#221 - It's In The Bag

Using Biodegradable, Non-Plastic Trash Bags

This is the seventh change in my month-long pledge to give up plastics for Crunchy's Extreme Eco-Throwdown.

Let me tell you right off the bat, that I'm not 100% convinced that this alternative to plastic trash bags is the best solution to the problem of waste disposal. I have mixed feelings about any technology that uses corn (ie: ethanol fuel, bio-bags, etc.) for anything other than food. Especially when you consider the current world food market and the sharp increase seen in basic grains, just over the past year. However, the bio-bags are an alternative to petroleum-based garbage bags and, since plastic avoidance is the name of the game this month, I'm giving them a go.

For those of you who don't know, BioBags are 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable waste bags made from the material, Mater-Bi. Here's the LD from their website:

• BioBag products are certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute to meet the ASTM D6400 specification.


• BioBag products meet the new California law, SB 1749, for biodegradable and compostable product claims.


• BioBags are certified GMO Free. Furthermore, we only source corn from countries that do not allow GMO testing.


• No polyethylene is used in the production of BioBags.


• BioBags are DEN certified for restricted use of metals in our soy-based inks and dyes.
  BioBags are shelf stable, just like paper plates or paper towels. There are no chemical additives to enhance decomposition. The bags biodegrade naturally when expose to the earth’s elements and micro-organisms in the soil.


• BioBags “breathe”, which allows heat and moisture to escape or evaporate. This feature reduces bacterial build-up of collected waste, thus reducing odor.


• BioBags will decompose in a controlled composting environment in 10-45 days, leaving no harmful residues behind.


• BioBags will decompose in a natural setting at an extended rate comparable to other naturally biodegradable materials, such as paper, leaves and food waste.

Now, just so we're clear here, I'm not using these bags for my compost waste. All of my compost is collected in a tight-sealing tupperware-style container under my sink and is then dumped directly into the ol' Garden Gourmet. I'm instead using these bags for my regular trash that goes to the dump. "Why bother?", you ask. Great question, considering the bag will most likely never see the light of day or even enough air and dirt to cause decomposition anyhow.

I guess the reason I'm switching has less to do with the end of the process as the beginning. Meaning, if I have to toss something into a landfill, never to be seen again, I'd rather it come from a renewable resource like corn, rather than a non-renewable resource like oil.

So far, the bags are working quite well. My trash is relatively "clean" though, because I'm so anal about my recycling and composting. I don't know if they would hold up as well under the stress of soggy vegetables and wet cans and bottles. But, I'm guessing if you're thinking about compostable trash bags, odds are that you too are recycling and composting. If you're not - give them a try! Hell, if I can do it, ANYONE can!

So what are your thoughts on the biodegradable bags? Is there a better alternative available?

Day 139 - If It's So Good, Why Is It Leftover?

Replating Food When in a Metro Area

Today's post is about a really cool movement underway in major metropolitan areas. It is called replating and it's a wonderfully simple way to reduce waste while helping to feed the hungry.

When in an urban setting, simply place your unwanted leftovers (in a doggie bag of some sort) on top of the nearest trash can so they don't go to waste. The homeless and indigent can more easily access the food this way and it reduces the amount of organic waste that ends up in our landfills. It is truly a win-win situation. Here is the DL and some FAQ's from Replate's website:

We started this project because we noticed that people in West Coast cities and beyond were leaving their leftovers on top of (or next to) garbage cans when they couldn't find someone to give them to. We thought this behavior was worth talking about, so we gave it a name. Now that it has a name, there's been a lot of good conversation. Here are the issues that keep coming up:

Won't the food go bad and make people sick? People are eating food out of the trash. They are digging into public trash cans, pulling out old, dirty food, and eating it. Surely food that's on top of the trash, and not mixed in with the muck, is less likely to make a person ill. Surely food that's in plain sight and easily accessible will be picked up sooner (and thus in a fresher state) than food that's hidden in the trash.

The idea of food left outdoors feels messy. Some have worried that food will rot or that rats will get to it before hungry people do. This is a legitimate concern in small towns or sparsely populated areas, but certainly not in a town like San Francisco where, at any given moment, there are many people without enough to eat.

Why not just eat your own leftovers? Of course. Many of us do. But sometimes you just don't, for any number of reasons. Rather than toss 'em out, or go traipsing through the city looking for a hungry person, maybe the next best thing is to replate them.

Incompatible trash cans. Apparently, New York City trash cans don't have hoods or ledges, so there's no horizontal surface on which to replate. This isn't as big a problem as some have suggested. If you want to give someone the food you're not going to eat, simply put it next to the trash can, or on a newspaper dispenser.

Evil people. There's a strange paranoia in the conversation about evil people poisoning the food. Sure, it could happen. But you could also get pushed in front of the subway train. Or someone could put razor blades in your Halloween candy. People could betray your trust in any number of ways, but if you ride the subway, or eat Halloween candy, you know that the fear far outweighs the actual risk.

The City should officially get involved. Some have suggested formalizing a leftovers drop-off point like a food bank, free dining room, or some city-sponsored receptacle. We think that's a great idea. Make it happen.

If replating your leftovers counts as activism, then the bar for activism is set way too low. Maybe that's true, but though the first steps of activism (however you define it) are small ones, they form the foundation for the giant leaps to come. And replate is just the beginning of a conversation that we hope will inspire greater action. And don't forget that this is an open-source movement. It's yours as much as anybody's, and you can build on it however you want. So if you don't think it's activism yet. And if you want to make replate bigger and badder and more hardcore, we've got a hunch you'll get all the support you'll need.

As you all know, I'm a big, fat chicken when it comes to going downtown here in Richmond, but it I do occasionally find myself in a metro area and I'm sure you do too. So the next time I eat out in a city and can't finish my food, I'll be getting a doggy-bag to replate. Hopefully, by posting about the idea, I will also inspire others, who may dine out more than I, to do the same.

Savings:

Hmmmm, three times a year? So, three plates of food. But how many of you will do it? And how many people will you tell? If nothing else, it's an interesting topic, bring it up at your next cocktail party and we'll get this idea going, k?


Difficulty Level: 1 out of 5

Leave doggy bag on trash can so someone else can enjoy your leftover rigatoni. Besides, you know it won't taste the same once you get it home and nuke it.

Day 110 - Ixnay on the Apwray

No Wrapping Paper This Year

Before I start the post, is it just me or does Blogger seem to change the paragraphs on everyone else out there too? I mean, I can have all my paragraph spacing the way I want it, hit "Publish" and BOOM! Suddenly I have about 37 carriage returns

between

each

thought.

Except today when it decided to squishallmyparagraphstogetherlikeonebigrunonsentence,similartothisonerighthere.

Rant over, posting starts here.

OK, continue with my Holiday Plan, this year I will not purchase any gift wrap for the presents I buy. Instead I will:

1. Reuse the gift bags I currently have
2. Reuse the tissue paper stash I have
3. Wrap in comics (for gift giving at home, so I know it will be recycled)
4. Sew up Gift Bags
5. Make bows out of real ribbons that can be reused

Personally, I've always done #1 and #2, not because I've always been eco-conscious, but because I've always been cheap.

I used to do #3 when I was a kid and I'm sure my kids will like it too. I need to start saving those comics now though, to make sure I have enough.

I've done #4 a couple of times with hard-to-wrap items and it's really quite a simple task. It helps that I sew for a meager living and have all the tools and materials already handy.

#5 will be tricky for me, though. I've never been a good bow-tier (that doesn't look like "Tie-Er", which is what I mean to say, not "tier" like a wedding cake layer). Anyhow, I'm going to stop by Michaels and see if one of those crafty ladies will show me how to make a fancy bow.


Savings:

If I remember correctly, last year we stuffed two 13 gallon trash bags with wrapping paper, gift tags, bows and other miscellaneous trimmings. This year, I hope to cut that number in half. At least in half.


Difficulty Level: 2 out of 5

Knowing that I'll have to be creative in my wrapping, and possibly have to sew gift bags, I think I will be more motivated to keep the shear number of gifts to a minimum! Good for the earth, good for the cheapskate's wallet.

Day 105 - You Gotta Keep 'Em Separated

Separating Recyclables from Non-Recyclables

OK, you're thinking "WTF? Didn't this crazy bitch already post that she was recycling, like way back in JUNE?" Yes, I did. And don't call me a crazy bitch. I am not crazy. What I'm trying to say is that when I have some packaging (think CFL packages, rechargeable batteries, kids' toys, etc.) that is a co-mingling of cardboard, paper, metal and non-recyclable plastic, I will take the time to separate all the little recyclable bits from the non-recyclable bits and dispose of each of them properly, rather than just heave a sigh, curse the manufacturer, and toss it in the trash.

This is sometimes easier said than done. For example, young Ethan received a fair number of toys for his birthday last month and separating the recyclables from the nons took about 20 minutes. They use super-sticky Kryptonite tape to attach plastic doodads to the box and you need a machete to separate the plastics from the cardboard. Fortunately, this crazy bitch has a machete and is not afraid to use it. [That should scare off the Internet stalkers, eh?]


Savings:

Another difficult one to quantify. Daily, not a huge savings, but on holidays, birthdays, etc. it will really add up quickly.


Difficulty Level: 2 out of 5

Not too bad, on a day-to-day basis, but attacking a pile of plasticardboard boxes in December is going to take its toll. Crazy bitch will have her hands full then.

Day Ninety-Three - Appliance Heaven

Recycling Our Old Washing Machine

If you recall, a couple of months ago our washine machine bit the dust. We replaced it with an uber-efficient LG Front Loader and I tried to Freecycle the old one. This is the first time I have offered something on Freecycle that absolutely no one wanted. I mean, these people gobbled up my used cleaning supplies and old air fresheners, I can't believe no one would want a broken washing machine -- even if it's just to geet some cash for the scrap metal. Oh well. Looks like I'll have to take it to the dump :-( Or do I?.....

Clickety-click-click, enter The Steel Recycling Institute (dun-da-da-DAH!). The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) is an industry association that promotes and sustains the recycling of all steel products. The SRI educates the solid waste industry, government, business and ultimately the consumer about the benefits of steel's infinite recycling cycle. They rock.

On their site, I was able to access a database of appliance recyclers in my area and found that Gene's Appliances right down the road would be delighted to take my dead washer. I am hoping that they are able to 1. fix it and sell it or 2. harvest its internal parts so that other machines may live. Either way, I will be a happy little camper know that I kept a 150 pound chunk of metal out of the landfill. And I'm sure my washer will be happy to be helping others clean clothing and linens once again.


Savings:

One greatful wachine machine and one eco-conscience.


Difficulty Level: 2 out of 5

Not as easy as Freecyclin', since I'll have to load it and take there (Gene doesn't have a truck) but no more difficult than taking it to the dump or any other disposal facility.

Day Sixty-Five - Black Gold

Starting a Compost Pile

Oh happy day, happy day!!!! My Garden Gourmet composter arrived today and I can't WAIT to get it set up! It took a while to find a compost container that wouldn't draw too much attention from the Home-Owner's Association, but I think this is a keeper! It is supposedly critter-proof and can be placed in a shady area -- which is good because that's the only place my HOA will allow me to put it.

I have a whole gooey, slimey bucket of kitchen scraps and coffee grounds under the kitchen sink that I'm excited to dump into my new composter. I started saving them about three weeks ago, hoping that having a stinking pile of garbage fester in my kitchen would motivate me to get the composter. It did, but not quickly enough, as I had to resort to tossing out some food scraps this past week because my under-the-sink container was full. I hope I don't gag when I dump it out.

Why did I decide to start composting? Well, according to an article published by the Environmental Defense Fund, organic waste accounts for approximately 21 percent of the waste stream in the United States. Landfilling organic waste is highly inefficient because the lack of oxygen inside of the landfill causes decomposition to occur slowly. This produces methane gas and acidic leachate. In addition to contributing to the environmental problems created by landfills, organic waste takes up valuable space that could be used for other waste products.

I am so happy to be doing my part to help reduce the amount of organic waste being sent to landfills! I will be tossing all my scraps (except meat) into my composter and turning it every few days. By spring, I hope to have enough beautiful, dark compost to fill a large portion of my yet-to-be-constructed vegetable garden!

Savings:

If I do it correctly, I should be able to eliminate virtually all of my organic waste. The only items I won't be able to put in the compost are dairy and meats, which I can dispose of mostly through the garbage disposal. The only "throw aways" I can think of that I can't avoid are chicken bones. My goal is to get to a point where my landfill trash is so "clean", that I'll be able to cancel the weekly trash pickup (at $66 per quarter) and just take my one bag of trash in the minivan down to the dump. I should save enough money in a year to cover the cost of the composter!

Difficulty Level: 3 out of 5

In theory, composting is very simple. Save your scraps, toss them in a pile and turn it occasionally. And it is that simple if you live out in the country, but for a whole lot of Americans living in suburbia, we must find a solution that will not offend our unenlightened neighbors and HOA's.

So, for now, I'll be forced to hide my dull, black composter in the shadows, behind my "privacy lattice" where such uglies as trash cans and air handlers are kept. Yes, progress is slow, my friends, but if we keep pushing, the day will come when the suburban composter will be viewed as an elegant beautiful lawn accessory, available in an array of colors, perhaps even sporting the logo for your favorite college team.

Day Three - Picking Up the Pace (and Trash)

PICKING UP TRASH IN PUBLIC PLACES

This one was totally unplanned, but sometimes that's where the best ideas come from. I've been reading a lot about how trash impacts wild animals and really messes up their habitats. We live in a suburban development situated on a large reservoir with lots of "common areas" that are park-like. There are lots of ducks, geese, turtles and fish that hang out in these areas and it was most likely their home long before our house was built.

So today the kids and I went to the park for playgroup -- a club where about a dozen or so moms and their kids get together once a week to play. While we were playing, I couldn't help notice the litter there - not so much that you would be grossed out - just the average amount you usually see at any American park. There were two plastic bottles, a sweettarts wrapper, an empty chip bag, some plastic of some sort, hershey kiss wrappers and cigarette butts. As the kids were feeding the ducks their goldfish and raisins, I couldn't help but think what nasty creatures they must think we are, to leave all this trash on the ground -- especially when there is a trash receptacle right there.

Now, in the past I would have admonished my children for touching any of this garbage -- "It's yucky! Don't touch it!" but today I didn't. Today, in fact, I went around and picked up all this trash and told each of my children to go FIND a piece of trash to pick up and put in the garbage can. They looked at me like I was a martian! I was a little embarrassed to be playing janitor right there in front of the other moms, but no one seemed to notice, or if they did, they were kind enough not to laugh at me!

SAVINGS:

None for me, personally, but I think the ducks appreciated it.

DIFFICUTLY LEVEL: 1 out of 5

It was a little embarrassing, but it certainly wasn't back-breaking labor. I think from now on, I'll take a bag with me (reusable, of course) when we go on walks to pick up what others either dropped or were rude enough to leave behind. If nothing else, it will make our corner of the world a little nicer to live in.