One more day to go and I'll weigh it all to get a total for the week. To give you a sneak peak, we've already tallied a petite cat's weight in litter box treasures. :p
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| Moma, I helpink cleen this cat fud can befour you recykle it. |
Paper is Not Obsolete, Yet
While modern technology is allowing us to do a lot more without using paper, we're not totally independent of it yet... (hee hee, watch this 40 seconds of awesomeness!)
So let's talk about paper. It comes from trees. 'Nuff said. Here are some tricks we use in our house to help the trees...
Reduce!
A lot of the paper waste from our house is in the form of junkmail. Make it stop!
• Opt out of credit card solicitation mailings by calling 1-888-5 OPT OUT or opting out online.
• Call catalog companies (using the number on the catalog) and ask them to take you off their list.
• Try the National Do Not Mail List. The idea is that businesses don't want to waste marketing money on someone who wants off the list so they will voluntarily take you off. I'm skeptical but have signed up and will see what happens.
And some non-junkmail tips:
• Sign up for paperless online bill pay with credit cards, utility companies, etc.
• Shop with reusable grocery bags.
• Get your reading material from the local library.
• Buy used books.
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| And save: I got this book at a garage sale for 50 cents; retail price is $9.95. |
• Use cloth napkins and rags instead of paper napkins and paper towels. Use a hankie instead of a disposable tissue. Caspian told me it was the best choice for the environment.
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| This hankee smelz like nose. |
Reuse!
• If paper is only printed or written on one side, use it for scrap paper or cut and staple pieces together so they become little notepads. I don't remember the last time I bought a notepad.
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| I rote you an importint note. |
• Wrap presents in last year's pretty calendar pages. Or use scrap paper or old paper bags and decorate them yourself for a personal touch.
Recycle!
• Recycle everything you can.
• Buy recycled paper products!
Please share any tips you have for reducing paper waste!
One great thing about smart phones is that you can write notes, reminders,, and my favorite shopping lists!! So you cut out note pads and post-its.
ReplyDeletepaper is renewable, but when you use cloth you have to wash it with fresh water and your washing machine is powered by coal. also, cats are disgusting.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, Portland General Electric (which supplies Mandy's small apartment) has a green energy plan where 42% of the energy is low-impact hydro power, 56% wind energy and 2% biomass. So no coal.
ReplyDeleteAs for paper: one ream of paper would require between 7 and 17 gallons of water to make. Throwing a hanky or two into each load of laundry that you would be running anyways results in no change in water consumption.
And while I am much more of a dog person, cats are pretty cool too.
Great article Mandy!