Sustainable September 2015 - Day Sixteen

Hello my dear friends and followers,
Forgive me for a late blog post today but I'm rather unwell. I wanted to do something fun and exciting because i want it to inspire me to be fun and excited (even when i feel so crappy).

So today's Sustainable September idea is...

September 16: Dejunk! 

Go through your things and get rid of everything you don't NEED! One idea for this is so you can make some extra cash selling the stuff at a garage sale, eBay, or at a vintage shop (depends how old your stuff is really). I was reading an article today about how actually holding, or even shopping at, Garage Sales are excellent for the environment. The article by Domain talks about putting "personal financial gain aside, garage sales are also doing their part for making us a greener country by encouraging reuse and reducing waste. “Passing on what you don’t want to someone who does want it is a fantastic form of sustainability,” Nichols says. “Over the past decade, Australians have doubled the amount of waste we generate, from 22.7 million tonnes to 43.6 million tonnes. Landfill is a significant issue but collectively we can make a real difference” (2015).

Okay, I know you might not think this whole de-junking business is exciting, but for me it is. Currently I actually have a crazy messy room at the moment. I hate the mess. And I am a little ashamed of how bad I have let it get. I have been so busy this last month that I have literally thrown thing into my room so as to get more stuff in there. I think its time I got rid of some of the "Stuff". I do not need it all. Except the books. I do need those right? ;) 

This is also part of the Zero Waste book. The Second Phase of Bea Johnson's book talks about Reducing. I know you have seen the below diagram before. And this is another part of it.

Diagram: page 15 of Zero Waste Home.

Bea Johnson writes... "Reducing is an immediate aid to our environmental crisis. It addresses the core issues of our waste problem and takes into consideration the imminent environmental consequences of population growth, associated consumption, and the finite planetary resources that cannot support the world's needs. Reducing also results in a simplified lifestyle that allows you to focus on quality verses quantity and experiences verses stuff. It encourages questioning the need and use of past, present, and future purchases. The things you own, you own because you need them." (pg 19).

I love this book! On page 21 Bea offers a range of places to get rid of your excess "stuff" too. Things like selling to Amazon.com, eBay, flea markets. Or even if you want to continue the kindness on, pass it on to Goodwill, Salvation Army, Freecycle.org, Homeless or women's shelters, schools, etc.

There are so many things you could pass on. That you do not need in your life, that someone might need. And that you can share.

I have been following the work of an organisational specialist from Japan recently,  Mary Kondo. The following video is from her...



She is a genius. Asking the question "Does this item spark joy?" To clarify does it make you happy? does it make you proud? If it doesn't get rid of it. If it does, keep it! :) This is a perfect way to de-clutter. The video is long but it is really worth it. And you can always buy Mary Kondo's book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up", which I will probably buy in the near future.

KINDNESS IDEA: Donate some of your de-cluttering to charity, so that they can make money off your donations.

I hope this finds you well, and healthy!
Much love,
Daena x

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Two

Hello lovely people,

So what did you think of the videos by Lauren Singer? Do you think you can make small changes and end up just being completely waste free? Well that is an idea... right?

One things we will talk about today is plastic. Plastic is one of the most harmful things to our environment. Plastic is a long lasting and durable product that is often only given a "single use" before being discarded. Wikipedia states that plastic makes up at least 10% of all discarded waste.

I saw this quote the other day and I realised with great weight, its truth.

The article by Environmental Health News called The Enviromental Toll of Plastics states in their article from 2009 that...
                                        "Evidence is mounting that the chemical building blocks that make plastics so versatile are the same components that might harm people and the environment. And its production and disposal contribute to an array of environmental problems, too. For example:
• Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies. Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other potential human health effects.
• Plastic debris, laced with chemicals and often ingested by marine animals, can injure or poison wildlife.
• Floating plastic waste, which can survive for thousands of years in water, serves as mini transportation devices for invasive species, disrupting habitats.
• Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach harmful chemicals that spread into groundwater.
• Around 4 percent of world oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics, and a similar amount is consumed as energy in the process."

Okay... plastic is not very good. Not good for us or the environment. Take note today where plastic is turning up in your life. Can you substitute it? Can you change anything so that you use less? In the next few days I will be looking at small simple things that mean you don't have to use plastic.

You might be thinking that it does not seem so simple.

Don't Panic! Grab your towel (Hitch-hikers unite! lol. Sorry. Couldn't help a literary reference!).

Today's Sustainable September idea is very simple. By making one change you can help marine animals and yourself avoid one type of plastic.

September 2: Buy/use a reusable metal or glass straw instead of plastic ones. 

Cardboard straws [also called Paper Straws] are also available and can be composted after use.

I don't know if any of you saw the video that showed up on Facebook recently of a poor turtle that had inhaled a plastic straw. The video was really distressing to watch so I wont share a link to it. It was most distressing for the turtle that was having the straw removed from its nose. Plastic in the ocean is a huge issue. It takes hundreds if not thousands of years for plastic to deteriorate. 

"The Marine Conservancy has predicted the decomposition rates of several plastic products. It is estimated that a foam plastic cup will take 50 years, a plastic beverage holder will take 400 years, disposable diaper will take 450 years, and fishing line will take 600 years to degrade." Wikipedia (2015).

"So why straws?" I hear you ask. Well we have to start somewhere.

"Would you believe that enough plastic straws are produced annually to fill over 46 thousand full sized buses! Each time you use a reusable glass[or stainless steel] straw it means one less plastic straw ends up in landfill or in our precious oceans." (Biome 2015)

Personally, I just bought a bunch of Stainless Steel straws. I have recently discovered E-bay (I know I am about 10 years behind everyone else with this one). I was able to buy 10 stainless steel straws (with two little cleaning brushes) for about $10 AUD! That is awesome to me!!! When I get home to Perth (from Sydney, where I am currently) I will let you know how they go! I am actually really excited about them!

If you want to avoid plastic and you have a big event coming up think no further than cardboard straws. They come in a range of brightly coloured cardboard lengths and are about $2 AUD for about 24 cardboard straws. They are only really one use things (hence I love the idea of the reusable straws more). However once these are used they can go in the compost bin rather than the trash/rubbish.

Can't figure out where to get them? There are lots of places online. Just google "Glass Straws" or "Stainless Steel Straws" and you can get heaps of options.

Cardboard straws are found in supermarkets, cheap stores (like Red Dot, Price Savers, King Kong, Reject Shop). Beware that they are often packed in a plastic single use bag for sale. Some places sell them in cardboard packaging, although not many. So look around

One small change can make a huge difference. Think about the turtle. We have to start somewhere so why not with straws.

KINDNESS IDEA: Buy a couple extra reusable straws when you buy them for yourself and give them to your nearest and dearest!  :) Or simply refuse a straw - it means you totally just saved a turtles nose!

I hope this finds you all well.
Love Daena