First, it was paper vs. plastic. But lately, I feel like a jerk if I even ask for plastic in the check out line. I feel obliged to casually mention how I’ll be picking up after my dog so I actually really need these bags, when the truth is I have six reusable bags in my car that I forgot to bring into the store with me.
Since I find myself at the grocery store nearly every day, I vowed to keep the reusable bags in the front seat so they’ll be in my line of sight when I’m locking up and heading into the store. I discover this works, and I’m living guilt free, and then? I stumble upon this article from the LA Times blog.
Here’s someone who has vowed to reduce paper towel usage and is actually doing it. She writes, “According to The Green Book — the bestselling guide to greening the planet — we are a paper towel-loving nation: A decrease in U.S. household consumption of just three rolls per year would save 120,000 tons of waste and $4.1 million in landfill dumping fees.” Wow! I think I go through three rolls in a week! Am I the only guilty party here?
Image by © Lawrence Manning/Corbis
It’s not just an environmental issue, it’s an economic one too. The author drops $15 at her local big box store for a jumbo package of paper towels, and then at a similar type store finds a package of 24 bar keep towels for $12. My Kindergartener could do that math. She’s creating less garbage, and her plan has her only doing a load of tea towels and cloth napkins once a month! Hmmm, that doesn’t sound so bad.
To read the full article and discover how she does it, click here. I have to admit, I’m a rather inspired. We can save the planet, one little tea towel at a time.
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