A No Brainer: Reusable Grocery Bags

I don't know why I didn't make the switch sooner. I went grocery shopping Saturday and spent $200, $3.96 (+ tax) of which went towards four reusable shopping bags at Giant Food Store (displayed next to the plastic and paper at the end of the check out line).  All of my groceries fit easily in these four bags.  If I would have gone with my norm of plastic I would have had at least six more bags to carry (hanging uncomfortably up my arms cutting off my circulation all while praying that they didn't rip)!  Not only were the bags easier to use, they also held the groceries better than plastic on my ride home, they also did not tear! Plastic is a hassle!  In my opinion, plastic grocery bags are not convenient or smart in any way.  Honestly, make the switch, if not for the environment do it because it MAKES MORE SENSE and it is SO MUCH EASIER! I have to wonder if we are a society of convenience or we just really have a thing for plastic!

You can also find these bags on +Dr. Mercola's website for only $1.97. His bags are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. He is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to living better.

If you don't decide to make the switch, there is a recycling container for your used plastic bags at most grocers.

Inconvenienced by the Convenient

Working on becoming a better consumer this past week has been challenging. It's amazing how my life had conformed around convenience and not what is ethical. Unfortunately, I think most Americans conform as I did.

I know the idea of wasting less does not seem astronomical, but you should try it. Once you are stuck in your ways it is very difficult to change your norm, or maybe it's just me. I question everything I do now. I managed to only toss 5% of what I would typically, but it took work. I had to pick through my full trash can twice to sort out the recyclable and compostables, both times were nauseating.

I also had to do my homework. I didn't realize how little I knew until I started sorting through my trash. I contacted the township to find out the do's and don't's of recycling. They were a huge help. I also downloaded a great app called WGW Recycle. It made it so easy, you type in what you want to recycle and it tells you exactly what to do with it. It even directs you to local recycling sites that take some of the things are typically not accepted.

Our fast paced society that demands convenience has made it so difficult to live life otherwise. Everything we eat, drink or buy is individually packaged to make things fast and easy. I have to quickly to make some process changes for my family and me or it will never work. What I learned from the app and the township was a start, but I have a whole lot more work to do to have an easy, streamlined system.

Wasted

Let's dive right in...

I ran out of trash bags this morning. I was forced to watch what I wasted for a full 12 hours today. That doesn't seem like a long time, but you would be surprised how much stuff you actually throw away without a second thought.

In a typical week my family throws away almost a full 100 gallons of trash. For $26 I have my waste picked up once a week and taken out of site so I can carry on with a clear conscience. Keep in mind, my family consists of my husband, step daughter (half the week), 6 month old daughter and me. That's not exactly a huge family, but a huge amount of waste. I am ashamed. I live two miles from a land fill so the effects are somewhat visible.

I had an 'opportunity' to clean out a hoarders house last month and see the effects first hand. We threw away 30 years of trash equaling five construction size dumpsters from one small 1000 sq ft house. At first I was angry at the family and how much we were forced to dispose of. Then I realized, that is probably the typical amount of waste from an average American household for that time span just hidden by the innocent trash truck that tow it to Neverland. Wow, there is so much wrong with that mentality and that was my mentality.

So, in that 12 hours without a trash can I began to second guess the things that I was using. It sounds gross, but I stacked a pile of trash by my front door in a box. I was forced to make better decisions. Instead of paper towels I used rags. My moldy bread went to the birds. Cans, bottles and bags went in recycling. The rest of my meal went to the compost. Any papers went in the burn pile (I know, I know, but one problem at a time). By the end of the day I was left with only dirty diapers to dispose of. What would have been a half full trash can remains almost empty. I guess it's time to consider cloth diapers, yikes!

Finally, since I am not prepared to become 100% environmentally friendly I went to buy trash bags before dinner and I came across the brand "seventh generation" that uses 55% recycled plastic. It is said to "dramatically reduce toxic pollution." Out of the many options, this was the only trash bag geared towards slowing down our wasteful devastation, so I bought it. I haven't researched the brand yet, but I like what I have read.

What a small step in the opposite direction, but it is a beginning. If we remain complacent, my daughters generation is going to end up in a world like the movie Idiocracy. If you haven't seen it, it's worth the $1 at RedBox. I challenge you to question your norm and share your stories of waste and what you are willing to change to make this world a better place for generations to come.