Making Improvements
If you’ve read or watched the news lately, you know that climate change is a common topic. Here are a few ways you can help slow it down.
First, recycling! Be sure to follow your municipality’s instructions as to what can be recycled. In Mercer County, residential recycling is done at the county-level (not counting apartment complexes, who often have their own contractor). Mistakes are commonly made. Many may been seen during a simple drive on pickup day. Can pizza boxes be recycled? NO. Yes, it is cardboard, but cardboard cannot be recycled if contaminated by food. When was the last time you saw a used but completely unstained pizza box? Don’t put it in your recycling container. Other cardboard or paperboard items? Absolutely. Don’t forget those paper towel or toilet paper rolls!
To recycle plastic, first look for the number in the triangle. Plastic recycling in Mercer County is limited to types 1 and 2. These are fairly common - type 1 (PETE, polyethylene terephthalate) are items like water and soda bottles, and type 2 (HDPE, high-density polyethylene) are items like detergent jugs. Beware of types 3 and 5, thin plastics usually found in trays or yogurt containers. Also of jug lids – while your gallon water jug may be type 1, frequently the lid itself is 5, which is not recyclable. Plastic bags (usually type 4) are a BIG NO as they can jam the sorting machinery. Once a rarity, most supermarkets now have a collection bin out front for their used (clean!) bags. The air bubble packing material in your delivery boxes? Check the number, a fair amount of them are also type 4. Deflate them for ease of packing with your shopping bags (noisy fun for kids or the kid in us!).
Since we’ve mentioned bags, consider bringing your own to the grocery store. Most markets sell them, and some charity organizations give them as pledge items. Even better is the good old canvas tote bag. Usually larger than a standard shopping bag, the heavy canvas can hold more items and will last longer. Leave one or two bags in your car and soon you’ll stop forgetting to bring them into the store. Be careful with leaving them in there for too many months – the sun will slowly weaken thinner bags.
For purchases at the grocery store, buy larger amounts if possible so there is less packaging to throw out. Consider the container as well. Is it glass, or plastic? If the latter, what number, what type? Choose those 1 & 2 plastics that can be recycled over others if at all possible. Some items don’t give us a choice, like type 5 for prescription bottles. Try to save a few of those for storing little things like nails or paper clips. If you can’t recycle, try to re-use.
Switching gears (yeah, couldn’t help that) to cars. Should you switch from a big truck to a hybrid? Yes, but ideally it would be sold to another driver, as opposed to someone that will sell it for parts. We want to avoid adding to the waste stream and landfills. It is better to take care of your existing older vehicle until it’s on its last legs, to keep it out of the dump for as long as possible. Try to make your next vehicle hybrid or electric (although charging options may preclude that choice).
To help reduce greenhouse gases and pollution, switch to a more plant-based diet. You will help your health and the environment at the same time.
Walking and bicycling, while admirable choices, unfortunately aren’t always practical. Composting is good, and useful too if you have a garden, but again not practical for some households. Try to do what you can to make things better for the environment in general, and future generations in particular. Your children and grandchildren will thank you for trying.
Some titles to get you started:
Ecothrifty: Cheaper, Greener Choices for a Happier, Healthier Life by Deborah Niemann
Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce your Trash by Shia Su
A Plant-based Life: Your Complete Guide to Great Food, Radiant Health, Boundless Energy, and a Better Body by Micaela Cook Karlsen
Permaculture for the Rest of Us by Jenni Blackmore
First, recycling! Be sure to follow your municipality’s instructions as to what can be recycled. In Mercer County, residential recycling is done at the county-level (not counting apartment complexes, who often have their own contractor). Mistakes are commonly made. Many may been seen during a simple drive on pickup day. Can pizza boxes be recycled? NO. Yes, it is cardboard, but cardboard cannot be recycled if contaminated by food. When was the last time you saw a used but completely unstained pizza box? Don’t put it in your recycling container. Other cardboard or paperboard items? Absolutely. Don’t forget those paper towel or toilet paper rolls!
To recycle plastic, first look for the number in the triangle. Plastic recycling in Mercer County is limited to types 1 and 2. These are fairly common - type 1 (PETE, polyethylene terephthalate) are items like water and soda bottles, and type 2 (HDPE, high-density polyethylene) are items like detergent jugs. Beware of types 3 and 5, thin plastics usually found in trays or yogurt containers. Also of jug lids – while your gallon water jug may be type 1, frequently the lid itself is 5, which is not recyclable. Plastic bags (usually type 4) are a BIG NO as they can jam the sorting machinery. Once a rarity, most supermarkets now have a collection bin out front for their used (clean!) bags. The air bubble packing material in your delivery boxes? Check the number, a fair amount of them are also type 4. Deflate them for ease of packing with your shopping bags (noisy fun for kids or the kid in us!).
Since we’ve mentioned bags, consider bringing your own to the grocery store. Most markets sell them, and some charity organizations give them as pledge items. Even better is the good old canvas tote bag. Usually larger than a standard shopping bag, the heavy canvas can hold more items and will last longer. Leave one or two bags in your car and soon you’ll stop forgetting to bring them into the store. Be careful with leaving them in there for too many months – the sun will slowly weaken thinner bags.
For purchases at the grocery store, buy larger amounts if possible so there is less packaging to throw out. Consider the container as well. Is it glass, or plastic? If the latter, what number, what type? Choose those 1 & 2 plastics that can be recycled over others if at all possible. Some items don’t give us a choice, like type 5 for prescription bottles. Try to save a few of those for storing little things like nails or paper clips. If you can’t recycle, try to re-use.
Switching gears (yeah, couldn’t help that) to cars. Should you switch from a big truck to a hybrid? Yes, but ideally it would be sold to another driver, as opposed to someone that will sell it for parts. We want to avoid adding to the waste stream and landfills. It is better to take care of your existing older vehicle until it’s on its last legs, to keep it out of the dump for as long as possible. Try to make your next vehicle hybrid or electric (although charging options may preclude that choice).
To help reduce greenhouse gases and pollution, switch to a more plant-based diet. You will help your health and the environment at the same time.
Walking and bicycling, while admirable choices, unfortunately aren’t always practical. Composting is good, and useful too if you have a garden, but again not practical for some households. Try to do what you can to make things better for the environment in general, and future generations in particular. Your children and grandchildren will thank you for trying.
Some titles to get you started:
- by, Dennis, West Windsor Branch
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