My transition from cluttered to simple living.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Oh... How easy it is...

How easy it is to become complacent.  Life gets busy and all conviction goes out the window.  Certain members of this household have become complacent.  We run the water a little too long for our shower.  We use too much TP.  We forget to turn off the water as we brush our teeth.  The biggest and most harmful practice we have not altered enough, is our use of plastics.

Plastic bags harm the environment.  They do not biodegrade.  They hurt animals.  They become litter.  Petroleum is used in their manufacture.  We have become pretty good at staying away from using them, as our local program does not recycle plastic bags.  Unfortunately, our wood pellets come packaged in plastic bags.  Fortunately my daughter can recycle these bags at her curbside.

Another great culprit is the plastic containers that ready-made chicken and certain fruits are sold in.  Hubby has been tossing these in the recycling bin and they have never been left...however...our program does not process these containers.  Our eating habits are going to change...now.

We live a distance from stores, and farmer's markets now.  Fruit is not quite in season.  It is too hot to cook.  I forgot my plastic bag.  These are the excuses I often use when I become complacent. 

What excuse do you use?


4 comments:

  1. true..plastic bags shouldn't be used.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Our city is going to charge for plastic bags, but I've been using my portable one for years now. After use it goes back into my purse and opens up to carry as much as I ever want to buy at one time. It's the plastic containers that I wonder how to reduce my use of. I think they are burned in the garbage, but I'm not at all sure about that...

    ReplyDelete
  3. My husband and I are not on the same page with this. I bought a bunch of re-usable grocery bags, and he keeps getting plastic ones at the grocery store because they are free garbage can liners. BUT he will use the fabric ones when a supply for the garbage cans has built up. It's a compromise.

    What I want to know is if everyone uses reusable for shopping - what are they using for the garbage cans in their homes?!?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Our garbage collector will empty a small container without a garbage bag, Sue. (a 77 L can.). I aiming in this direction...not quite there yet. MNow that life is slower I can refocus.

    ReplyDelete