Freezer burn green beans, not for dinner, thank you. Tip #1: lock your freezer controls so the preschooler does not change the freezer temperature getting his own ice and water. So cute though. Tip #2: eat your freezer food in a reasonable timeframe to avoid freezer burn. I’m actually not sure how old these were anyway. Tip…
All posts in Composite Materials
Cotton vs. Cotton-Poly Blend
Friday was Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day. Saturday was Small Business Saturday. Both days are part of our country’s big start to the holiday shopping season. I would like to encourage you to think about the material of the items you purchase (or find used) in addition to what type of business you are…
Spray Bottles: Handling Required
In case you didn’t know, the entire spray bottle should not be put as-is in the recycling carts. The bottle bottom is okay to drop in the recycling cart. The entire lid/spray mechanism is best tossed in the trash. There is a metal spring in the pump mechanism enabling it to actually spray. If you…
Beverage Buyer Beware: Trader Joe’s
I love seasonal beverages! They’re my favorite treat! I love to try the holiday flavors that come out at this time of year. Unfortunately I’ve discovered that Trader Joe’s, my husband’s favorite place to treat me, is not earth friendly with their seasonal beverage selections. I dislike calling out a specific company, but there were…
Target’s Car Seat Trade-in Event
Do you need a new car seat or an upgrade for your child or grandkid? September 3 – 13, 2019 is this fall’s Target Car Seat Trade-in event! Quoting from Target’s website, “Guests who trade in their old car seats will receive a 20 % off coupon toward a new car seat, stroller or select…
RETHINK: Toothbrushes
One of the more recent questions I’ve been getting is can my toothbrush be recycled. Probably not and definitely not in the blue single-stream carts. Most toothbrushes are plastic; however the bristles are nylon and the gripy stuff is a kind of polymer. So basically it’s a composite/mixed material and it’s not recyclable in most…
Baby Formula Canisters
One of the questions I had recently was about baby formula canisters, like the one pictured here. Most of these containers are made out of liquid paperboard (LPB), a combination of paper and plastic (and sometimes also metal) to keep moisture out. In the City of Austin, these are not recyclable since they’re a composite/mixed…
Target’s Car Seat Recycling/Trade-in
Do you need a new car seat or an upgrade for your child or grandkid? April 22 – May 4, 2019 is this spring’s Target Car Seat Trade-in event! Quoting from Target’s website, “Guests who trade in their old car seats will receive a 20 % off coupon toward a new: car seat car seat…
It’s Not Easy Being Green, or Rather, Blue!
Top Contaminants in Mueller Recycling Carts This article originally appeared in the January 2019 edition of the Front Porch Flyer. It has been updated with apartment information and additional cities’ information. As amazing as Muellerites are at being green, we do have recurring “contamination” in our blue recycling carts. Below are incorrect items that are…
Give Them The Cold Shoulder
Disposable/Single Use Freezer Bags They have many names. An image search for the technical name brings up at least the following: You may receive them using meal-kit delivery like Blue Apron, food delivery, your Amazon Prime Now order or an Instacart order. According to Austin Resource Recovery, this is a “bubble wrap and a type…