Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Trash Count: Day 29

Here's what's in our home trash count after 29 days:
- 1 bandaid
- 1 deflated blister pack
- 1 empty bottle of aftershave
- 1 Mi Pueblo shopping bag (we brought home from camping to transport a dirty pan because we forgot our pot scrubber)
- 1 broken flashlight
- 1 flower preserver packet (with a beautiful bouquet for flowers from a friend wrapped in paper with a rafia bow)
- 1 plastic sleeve liner from incense (I thought it was just wrapped in recycled paper)
- 1 gum pack wrapper (a favor a party)
- 1 lollypop wrapper (on a gift from a friend)
- 2 quarters sleeves from the bank (we have coin laundry)
- 2 hot sause packets (we needed breakfast burritos ;)
- 1 plastic ring from either yogurt or some other jarred food

I see a theme here, yes plastic! We both try not to throw anything away all of the time, but we're not crazy strict either. We reuse and recycle as much as possible too.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Trash Count: Day 19

Like the previous weekend, I went on a trip and produced some trash. This time it was camping but my husband and I did our best effort to shop zero waste for that trip, use reusables as much as we could and reuse disposables. We also went to a pool party where we shared a paper plate, drank to beer in glass bottles and used a plastic cup a few times for beverages. For the most part I feel ok about the waste we produced this past weekend. 
Here's what's in our home trash count:
- 1 bandaid
- 1 deflated blister pack
- 1 empty bottle of aftershave
- 1 Mi Pueblo shopping bag (we brought home from camping to transport a dirty pan because we forgot our pot scrubber)
- 1 broken flashlight
- 1 flower preserver packet (with a beautiful bouquet for flowers from a friend wrapped in paper with a rafia bow)
- 1 plastic sleeve liner from incense (I thought it was just wrapped in recycled paper)
- 1 gum pack wrapper (a favor from a party)
- 1 lollypop wrapper (on a gift from a friend)
- 2 quarters sleeves from the bank (we have coin laundry)


Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Trash Count: Day 14

In our trash after 14 days of we have 3 items. 2 of which I'm still not convinced are trash. 

- 1 bandaid
- 1 deflated blister pack 
- 1 empty bottle of aftershave



They came from...
- bandaid, we are using all the bandaids we have already bought. We'll move to cotton gauze and paper tape when we're out.
- blister pack, I compulsively bought a new one piece bathing suit on sale online. It came in a plastic shipping envelope inside another plastic bag next to a plastic blisterpack. Such wasteful and excessive packaging for a bathing suit and it's not even flattering! (note to self: don't do that again!) I am reusing the two bags that's why they aren't part of this count.
- aftershave, that's my husbands. He used up this last bottle and decided he doesn't need aftershave anymore. Score!

I want to add that this is our trash from our home only. I did go out of town over the weekend with a group of friends and produced some trash. I used my own jars and bags for everything I brought but was not in control of what others brought and used. I did my part to be zero waste but was in a house that ended up throwing a way a few bags of trash. It was a good learning experience to see how 'normal' it is to be wasteful and to know it could have been largely avoided was hard.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Recipe: Homemade Lip Balm

This recipe is a combination of a few that I found on the internet and tweaked to what worked for me. I've made it a few times and love it. You can use it on your lips and on dry skin. Just don't slather it on at the beach because your lips will burn, I learned my lesson the hard way.

I purchased a one pound block of local beeswax unpackaged from the Beekind stand in the Ferry Building. I use a cheese grater to make shavings because it's easier to melt. Almond oil was purchased in bulk from Rainbow Grocery. I bought the tin new at the Container Store but next time I think I'll try reusing a mint tin. 

Ingredients:

- 2 tbsp beeswax shavings
- 4 tbsp almond oil

Directions: Heat beeswax shavings and oil together in a glass jar inside a pot with an inch of water until melted then pour into a tin to set up. 


You can also try adding a bit of lipstick or mineral pigment for a tinted balm. I've tried this recipe with coconut oil as well and the ratio wasn't working, you have to use a lot more beeswax to oil so I just stick with almond oil.


{Homemade lip balm in a tin}

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Trash Count: Day 9

At this point we don't produce much trash at all. Part of moving towards a zero waste lifestyle is examining what you do end up throwing away and ultimately sending to a landfill. 

As an experiment I'm going to keep tabs on the trash we collect in our home. My husband usually halls down our giant trash can to the curb about once every 4 months. Lately I think it's been less then that, so this is an experiment to watch our trash a bit more closely. 

After 9 days the only piece of trash we've produced in our home is a piece of plastic packing tape that I received from a USPS box in the mail for my Mother's Day gifts.
{Used packing tape}

I was pretty positive that this indeed was trash and not recyclable but as part of my ongoing research I scoured the internet trying to find answers. Turns out that the tape is recyclable after all(sort of, recycling includes incinerating plastic and adhesive residue which is a recycling byproduct, not ideal!). This reduces our 9 day trash count to 0, that magical number. I'll keep you posted on what actually does end up in the bin headed to landfill.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Non-toxic Alternative: White Vinegar

White vinegar is a staple in our household. We buy it in either 1/2 gallon plastic jugs or 1 liter glass bottles because we have not been able to find it sold in bulk. We use it to clean pretty much everything on a day to day basis in our natural 'all-purpose cleaner' and I keep discovering new uses for it. Here's how we are currently using organic white vinegar.


{All-purpose cleaner in a stainless steal spray bottle}

Cleaning:
- All purpose cleaner (for all household surfaces and spills)
- Natural soft scrub (tile, toilet, sink and shower cleaner)
- Room deodorizer (fill half a ramekin and leave where there's odor)
- Microwave cleaner (fill half a ramekin, microwave for a minute, wipe clean)
- Dishwasher rinse (pour in rinse receptacle)
- Fabric softener (add to rinse receptacle)
- Sink sparkler (fill sink with water and a cup of vinegar, soak, wipe down)
- Goo gone alternative (use straight on sticky spills on carpet and on sticker adhesive)

Cooking:
- Poached eggs (a splash in the water helps whites stay together)

How do you use white vinegar?

Monday, May 6, 2013

Recipe: Almond Milk

Making almond milk is much easier then most people think. It's fresh, better tasting and much less expensive then store bought. It can be enjoyed with cereal, tea, coffee and in baking recipe's as a substitute for milk. How do you use your almond milk?

Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted organic almonds (bought in bulk)
- 4 cups water
- 1 tbs local honey (or 1 date, bought in bulk)

Directions:
1. Soak almonds in at least an inch of water in the refrigerator overnight. 

2. Strain, then rince soaked almonds with water.

3. Place soaked and strained almonds into blender with 4 fresh cups of water and honey.

4. Place chinoise over a bowl (you can use a cheese cloth or nut milk bag too), pour blended almond mixture into strainer. Press pulp with a spoon until most of the milk is in the bowl (squeeze, if its cheesecloth). Set aside the almond pulp to use later for an exfoliating scrub or freeze to add to cookies. 

5. Using a funnel, pour strained almond milk into an airtight container. Shake before using, refrigerate and enjoy for up to a week


{Almond milk in a pop-top reusable glass bottle}