So a few weeks ago I did the “no impact man” challage – well, some of it. I couldn’t NOT drive on the transportation day, and I also didn’t want to collect my trash for the week (um, hello carry around stinky diapers or cat poop?).
But I did monitor both the weeks prior and that week how much trash our family made, and I did monitor the use of appliances, and how to reuse items. I found by adding the compost bin, really being creative with other uses of items (any plastic bag if opened carefully can be used as “pooper scooper”) and just cutting out paper items completely our trash bin was 1/2 full as usual.
It’s hard work though – not something I could have done even a few months ago with a younger baby. I takes time to wash and re-use. It takes time to remember to unplug things. It takes time to buy organic. It takes time to find better diapers, litter, and things like that. And quite frankly, I like ordering pizza sometimes even though there is excess trash that way..
For me it wasn’t anything I didn’t already know about — as I said at the start of the week it was all about not being lazy. And if I am not lazy 70-80% of the time, that is a start. And if I inspired anyone else, bonus. Below is the information from the week and when the next week will be.
Alison
This post was submitted by Alison.
Allison,
it really isn’t all that hard to buy organic or get cloth diapers for a baby. heck you can order diapers on line. and then it is just a load in the wash and hang them on the line. i have done this with 4 of my 5 kids. most grocery’s have organic so it isn’t that hard to do, what is better is the farmer’s market which my kids LOVE going to. we get to meet all the farmers and they remember the kids, plus it is really hands on you really get to see the food, smell it, touch it. it is great!
Comment by Heather — November 9, 2009 @ 9:39 am