It's Not Easy Being Green...

I've been doing a lot of research on how to start living a more "green" lifestyle.  Now I'm not turning into one of those totally hard core, drives a hybrid/rides a bike to work, organic food only type people - I've simply started thinking more about how much I throw away, what I throw away, what products and chemicals I use around the house...things like that.  Switching to a greener lifestyle is going to take some work, so I'll hopefully be blogging more about this whole transformation in the future.  Today's post is about a few items in my home that can be switched out for more environmentally friendly items - take a look and let me know what you think!

The first thing on my list has to do with trash - a lot of paper items that we use and throw out everyday can be found with the label "biodegradable" and you can find trash bags labeled biodegradable as well...while that sounds super green for those of us looking to go that direction, I've discovered that it's almost impossible for anything to "biodegrade" in a landfill.  If you are lucky enough to live in a city like Portland, Oregon, you would be able to use biodegradable trash bags and fill them with compostable food items, paper towels and napkins, etc, which would then be taken to a local composting facility.  The problem with using biodegradable bags and sending them to a regular landfill is that the environment in a typical landfill is not maintained in such a way that the breakdown of biodegradable products can be conducted.  Being that I really don't have access to a composting facility, I figure that the next best thing as far as trash is concerned is to use recycled trash bags made from recycled plastic.  Seventh Generation makes recycled trash bags, as does Glad; the Seventh Generation bags claim to be 55% recycled plastic, and the Glad bags claim to be 65% recycled plastic.  From the prices I've seen online, I think that both brands are priced equally, so it probably comes down to preference more than anything.  Using recycled trash bags gives you the satisfaction of knowing you're not using something made from completely virgin plastic, thereby helping to reduce landfills and environmental pollution! (as a side note, I also found that Hefty makes recycled bags that are made from 65% recycled plastic.)

The next problem on my list is how to green clean the toilet???  I had previously been using Scotch Brite Toilet Bowl Scrubbers, but I realized that is probably the most non eco-friendly way I could be cleaning the toilet bowl.  The toilet bowl scrubbers just get used then tossed, which clearly doesn't help eliminate landfill waste.  So to help combat this problem, I purchased a regular old toilet bowl brush and some Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner.  This cleaner works well, however it is VERY different that your typical, sudsy, blue colored toilet bowl cleaner.  It is a clear liquid, and pretty thin to boot, so I had to make sure I really got the cleaner up under the rim.  It doesn't suds up at all, but keep in mind that doesn't mean it's not doing it's job - in fact, I think that it actually brightened  the inside of the bowl, which was nice to see!  An alternative would be to squirt some eco-friendly dishsoap into your toilet bowl to clean it - I don't know how this compares cost wise, but it would certainly eliminate having to purchase a bunch of different cleaning products.  And if you're wondering about how to keep the toilet bowl brush clean?  Spray it down with a disinfecting solution of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide between uses.  Eco-friendly and no crazy chemicals!

Blue Avocado

And as far as using plastic ziplock bags goes, I will probably continue using them to freeze meats and cheese (as I buy them in bulk) only because I have yet to figure out an alternative.  However, I did found a great alternative to the little baggies that I often use to pack snacks in my lunch bag. 

These reusable/washable snack bags are from a company called Blue Avocado.  They are perfect for pretzels, trail mix, or anything else you want to snack on during the day, and the best part is you can machine wash them in cold water and line dry them.  Using these bags allows us to reduce how many plastic bags end up in landfills as well as reducing co2 emissions.  These bags are made in China, although Blue Avacado claims to closely monitor their facilities and are hoping to someday move operations to the US.  

If you would prefer to support a company making reusable bags in the US, go check out www.neat-os.com .  These bags are more expensive, but still support the environment and can be hand washed, machine washed, or cleaned in the dishwasher.  You could use these bags to hold anything you can think of - makeup, food, pet treats, to hold markers or crayons - there are so many possibilities!

For sandwiches, I use a container specifically sized for bread slices.  This way, I'm not constantly putting my sandwich in a plastic bag everyday.  As another side note, you can purchase reusable bags made by a company called Itzy Ritzy - they are available at Target.  I don't know much about the company and how or where their product is produced, but if you needed to get some reusable bags right away, this might be an option.

please keep in mind that everything I've written is my own personal opinion - I hope that my research has provided accurate information, but if I am wrong in any areas, constructive criticism is always welcome!