The most popular solution to the problem is recycling. Some
cities and towns make that easy by supplying the blue trash cans with a recycle
symbol. We can just toss in all sorts of
recyclables for pick-up. Some places
offer recycle centers where you can bring your glass, plastics, cardboard, etc
for disposal. However, for those
centers, you might need to do a little checking first – what plastics will they
take? Will they actually take all types
of glass containers? How does everything
need to be separated?
The ideal solution would be that food manufactures stop using
plastic containers. Probably that’s not
going to happen. When I was young you’d
buy milk, soft drinks and such in glass containers which you could return. These would be collected, sterilized and used
again. But we’ve turned into a
disposable society – easier and cheaper to throw away and buy new than reuse. Now, however, we are reaping the result of “easier”.
Solutions? Well, recycling
is a good solution. But, what about
reusing some of those many plastic containers?
A few suggestions …..
So, if you want to start recycling and your town doesn’t
offer the service as a part of standard trash pick up, set up an area in your
garage for recycling bins. Rinse out the
item to be recycled and put it in the right bin. Easy peasy.
CUT DOWN ON SMALL WATER BOTTLES. Yes, they are easy to use. But, in the long run, they are too expensive
to the planet. There are shelves of
alternatives in most stores.
I’m sure most of us do this – use plastic bottles as portable
freezer units. Freeze bottles of water
for your ice chest. Afterwards, you can
use the water to cool hot heads and feet, wash off sand or dirt, water some
plants.
This is one I’ve started doing recently. Our garden club is having a plant sale. Members are donating plants to be sold. Cool.
I’ve started cutting the tops off gallon bottles and using the bottom as
a plant container.
Reuse bottles to make and contain compost tea – easy to do
and good for your plants.
Our library is having a plant swap soon. Many people bring plants that they’ve just dug
up out of the ground and not repotted.
So, going to something like that?
Bring some gallon bottles with the tops cut out to hold these plants or
cuttings. Keeps your car clean. Leave them in the trunk for future use.
Oh – I really like this one – a Slug/snail watering hole. Take the bottom 3 inches of a bottle, sink it
in the ground and fill with beer (or sugar water with a pinch of yeast). Those little guys will make a bee-line for
it!
You can make mosquito, wasp and fly traps easily by cutting
the top off a bottle, invert the cone and place it inside the bottom part of
the bottle, glue the two pieces together, Add 1 tsp yeast and 1/2 cup sugar to
some lukewarm water (mosquitoes) or just sugar water (wasps) or something
smelly (flies). They get in but can’t
get out
There are dozens of other ways to reuse plastic
containers. So, start today – Earth Day
- Help End Plastic Pollution. Make a pledge to reduce the amount you use and
recycle, one way or another, what cannot be reduced!
Take care
 |
| Make a cookie cutter! |
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