Progress May be Slow

There may be a bit of a gap in posting to this blog. My computer has hit some all time lows in how it functions. Hang with me and I'll do my best to keep it updated.
Oh, I was one of the first 50 customers at the Dollar General Store today. My free gift was another cloth bag to take in when I shop. Think I can remember it?????? I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!!!!! NOT!!!!

Microwavable Containers

A couple of weeks ago I watched a colleague of mine as they microwaved a cup of soup. It was one of those red plastic party cups we've all used in one way or another over the years. Well, when he finally took it out of the microwave the cup was crumpled along the bottom where it had started to melt. I begged him not to ever do that again because as it heats and begins to melt the plastic is releasing poison into the soup. I don't microwave any plastics at all. I pop my microwave dinners out of their containers and put them on a glass plate. Far safer for our bodies that's for sure.

The Following excerpt was taken from health.harvard.edu
When food is wrapped in plastic or placed in a plastic container and microwaved, substances used in manufacturing the plastic (plasticizers) may leak into the food. In particular, fatty foods such as meats and cheeses cause a chemical called diethylhexyl adipate to leach out of the plastic. This certainly sounds scary, so it’s little wonder that a warning is making its way across the Web.

But here’s what the e-mails don’t mention. The FDA, recognizing the potential for small amounts of plasticizers to migrate, closely regulates plastic containers and materials that come into contact with food. Before approving a container, the FDA conducts tests to make sure that it doesn’t leak unsafe amounts of any substance into food.

Just make sure the container you put in the microwave is safe. The plastic party cups probably are not.

Simple Serenity in my Small Town

We need to take care of what we have now so that our children and grandchildren will have a place that is healthy for them to live in the future.

Turning Trash into Treasure

What if you could be rewarded for recycling? There's a company called RecycleBank in Everett, Massachusetts that weighs your recylables and then turns it into points that you can redeem at stores like CVS, PETCO and other famous stores. They want to turn garbage into gold. Wouldn't that be great to take what we normally throw in the landfill and turn it into gold for us. This new company is expanding rapidly and is currently operating in 13 states. Sounds like a great plan to me. It would certainly motivate more people to start to recycle.

I'm down to Half a Bag

Since I started recycling I am down to a half a bag of trash per week. Everything else is recycled. On my recent trip to Austria we learned that the people who live in Bregenz, the town where our classroom was located and where we lived for those 15 days are only allowed one bag of trash per week. The bag size they are allowed is the size of a Wal Mart sack. Anything else they throw away they are charged for. I would love to reduce my waste to that size. I bet I can do it!!!! Want to join me in the challenge?

America Recycles Day

November 15th is America Recycles Day!

America Recycles Day is a national, all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The goal of the annual campaign is to encourage Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products. Since its inception in 1997, the America Recycles Day campaign has grown substantially. Last year, residents in every state of the nation participated in America Recycles Day and pledged to recycle.

MISSION: To hold an annual national awareness event to promote the social, environmental, and economic benefits of buying recycled and recycling.

GOAL: To increase the purchase of recycled content products and recycling throughout America.

For more information about America Recycles Day, visit http://www.americarecyclesday.org/home.html.

What a Beautiful Place We Live!

A view of the Smithland Lock and Dam from the cemetary in Smithland.

Safe Plastics

Some plastics are safer to eat and drink from than others. Here's a quick guide to help you make informed choices. If you want to dig deeper, take a look at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's Smart Plastics Guide (PDF).
It's worth avoiding the following plastics when you can. You can identify a plastic by looking at the recycling code number that appears inside a triangle at the bottom of many containers.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can leach phthalates, known male reproductive toxicants. It can be identified by code 3. One way to avoid it in the kitchen is by choosing plastic wrap made from polyethylene rather than PVC. If a box is not labeled, find a brand that is or call the manufacturer.

Polystyrene is used in Styrofoam products. It may leach styrene (a neurotoxin) when it comes into contact with hot, acidic, or fatty foods. It's marked with recycling code 6.

Polycarbonate can leach bisphenol-A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor associated with a long list of health concerns. Baby bottles, "sippy" cups, 5-gallon water jugs, and reusable beverage bottles are typically made out of this plastic. Products may be marked with recycling code 7 (also includes any plastic that doesn't fit into the 1 to 6 recycling code categories) and/or the letters "PC."

In response to the widespread concerns about BPA, baby bottles and other items made from alternative materials are springing up. Experts say stainless steel is your best bet for reusable water bottles right now. ThinkSport and Klean Kanteen are two widely available brands.

The following plastics are considered safest for food storage. Glass and stainless steel are also good options.

Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene (PETE), code 1.



High-density polyethylene (HDPE), code 2.



Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), code 4.



Polypropylene (PP), code 5.




Here are some tips for using all plastics safely:

Don't microwave food plastic containers. Chemicals are more likely to leach out when plastic is heated. "Microwaveable plastic" doesn't guarantee that chemicals won't leach. Cover foods in the microwave with wax paper or a plate. If you do use plastic wrap, then make sure it doesn't touch the food.
Avoid putting hot foods in plastic containers. Let leftovers cool off before storing them in plastic.
Take good care of plastics by not washing them with harsh chemicals, and dispose of scratched and worn containers. Research has shown that older, scratched items will leach more, says Kathleen Schuler at the Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy. (Don't put them in the dishwasher if you want to be completely risk-averse, she suggests.)
Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping.

BYOB

Does anyone else have as difficult a time remembering to use their re-usable cloth bags when they shop? If you have some good suggestions for remembering this important step in the shopping process post a comment because I would love to know. I have several of them but they have slowly been moved to the trunk of the car which does me no good whatsoever. Love the concept but hate the fact that I don't use them.

Recycling Trailer Schedule for the County

Monday-North Livingston
Tuesday-Salem City Hall
Thursday-Livingston Central
Friday- Road Department

Give a Hoot Don't Pollute!!

Whatever happened to that old ad campaign?
I just loved Woodsie Owl and his slogan to encourage us to stop littering. Some time ago I was coming home from Paducah and I noticed I was behind a former student of mine. As she slowed to turn in her OWN driveway, she put her arm out the window and dropped a McDonald's bag of trash out the window and onto the highway right in front of her own house! If we don't take pride in our own property how will we ever take pride in our communities. GIVE A HOOT DON'T POLLUTE!!!!!

The Breakdown on Trash and a View of the River

What a breathtaking view of the river.

Newspapers take 6 weeks to breakdown
Apple Core-2 months
Plastic bag-10-20 years
Aluminum can-80-200 years
Glass bottle-1 million years
Styrofoam-never
Most plastic bottles-never
Source: U.S. National Park Service "Garbage in, Garbage Out"
Audubon Magazine Sept/Oct 1999

I never really was a huge purchaser of styrofoam containers. After reading these stats I'm going to re-think what I do purchase. In the cafeteria at school I ask for the standard cafeteria tray made of plastic rather than styrofoam. Our school system uses a lot of styrofoam when serving lunch and breakfast. I checked into biodegradable styrofoam and it would cost two to three times more than what they already spend. Financially we can't afford to do what's best for the environment so that's why I decided to use plastic when at all possible and I encourage my students to also.