Environmental Angst - Part 2

First, Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

A few weeks ago on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on NPR, one of the jokes was about people seeking counseling for managing their environmental guilt. It was meant to be funny but I think that many of us are struggling with our feelings about how to help the environment particularly since there is only so much private citizens can do. I have ready numberous articles in magazines and online but it seems as if they are all repeating the same 10-20 things.

Now, what is the Team doing to make our planet a little greener?

Well, here's our list:

1. CR uses cloth diapers 90% of the time. The other part of the time we use paper diapers because I am not a martyr.

2. We recycle every single scrap of paper that comes into our house unless it has our name, address, SSN or other identifying information. CR reuses many of them first as her “files”. Only she really knows what she is using them for but they make her happy so we let her play with the paper.

3. We are paperless with our bank and we pay all of our bills online. Saves postage too!

4. We buy local veggies and meat when they are available. There are great farmer's markets here. We are looking into a co-op, more information on that one later.

5. I make most of our household cleaners, bath and beauty products.

6. I reuse almost all of the glass containers coming into the house. I havn't been able to locate a place that will take household glass here.

7. We get most of our books from the library or paperbackswap.com

8. I trade magazines and catalogs with friends - I LOVE magazines and catalogs. I know that the really environmentally responsible thing would be to cancel them all together but there is something about leafing through a new mag/catalog that is such a simple pleasure that I am unwilling to give it up at this point. It's a personality flaw and I’ll work of this one...

9. We have familiarized ourselves with our local household chemical waste collection facility. This is important, if you are using compact flourescent bulbs as they are hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly - if you put them in the trash they will pollute earth and water (see yesterday’s post). They also collect household cleaning chemicals , paint and other things that should not go in the trash. Follow this link to find out yours.

10. We just joined Freecycle. I have been a frequent donator to the Goodwill but this is an extra step in putting fewer things in the trash.

Our future plans are to eliminate the following from our lives - parabens, pthalates, sodium laureth sulfate, all paper bills, and incandescent light bulbs. The last one is tough being married to a lighting designer. I want to plant a vegetable garden this summer and learn how to can vegetables, especially tomotoes. In the more distant future, is a more environmentally friendly car. M. wants an electric vehicle.

I would love to hear other’s suggestions...In the meantime...deep breaths.