Best of Both Worlds
Really, I am in such a quandary about what to do with the containers that are piling up in my kitchen and elsewhere around my house as a result of my emphatic daily renewing and reusing efforts. I am basically a neat person but the effects of my efforts are beginning to pile up not only in my packed garage but in my kitchen.…not to mention the realization about how much cream cheese I consume, jelly I eat, and take out dinners I've had! I’m drowning in juice jugs, pesto jars and you name it; the mound is even growing under my breakfast table because the garage's recycling shelf is all filled up.
I wouldn't dream of throwing these opportunities to reuse away, nor would I want to deal with the green guilt, if I did. I have enough on my plate and am entirely too busy to add the burden of guilt for not doing my job in the recycling area. I have the green bug in it's most basic and elementary state and I won’t shake it, I've even begun to compost. And you know why? It just plain makes me feel good. Not only am I noticing a major reduction in my weekly garbage, I feel great that my juice pulp, egg shells, garden trimmings, dinner scraps and more are going back into the lifecycle and that next year my garden will be even greater with a better yield, thanks to the organic compost pile in the corner of my garden.
But I digress from the mess in my kitchen which simultaneously overwhelms me and inspires me to continue on. I want a neat kitchen, but also I can not turn a blind eye to the fact that the glass and plastic containers I come across can be used over and over again in so many ways! I am now even making my daughter a no-waste lunch. I pack a cloth napkin, her sandwich and carrots and apples in reusable plastic containers instead of disposable plastic wrap, and she loves to be responsible for bringing them home for reuse. I become more creative every day; I use small glass jars as vases for little flowers, paint storage, buttons, paper clips, etc…you get my drift!
But how to manage the glass towers waiting to be filled with ingenious goodies that are now teetering all over my house! In a cosmic-laugh kind of way, perhaps there is something Zen taking place as the untidiness is teaching me the same lessons learned from the kids movie Kung Fu Panda, but I am not getting it. So I would love to read your ideas and suggestions on how you manage to successfully balance the world of consumerism and conservancy in a calm way without making a mountain out of a mole hill.
I take all the cottage cheese, yogurt, mayo jars/containers to our church kitchen. After a dinner, everyone needs something in which to take home small amounts. They get re-used repeatedly because they get washed and taken back. Might want to check with a church, adult day care, child day care center. Often they can use the glass jars for crafts--girl scout troops as well. Hope you can eliminate some of the clutter!
After I'm sure I have enough of a stash for my family to take home leftovers from a get together at our house, I freecycle them. Freecycling is a great way to keep things out of our landfills and helping others as well!
I have freecycled a huge variety of items: plastic containers, planters, plants from my yard, furniture, clothes, books, magazines and perfume that I don't like any more. I've seen many items listed on freecycle as well: moving boxes and bubble wrap!
All you do is post your offer and pick a responder. Most sites say don't leave outside but I do. I leave with a note with the person's name and try not to freecycle more than two items at a time for my own confusion. =)
Check out freecycle.org and find a link to one in your area. The one in my area is listed in yahoo groups.
Nothing is for sale on freecycle.
I just started making candles out of my household containers (jelly, artichoke jars, beer and wine bottles). I know this is not practical for everyone to do, but if anyone wants to ship them to me I would definitely reuse them. I am in NY, so if it would be worse for the environment to ship, then maybe find a candlemaker in your own neighborhood...
I remember one year, I had a surplus of those large mason spaghetti jars and I put them in our garage sale @ 0.25 each, they were one of the first things to sell. There are lots of people who make their own jams, jellies, pickles, etc.
I use large glass jars, to store pasta, beans, dried peppers, and rice they keep items in better condition for longer time and looks cool also.
There are two approaches which seem to work for me. First, buy less. And yes, you can. Buy mixes in small pouches for things like spaghetti sauce, taco sauce, etc. And of course, recycle the pouches. Then, put your thinking cap on (or the collective thinking caps of a variety of friends) and brainstorm where to give away the other stuff. Maybe a nursing home wants some things for their crafts time. Ditto day-care centers, scout troops, or school groups. Maybe you can hook up with your local home-school group, adult day care places, private schools, prisons, colleges, and the like. Ask for the art department director. And if that particular individual doesn't need what you have, ask he/she if they know of someone who does or might. That world is pretty small and most of them know each other. Psychiatric institutions are another possiblity. Anywhere there are groups of people of whatever age who need entertained or occupied, in other words.
It's a matter of income and outgo, sort of like the household budget. You have to balance both. And if your area doesn't have recycling, help get it started! OK, I'll quit now. Good luck.
I send egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, and various plastic containers to my son's pre-school for art projects. Even if your child isn't in pre-school anymore, you'd be surprised what art teachers at any school would be willing to take off your hands!
Plastic containers can be recycled at your local food bank. Our food bank gets left-overs from the finests local kitchen- of their soups and sauces and packages and freezes them in plastic containers.
Double recycling and not wasting 5 star cooking
Any item in your home can always be donated to the Salvation Army or Goodwill stores to be re-sold.