Help Reduce Plastic Waste!

Posted by A. Caleb Hartley on February 15th, 2008 filed in plastic, waste

Dear readers:

One of my favorite family members has asked for my help in her research (she is working on her doctoral degree in Texas), and I think you might be interested in helping out.  First, here is her request:

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Hi darlings.It’s time for another wacky adventure!

My neighbors and I are starting an informal project to evaluate and problem-solve about the amount of waste we generate. (I love having a creative & interdisciplinary house.)

Our project is inspired by this:

• Petroleum-based plastic was designed to last virtually forever.
• Almost every single piece of plastic ever made is still around, and recycling isn’t making a big enough dent in the amount of plastic in landfills and in the ocean.
• Out of sight, out of mind; but never gone.

Here’s how I need your help:
If you could, keep track, on a weekly basis, of how many plastic shopping bags and/or plastic bottles (water, soda) you use and email me the totals. OR, give me a count (estimation) of how many you currently have in your house. Also, if you have creative re-using ideas for these bags & bottles (that keep them out of the trash) we’d like that as well. And if this really excites you, weigh yourself when you take out the trash holding your trashbag, and let me know approximately how many pounds of trash you dispose of during the week. If you only can give me data once, that would be incredibly helpful.

If you are really hot for this project, you can get your friends to provide information as well.  We chose the Lenten season as our target time, since folks are trying to make life improvements and it’s easy to keep track for only 40 days.

We’re thinking about doing a more long-term initiative, but we felt this was a really good starting place, as plastic bags are our primary source of frustration. (Texas is windy, they get stuck in our trees and shrubs).

Thanks in advance & much love.

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Obviously, you won’t be able to email her, as I won’t be posting her email address here, but if you are interested, leave a comment here with your findings and reports – I will be sure she gets the information!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

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