OSC: Reuse it

A lot of my One Small Changes (eco friendly changes made 1 at a time to reduce my carbon footprint) have been about switching from disposables to reusable items.  I have heard from many other folks who are on the same mission, so I thought it would be appropriate this week to talk about the importance of reusing! 

There has been a major shift in our Country over the past several years towards disposable products. Diapers, towels, bags, straws, lunch sacks, feminine products, napkins, plates, silverware, and the list goes on and on! Now, I can, somewhat understand the premise behind all of this, convenience! And, yes, these disposable items have made our lives easier in one way or another...but, at what cost?

The time, money, and resources used to create these disposable items is astounding and is wrecking havoc on our precious Earth. And, now that we have all of these items (and their packaging) piling high in the grocery stores, people are going to buy and use them. So, what's the problem with this? The problem is that we are using them and throwing them away. Our trash cans are filled with disposable items that don't just vanish into thin air...they stay on our Earth until they break down which can take several hundreds of years. Our Earth has no trash can...the Earth is our trash can!

If we look back a few hundreds years, we will see that people were not using such disposable items. People used and reused things. Things that are becoming popular today are not new inventions...they are items that our parents and grandparents used. Cloth diapers, rags for kitchen clean up, cloth napkins, etc. etc. And, why are they becoming so popular with this new generation? Because we realize the negative impact disposables have had on our environment!

I am personally working on eliminating as many disposable items in my household as possible. And not only eliminate them myself, but introduce them to you by carrying them in our shop, Hip Mountain Mama. It has been a lot of fun searching out quality reusable items, personally making the switch in our home, then bringing them to you in our Reusable section. 

 

Have any of your changes been to eliminate a disposable item and replace it with something reusable?   Some suggestions are cloth napkins, rags or cloths for clean up, dryer balls, or cloth sandwich bags.  And if you are feeling overwhelmed, take it slow...try switching 1 zip lock bag in your child's lunch every day for a reusable container or bag.  Or eliminate paper towels for kitchen use only, then gradually phase it out in other areas of cleaning.  Take things slow...this is what this project is all about..slow, easy, small changes that all make a difference!

 

Let us know how your changes are going?  Have you started a new change or still working on the first?  I have an idea for my next change and will announce it next week!

 

~*Peace*~

Suzy

OSC: Reuse it