Plastic bags and film: according to customer service at plasticfilmrecycling.com, “If you can stretch the film or push your finger through and stretch it then it’s likely polyethylene and can be included [in plastic bag recycling].” This means that clean and dry soft plastic films and bags like this shredded coconut may be included in…
I love pumpkin stuff. Food, decorations, all of it. My first pumpkin woe of the season is this coffee creamer. When I ordered it for curbside pickup, I thought it would be plastic. I’m high risk for COVID so we have all our groceries curbside pickup or delivery. The top part is plastic. However; as…
If your milk goes a bit past where you like to drink it, consider making pudding. It’s hard to find organic whole milk in half gallon plastic or glass so I normally buy a gallon and do something with the extra if we have any. Just a reminder that milk and juice cartons are plastic-coated…
Hi Neighbors! Curbside compost is now in all of Austin! If you are looking for a FREE kitchen compost collector, ARR is giving them away over the next several weeks. The schedule is at the link below and I’ve listed some of the dates too. Also please fill out the Comprehensive Plan Survey if you…
I had a really disappointing food waste week last week. I didn’t store produce properly, I didn’t eat food when I should have, and I had to compost a lot. My first exposure to a comprehensive list of how to store fruit and vegetables was in Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How…
You can recycle clean aluminum foil. Check with your local provider for specifics but in Austin, Texas clean aluminum foil can be balled up 2 inches or larger and go in the curbside recycling carts. You can also recycle aluminum baking pans. Word of caution: Sometimes people think they’re hosting a zero waste event by…
*The opinions expressed here are my own and I purchased these items myself. Last month my family was having a picnic in the park. We have never picnicked before as a family, we just take snacks into the park so normally my small U-Konserve containers are sufficient. Most parks prohibit glass, which is my husband…
This article originally appears in the Mueller Front Porch Flyer April 2021 edition. Bulk Buying Buying in bulk can help you save money and resources. Buying in bulk can mean two different things: 1) buying loose items from bulk bins in stores and 2) buying larger quantity packages. With COVID, some stores have either closed…
We had our first ice cream cone of the year today. I recommend when you are getting ice cream or gelato to order it in a cone if you can so you can eat your “container,” and compost the hand wrapper and/or napkins. Most ice cream cups are plastic-lined paper and go in the trash.…
I was craving brownies Friday so I bought a mix while I was out. Not all baking mixes come in the opaque bag that you can rinse, dry and recycle with plastic bags. Some mixes come in the silvery bag that goes in the trash. You get a feel for the possibility or you learn…