Several years ago my pre-lit Christmas tree lights began to go out. Eventually two entire tiers (of three) burned out. My mom came by and cut all the original lights off of the tree and we strung a single strand through each tier. I bought a Christmas tree bag so we could lay the tiers…
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…
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…
One of the big changes one can make going zero waste is reusing containers. Glass and metal will hold up over time and stay in the recycling stream longer. Plastic can in many cases be recycled as well, but only a few times. Health concerns may affect the type of material you choose. Also consider…
Have you heard about or seen a teal pumpkin at Halloween? I want to share about this great program for two reasons:1) It’s a great project and I think we should try to be considerate of those with allergies being a severe allergy sufferer myself, and 2) It’s actually an easy way to host a…
More environmentally friendly kitchen scrub options Most kitchen sponges or scrubbing items are made of oddly shaped plastic, a combination of soft and hard plastics, or a combination of different materials which make them difficult to separate and/or recycle. Unless you are going to purchase the TerraCycle Kitchen Separation Zero Waste Box most of these…
This month Earth 911 posted an article titled, “Everything Your Child Needs for a Waste-Free School Year” and “Be Prepared: Your Complete Back-to-School Guide” These articles point out some new “green” school and office supplies that are more environmentally friendly than traditional supplies. However; while I appreciate their intent, and yes compostable materials and recycled…
Did you know you can pick up free paint from the City of Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center?! Austin ReBlend paint is free for individuals, nonprofits and businesses. Austin ReBlend is a 100 percent post-consumer, reblended flat paint (with low VOCs) made from paint collected at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-Off Center. Austin ReBlend paint…
Crafts, Hobbies and Stationary at great low prices! Austin Creative Reuse is a great place in Austin you may not know about! You can donate your old school supplies, office supplies, craft, and hobby materials and anything else you think might be good for creative purposes and they’ll collect them, sort them, and sell them…
If you read any zero waste blog, one of the items that inevitably comes up is razors. The blogs recommend you get laser hair removal, waxed, or use a straight or safety razor. All these actions cut down on the disposable razors and replaceable heads, and the plastic used in “disposables.” My leg hair is…