Do you get environmentaly anxious? I do. Once in a while I wonder whether I am doing all that I can do. I think I am. But am I?
I try to divert as much as I can. I place the recyclables in the Blue Bins, the compostable matter and diapers in the green bins (used paper towels are compostable too), and leaves and trimmings go in the grey bins. The fact that garbage is placed in the small black bin and collected every 2 weeks of course encourages me to divert our outgoings as much as possible. I use cloth carriers when shopping and try not to use plastic bags, unless I need them to use as trash liners then I collect what I need for the month. I do this also because I have no space for all those pesky bags. I shop locally to minimise my carbon footprint. Well, also because I hate driving and I like to walk to the shops. We bought this house to be on the subway line so we would be able to rely on only one car. So OK, this is also because I hate to drive and I like being 7 stops from the main sights and attractions. We have a zippy all wheel drive car, not a gas guzzling SUV. This is of course also because the car is paid for and suits us fine. So I start to think..am I really being environmentally friendly or am I just assuaging my environmental guilt with these half arsed deeds. Should I be doing things that would inconvenience me more? Should I stop travelling or flying? Well, I cant do that because my staying put anxiety will definitely trounce environmental anxiety. Should I stop flushing? I tried that..then felt anxious whenever we had visitors wanting to use the loo. Should I lower the thermostat to save energy? We already do that and any lower I will be on the first flight out to Florida. Energy saving bulbs? They are getting better but still not out of the public loo mood of lighting. We use halogen inside, energy saving ones outside, LED Christmas lights and dimmers on almost all fixtures. We use environmentally friendly cleaners and double concentrated cold water detergent. What else can I do? Any suggestions?
2 comments:
cold wash your laundry, use HE detergents and unplug any unused electricas on sockets. i am environmental only/also because iget to save some dough..safeway reimburse me 25cents for using my own recyclable bags - at times, i save a whole 2 bucks by nit using those damn plastic bags!
i am now also saving my pee to just twice a day - reduce loo visits, reduce flushing the loo..but i may pay a lot on medical insurance for futre gall stone bladder.
choices choices!
Babe, the photo of those different trash bins reminds me of the reasons why I was fined twice (500 euros a pop) in Germany where a single 20 something, nomadic professional never separated her rubbish - in the land of the anally retentive.
I have to admit, I am environmentally friendly only to the extend of not driving if i can walk and being kind to animals and friends :-))
I am not called 'Notty'for nuthin'\,
love, Nxxx
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