Recycled Clothing

Don't know what to do with your empty candy wrappers or old newspapers?  Make a dress!!

Don't know how?  Well at least marvel at those who do!

 espresso foil bags

 Newspaper

Banned Speedo LZR Swimsuits

 600 Peanut M&M Wrappers

 Bicycle Inner Tubes and Wool

 Automotive Radiator Copper

1,000 Paper Cranes

Photos courtesy of treehugger.com

Bigger Is Not ALWAYS Better

Bigger is not always better but not shocking, Starbucks will be introducing an even bigger cup for iced drinks: the TRENTA.  This 916 mL (31oz) cup will be offered in every Starbucks in the United States by May 3, 2011.  

At 916 ml, the Trenta is 325mL larger than their current Venti (in layman's terms--a large) and is, "...actually larger than the average capacity of the adult human stomach (900mL)." Dean Praetorius, Huffington Post (Image Below).

Why is this so bad?

Well, besides encouraging the consumption of an unnecessary amount of high calorie beverages, these cups are non-recyclable in most regions.  Instead of throwing money into research and development for RIDICULOUS size containers, Starbucks should be investing in the production of recyclable and eco-friendly cups to help reduce their (Trenta sized) eco footprint.

Sustainable Progress

Well it has been one week since I discovered my ecological footprint and created some goals to help reduce it.  I thought that I would take this time to report on my progress. 

1. I will always bring reusable grocery bags to the store.

• On Friday, I went to the store with my roommate for the first time this quarter and since setting this goal.  Just prior to running out the door, I suddenly remembered my promise and grabbed three reusable grocery bags.  I didn't know if three bags would end up being enough, however I stuffed them full to avoid having to choose paper or plastic.  The clerk at the self check-out commented on my use of environmentally-friendly bags and I felt a small wave of pride come over me as I knew that I was doing my part and taking steps in the right direction--however small they may be.

2. I will learn exactly what items can and cannot be recycled in order to properly dispose of them.

• Although my roommates and I try to recycle whenever possible (my roommate is an environmental science major), when we are clueless as to whether or not an item can be recycled, we tend to just toss it in the garbage to avoid having to exert any major effort of looking it up.  I promised that I would learn exactly what items can and cannot be recycled and thus I did some research.  This is what I found:

Seattle.gov--Seattle Public Utilities

Item: Shredded Paper

Ok to Recycle at Home?: Only long shreds (at least 8 ½ inches long and ¼ inch wide) can be recycled. Put them in a clear plastic bag and tie off.  Confetti or crosscut shreds cannot be recycled, as they have no useful fibers for recycling.

Alternatives: All shredded paper can be layered in food and yard waste carts with organics.  They can also be bagged and placed in the garbage.

Item: Plastic food bags (produce bags, bread bags, frozen food and Ziploc pouches)

Ok to Recycle at Home?: No.  Plastic food bags often contain food residue and moisture that contaminate the rest of the plastic material.

Alternatives: Re-use for storing food at home and for shopping. They also can go in the garbage.

Item: Plastic shopping, newspaper and dry cleaning bags.

Ok to Recycle at Home?: Yes.  Stuff into one bag for recycling.  Do NOT recycle plastic food bags because of contamination issues.

Alternatives: Avoid the need for plastic shopping bags by taking your own bags to the store.

Item: Computers & Electronics

Ok to Recycle at Home?: You can request a home pickup for your computer, monitor, or television by calling 684-3000. There is a $20 fee per item. These materials will be recycled safely.

Alternatives: For free recycling dropoff of computers, monitors, and TVs, visit E-Cycle Washington or call 1(800) RECYCLE.  For cell phones, stereo systems, VCRs, printers, computer keyboards and mice, use the Take It Back Network to find out where to take them. 

Item: Packing materials (Styrofoam “peanuts,” Styrofoam blocks, bubble wrap)

Ok to Recycle at Home?: No. 

Alternatives: Some mailing and shipping businesses accept “peanuts” for reuse.  Check King County Reuse and Recycling website or call 1(800) RECYCLE.  Other loose plastic packing material can be reused at home or goes in your garbage.

Item: Plastic bottles and tubs

Ok to Recycle at Home?: All plastic food bottles, containers and trays are accepted in your recycling cart after March 30 except for #7 PLA (corn-based) and Styrofoam containers.

Alternatives: Re-use whenever possible.

Item: Caps and lids

Ok to Recycle at Home?: Lids and caps larger than 3 inches in diameter can be recycled.  Tin can lids must stay hooked to the can and be pushed down inside.

Alternatives: Plastic caps and lids smaller than 3 inches in diameter, and detached metal lids go in the garbage. 

Item: Plant pots

Ok to Recycle at Home?: Yes, clean plant pots go in your recycling cart.  Re-use for your own plant starts and house plants.

Alternatives: Check the King County Materials Exchange to find nurseries that may reuse the pots.

Item: CD cases

Ok to Recycle at Home?: No.

Alternatives: Search by categories of items for private recyclers at King County Reuse and Recycling website.  They also can go in the garbage.

Item: Aluminum foil pie pans

Ok to Recycle at Home?: Yes. Be sure they are clean. 

Alternatives: Food soiled foil goes in the garbage.  You can reuse clean foil.

Item: Prescription containers

Ok to Recycle at Home?: Cylindrical prescription vials are not recyclable. The plastic is to brittle be re-manufactured into products. 

Alternatives: Empty prescription medicine containers can be thrown in the garbage. For information about safe disposal of unwanted medications, call the King County Household Hazards Line, (206) 296-4692 or visit Medicine Return

Item: Compostable food service items

Ok to Recycle at Home?: Do not put compostable food service products in your curbside recycling cart.

Alternatives: Only approved Cedar Compostable food service products accepted by Cedar Grove(PDF) can go in your residential food and yard waste cart. Plain food-soiled paper plates such as Chinet brand can also go in your residential food and yard cart."  Other food service products, even if labeled compostable or biodegradable, goes in your garbage.

If you have questions about the disposal of other items not listed above, click here to use the look up tool.

Recycling Symbols:

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/187/1/Recycling-by-the-numbers.html

1 - PETE - Polyethylene Terephthalate
The easiest of plastics to recycle. Often used for soda bottles, water bottles and many common food packages. Is recycled into bottles and polyester fibers


2 - HDPE - High density Polyethylene

Also readily recyclable - Mostly used for packaging detergents, bleach, milk containers, hair care products and motor oil. Is recycled into more bottles or bags.

3 - PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride

This stuff is everywhere - pipes, toys, furniture, packaging - you name it. Difficult to recycle and PVC is a major environmental and health threat.

4 - LDPE Low-density Polyethylene

Used for many different kinds of wrapping, grocery bags and sandwich bags and can be recycled into more of the same.

5 - PP - Polypropylene

Clothing, bottles, tubs and ropes. Can be recycled into fibers.

6 - PS - Polystyrene

Cups, foam food trays, packing peanuts. Polystyrene (also known as styrofoam) is a real problem as it's bulky yet very lightweight and that makes it difficult to recycle. For example, a carload of expanded polystyrene would weigh next to nothing so there's not a lot of materials to reclaim, particularly when you take into account the transport getting it to the point of recycling. It can however be reused. Learn more about recycling polystyrene.

7 - Other

Could be a mixture of any and all of the above or plastics not readily recyclable such as polyurethane. Avoid it if you can - recyclers generally speaking don't want it.

Download a free plastics recycling cheat sheet! (PDF)

3. I will only use reusable cups and water bottles.

• I carry around a reusable water bottle and use a mug from home to hold hot beverages.

Thanks for tuning in! Hope you too find this information is helpful!

Shampoo: Good For Your Hair, Bad For Your Body?

TRESemme Smooth and Silky Shampoo

Ingredients: 
Water (Aqua/Eau), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Ammonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Glycol Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Laureth 7, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, DMDM Hydantoin, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Xylene Sulfonate, Quaternium 80, Bisamino PEG/PPG 41/3 Aminoethyl PG Propyl Dimethicone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Limonene, Amyl Cinnamal, Linalool, PEG 18 Glyceryl Oleate/Cocoate, Biotin, Polyquaternium 7, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Silk, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Niacinamide, Soluble Collagen, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol

I love this shampoo--wonderful fragrance and leaves my hair feeling and looking healthier, softer and shinier just as promised!  But despite its moisture benefits for my long locks, some of these ingredients sure do scare me!

Cosmeticdatabase.com ranked this shampoo as a 6 out of 10 (moderate) on the hazardous scale and shows that ingredients in this product are linked to:

• Developmental/reproductive toxicity 
• Allergies/immunotoxicity 
• Use restrictions 
• Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Ranked from 7-9 out of 10 (high) on the hazardous scale, DMDM Hydantoin is linked to:

• Allergies/immunotoxicity
• Use restrictions
• Contamination concerns--Formaldehyde
• Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
• Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), data gaps
• Tested on animals

About DMDM HYDANTOIN: DMDM hydantoin is an antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser preservative. People exposed to such formaldehyde-releasing ingredients may develop a formaldehyde allergy or an allergy to the ingredient itself and its decomposition products. In the U.S., approximately 20% of cosmetics and personal care products contain a formaldehyde-releaser and the frequency of contact allergy to these ingredients is much higher among Americans compared to studies in Europe.

While DMDM Hydantoin (and most other ingredients on the list) seems to have negative effects on the body, another ingredient by the name of Cocomidopropyl Betaine has emerging concerns in the area of ecotoxicology.

About COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE: Cocamidopropyl betaine is a synthetic surfactant; it has been associated with irritation and allergic contact dermatitis, reactions that could be due to the ingredient itself or to impurities present in it, such as 3-dimethylaminopropylamine.

To see how other ingredients ranked on this list, visit this link: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product/229890/TRESemme_Smooth_%26_Silky_Shampoo/

I use shampoo daily and unfortunately this is a personal care ritual that cannot be eliminated.  However, since 84% of shampoos have a lower concern than that of TRESemme Smooth and Silky shampoo, I can most definitely replace it with a product of a lesser hazardous ranking such as:

 (0) Poofy Organics Lovely Lavender Shampoo (1) Destiny Boutique Protein Shampoo Citrus (2) Aubrey Organics White Camellia Shampoo (3) TIGI Bed Head Self Absorbed Shampoo (4) Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Moisturizing Shampoo for Dry Or Damaged Hair (5) Bumble & bumble Sunday Shampoo

Wake Up Call

Posted above are the results of my Ecological Footprint quiz.  If everyone lived like I do, we would need 4.7 Planet Earths to provide enough resources.  At 42%, my largest area of impact was in the service category.  This was followed by food at 23%, goods at 20%, mobility at 10% and shelter at 5%.  These statistics and percentages are shocking and embarrassing reflections on my consumption.  Overcome with a sense of guilt, this is my wake up call.  It is my responsibility as a consumer, American--human being, to be cautious and respectful regarding my usage of resources.  And with that I make my pledge--to take the following steps in order to lessen my ecological footprint:

1. I will always bring reusable grocery bags to the store.

2. I will learn exactly what items can and cannot be recycled in order to properly dispose of them.

3. I will only use reusable cups and water bottles.

I am going green--I hope that you too will do your part to help the environment.  Check back regularly to join me on my eco-friendly journey!