I sort of abandoned the other post and came to this one because I am currently working to make my current home city a plastic bag free town. Not as easy as I had made it out to be in my head (so many voices), but I am not going to give up (that would be pretty lame to give up right after I just started, and even I am not that lame (I don't think)). Now it was not just the plastic bags lead be me here (here being "back to basics"). I came to this post because I also heard a quote the other day that for me really sums up my whole attitude or ideas about waste. All the quote said was when you throw something away, where is away? There is no away (Thanks Bag It the movie). So spot on. There is no away, it always goes somewhere. I have attempted a few times to say this, just not so eloquently, by butchering and skewing the law in physics that states matter, is neither created nor destroyed, but it was the same point I was trying to drive home. So enough already why I am writing, how about getting to the bags, bottles, and boxes.
Bags: Use your own reusable grocery bag. So easy. Never take plastic and help save the world. Not really a lot you can say about this idea. And as I have mentioned many times before do not limit your use of reusable bags to grocery stores. Reusable bags can be used anywhere. So lets just be clear do not take plastic bags. If you can think of other ways to limit your plastic in take, then do that too. But a super easy starting point, is just saying no to the single use plastic bag. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am now you can check that save the world to do item off your list.
Bottles: Now I am sure that you think I may be talking about water bottles, and I am not not talking about water bottles here, but the specific reference I was trying to make here was hotel shampoo bottles. So lets take this one in steps. Step one, never drink bottled water. Again so easy, and so cheap. Just get any sort of reusable bottle fill it with water and drink that. Remember tap water in most places is regulated more than what is sold to you in water bottles. Also if you think about the amount of energy it takes to make and transport disposable water bottles, I am certain you will probably find it easier to walk over to the tap. OK so now that we got those bottles out of the way we can tackle step two of bottles. Which is hotel shampoo bottles. Similar to Leftover Love and taking your own shopping bag, we need to get hotels to stop using disposable shampoo bottles. I wrote about a hotel we stayed in last year that was just amazing. They offered all the same amenities (and more) that people have come to expect, but what was different was that nothing was disposable. Their shampoo was in super cute little clay bottles that they just refilled when empty. So easy. So simple. Every hotel should be doing this. Imagine the savings, not only to their bottom line, but to the stuff going to the landfill. And lets be honest the shampoo that is generally provided is not the kind one would prefer to have any way, usually the chemical kind that is not good for you. And I do not want any more little shampoo bottles coming home with me anyway, I want less stuff now thank you. And this solves that issue, and some other bigger ones as well. And since you cannot always take your own shampoo due to air safety regulations you are not forced to buy anything extra, but know that the waste you are creating by travel is being reduced by the super smart people in hotel industry. (Disclaimer, travel is a guilty pleasure, that we work hoard and save up in order to be able to do it. I know it is not always good for the planet, but travel and my bad habits are not what the post is about, will save that for next time).
Boxes: And lastly we come to boxes, and all I have to say here is LEFTOVER LOVE. Take your own container or box if you ever eat out, and that way you are never forced to the take the disposable option the restaurant may offer. (Disclaimer, again ignoring that eating out is not environmentally friendly, but please note that saving leftovers is very eco friendly). Every little bit counts, and the more an individual can keep out of the landfill the better off we all will be. Side note I would like to mention that I was out for a small celebration the other night and offered to give a stranger my clean and unused reusable container so she did not have to take the polystyrene box they were offering her, and she turned me down. But at least I tried, and hopefully next time she will have her own because I could see she liked the idea, just maybe not the crazy trying to give her a container.
So in closing (like how formal I have become) I would like to add that I know these are all small ways to help, but they will add up fast and make a huge difference if enough people start. I would also like to add, as a reminder for myself and others, that there are so many people on this planet that survive on a whole lot less than I do, so doing small actions such as the ones mentioned above should be a no brainer. It is the ones with the advantages, that have access and the means (because disposable ain't cheap) to afford a disposable lifestyles that need to start making some sacrifices (if you can call taking your own bag or container as a sacrifice). I am going to end here because I can say no more. Oh wait I lied, use less, reduce, reduce, reduce.
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