff near you. If you really need -say: a new set of shelves; or are – say: wanting to get rid of a set that is still serviceable…. then this is a great place. They don’t like resale people, but the recycling is great. That old monitor may not work for you, but a freecycle ‘geek’ might just know what to do to fix it and make it useful to him or her. If there’s not one in your area, email the freecyclers and ask that they set up shop in your hometown.

PS. Love this site!!

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