compact by design

Monday, September 28, 2009

another look at recycling

We’ve been having an amazing time on our West coast road trip. Even Toddler L and Baby S have been enjoying themselves. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. I’ve also been enjoying the time away from the computer. A week without internet has been great for the whole family. But I miss all of you.

Just so you don’t miss me too much here’s a re-post from January. A little look into my life. I hope you enjoy, I’ll be back soon.

recycling

Recycling should be second nature by now. Unfortunately not every city, town or landlord agrees with that yet. We are lucky enough to have a nice big trash bin right down stairs for all of our refuse. I even went so far as to ask about recycling before we signed the lease. “Don’t worry, they separate it” I was told. Perhaps it was my desire to get settled, move forward, make a decision, whatever, but I bought that line. It wasn’t until after we had moved in that it started to niggle at me as slightly unbelievable. But being the trusting soul I am I kept playing along. I was even so nice as to separate out the recycling items from our regular trash so those hardworking garbage plant workers wouldn’t have to open the bags and dig through our dirty tissues and food scraps for the empty cans. After my year of trying to be good about reusable bags I decided enough’s enough. I wasn’t buying the line anymore and something had to be done. I was ready to do more and it started at home. Unfortunately, the other tenants in my building aren’t so environmentally guilt-ridden as I so a mass protest to the management was out. That left me to figure out my own solution.

A quick internet search and I was able to find my local recycling collection center. Walser’s to the rescue. I wasn’t looking for my 5 cents per bottle, I just wanted to know my stuff was actually getting recycled.

off to recycle my waste

So I loaded up the car. This was actually two weeks worth as I didn’t make it over last week.

: bye bye recyclables

All I had to do was unload my bags and I was on my way. Except I waited to see the staff check to make sure I had properly sorted my items. And I got a tour! I was so excited to be dropping off my recycling and here I was going to get an inside look into where it all goes? Hot diggity. I wanted in!

: mixed paper

I wanted to see where all my paper cereal boxes and tissue cartons were going to go.

: plastics

And how about piling all my plastic bottles and containers into this big puppy.

: e-waste

Take a look at all the computers they had stacked up ready to ship out. They go through tons of these. Literally. In fact, just last week, in one day they got 44 televisions. And they’re considered a small operation! I’m just glad they’re big enough to take my junk. All gone. Gone to become someone else’s headache.

: metals/appliances (yep that’s a full refrigerator getting the proper heave-ho)

Did you know that so much of what we recycle here in the U.S. actually gets shipped to CHINA for recycling. That’s right. They put it in big containers and ship it to factories in China to do whatever it is recycling plants do. But the factories in China don’t have the same labour laws, works standards or emissions controls that we do. So in the end, how much is it costing the environment for us to recycle? But not Walser’s! They make sure all of their e-waste, metal, paper and plastic is all regurgitated right here at home. Well someone else’s home. I just got it out of my home. But you know what I mean.

I’ll see you next week Walser’s!

Posted in Green Living, Recycling | 2 Comments »

Tags: eco-friendly, recycle, trash, Walser's

Friday, May 29, 2009

friday forum

I have a confession. I was holding out on you. It wasn’t intentional. But apparently I had some food waste back in one of those weeks I was claiming to be so great and resourceful and all consuming of food.

Last week when I was downloaded what I though were pictures of Toddler L off the camera I came across a picture of these strawberries.

I’m sorry to say it actually took me a moment to remember what the heck it all meant. This all happened the Saturday before Mother’s Day. On that Sunday I found out a friend had passed away. It was not a good week. (Remember the empty menu plan?) So by Friday, I had no recollection of what had happened the previous Saturday.

Now I remember.

We bought these strawberries Thursday evening, come Saturday morning they looked like this. Boy was I miffed. Actually, I was a lot more than miffed, but Toddler L and Baby X were listening. (Yes, I know Baby X is still cooking but I”m practicing and imagining he can hear everything I say.) I try to keep my fruit on the counter instead of in the fridge because it typically tastes better. Big mistake. I have had strawberries since this debacle that went straight into the fridge until every last one was gobbled up.

This batch went straight into the garbage.

Yes, I know that in itself is a waste. 40% of what’s in the landfills could be composted. But not by me. Not for lack of desire. More like lack of opportunity. No compost, no garden, no green bins. For now I take solice in the knowledge that I put that pesky plastic container in the recycling bag.

As for waste this week, I go back to having nothing to show. (I’m not even smiling as I write that as I may be completely out of it and not even know. I’d hate to be smug only to have another strawberry incident.) I think I do a pretty good job of making a “use it up” lunch whenever there is something on the edge. I guess that’s what has saved me so far.

felix

For those of you not managing quite as well with the food waste issue, here’s a little something that might just help.

This spring, The Kitchn (a division of Apartment Therapy) held their second annual Kitchen Cure.

This is a series of posts, reader interaction, and assignments designed to help get your kitchen in shape. The goal, in six fast weeks, is for your kitchen to be clean, healthy and organized, and your cooking more nourishing and delicious than ever.

One of their great ideas was this grocery reminder. Post this on the fridge and you have no excuse to not know what’s inside.

eat this

If that doesn’t help you out, how about their list of What To Do With…? 75 Tips for Leftovers and Ingredients. This is definitely one list I will be checking twice (weekly). There are some great ideas for foods from all over the kitchen. A personal favorite though was the ideas for Inedible Failed Dishes. One commenter made a suggestion I think will become a family tradition of our own.

Growing up, on the rare occasions my mom completely failed in the kitchen, it was traditional to order pizza. Even if there were leftovers around, a kitchen disaster meant mom had a glass of wine or a gin and tonic while dad dialed. A family tradition I have adopted and will pass on to my daughter.

felix

For those of you that have seen the inside of my fridge, there’s a new addition.

I finally succumbed to the pull of bread in the oven. I’m still not ready for kneading though. I made a batch of dough considered the Master Recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. Four ingredients? It must have cost a whole $1.00 for everything. And the dough should make about four 1 pound loaves. How about master frugal recipe. As I don’t have a pizza stone or peel (don’t worry that will be remedied as soon as I can), tomorrow I will be making a loaf in my dutch oven. Yep, the dutch oven, in the oven. I’m already considering what else I can use to get some different shaped loaves. A new use for that too-big-to-cook-in Corning Ware dish.

And yes, it was about 5 minutes of work today. Let’s see if tomorrow goes as smoothly. I can’t tell you how excited I am. Really.

I love my bread machine, but this is what bread should look like.

artisan bread

If my in-laws don’t walk in the door and swoon over my fresh-from-the-oven bread I’m immediately sending them to a hotel.

Just kidding. They can stay.

I’ll go to a hotel.

Posted in Cooking, Food Waste, Simple Living | 2 Comments »

Tags: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, compost, Cooking, Food Waste, Friday forum, grocery reminder, Saving Money, Simple Living, The Kitchn, trash

Friday, May 8, 2009

friday forum

I am officially taking up The Frugal Girl‘s challenge to display my wasted food. Last week I posted about some food waste issues and patted myself on the back for not really having any waste.

That was dumb.

It’s pretty much a given that as soon as I commit such unabashed narcissism I will have to wipe the smirk off my face.

This should do it…

090507

The bread was a piece of crust I intended to make bread crumbs with. Too bad I didn’t get to it when I intended. Now it’s waste. It really irks me this happened, and I have to live with that.

In the bag are three frozen chicken strips. If they’re frozen why are they waste, you ask? Well, let me tell you. Because I’m an idiot. Or at least a sleep deprived, brain-malfunctioning, less-than-perfect human being. On Tuesday, I set them on a tray in the freezer to freeze individually. The intent was to leave them about an hour and bag them. Again with the dang intentions. I found them while looking for lunch on Thursday. Completely freezer-burned.

Unlike the bread, I haven’t actually thrown them away yet in case somebody has a good use for freezer-burned chicken. Any help here? I’m kinda draggin’ cuz I’m not even done.

What didn’t make it into the picture was about a 1/2 cup of heavy cream. In my sleep deprived, brain-malfunctioning, less-than-perfect state I considered the cream perfectly good until the stamped date of May 26th. Unfortunately, I forgot that having been opened about 2 weeks ago that date means nothing.

So there you have it. I am a food waster. This was a bad week. Here’s to hoping that the public humiliation has some purpose and next week is better.

felix

On a completely different note. Still food related. But pretty much the opposite of waste.

This is the pantry I want if I’m ever stuck with no outside access for weeks…

pantry #65

The Perfect Pantry takes a look at Other People’s Pantries every Saturday. This week’s photo (not pictured above) is of a pantry converted bedroom. The thought boggles my mind as I prepare to tackle our measly kitchen cabinets tomorrow to make way for this week’s groceries and stock piles. (Stock piles meaning I might have two of something.)

The only thing I ogled more was a recent look at Martha Stewart’s prop closet.

MS props1

Some closet MS.

Posted in Food Waste, Saving Money, Shopping, Simple Living | 1 Comment »

Tags: challenge, Cooking, Food Waste, Friday forum, Martha Stewart, pantry, Saving Money, The Frugal Girl, The Perfect Pantry, trash

Friday, May 1, 2009

friday forum

food-waste

This post could be called food-waste friday, but it’s not. I love the idea of being so aware of our consumption that we can acknowledge, if not eliminate the amount of food we buy but don’t use. A number of people are working on this theme including The Frugal Girl. In fact she issued a challenge to her readers to document their food waste.

I have been considering her challenge. I wouldn’t say this is my first come-clean post as I have no wasted food picture to show. In fact, I can’t say I have any wasted food. Since I’ve been budgeting, menu planning and cooking 1-2 meals a day I don’t think I’ve thrown much of anything away. That’s not a brag, just a realization.

My discussion point is this…

I do throw food away. I’m not happy about it but I’m not sure what else to do. I don’t throw out food that I intended to eat but just didn’t get around to. I throw out food my son won’t eat. And my son doesn’t eat a lot. Now, mind you, he’s only 20 months old so his portions are pretty tiny. But it is still food going in the garbage. (We don’t compost as we live in an apartment without even a potted plant to feed.)

Before we had kids I told the husband we were not going to be the parents that eat what the kids don’t. I hate the idea of waste but I don’t think that’s a healthy pattern either. So, unless it’s O’s or animal crackers it’s a real crap-shoot whether Toddler L will eat what we give him. I will usually wrap it up and try again, sometimes as many as two more times for one dish. But after that, I figure it’s seen enough fingers, floor and fridge.

I’m not asking for parenting tips, I think husband and I are doing pretty well. We have a kid who’s developing his tastes slowly and I’m okay with that. (Mind you, for those that are thinking parenting tips, he ate everything we gave him when we started. It’s only his independent, grown-up self that is challenging us.) A forum is a place for discussion. I’m not sure exactly what the discussion is. I guess I just wanted needed to put it out there that this bugs me. I’m not sure what to do about it. As I’m sure Toddler L will grow into a boy who will eat us out of house and home I shouldn’t say much now. If only I could save the food he doesn’t eat today for the nights he has 3 helpings and still wants more.

Back to what I can control, maybe next week I’ll accept that challenge and share what waste we do have.

Posted in Cooking, Food Waste, Saving Money, Simple Living | 3 Comments »

Tags: Food Waste, Friday forum, Simple Living, The Frugal Girl, trash

Thursday, March 5, 2009

one box at a time

recopack

Have you recently moved? Are you thinking about moving? (I think I saw you shudder.) I know, it’s not something we like to dwell on. Moving is rated as one of the most stressful life experiences. Right behind divorce. (And considering divorce usually requires moving that’s just a ridiculously unfair double whammy don’t you think?) And that’s not even getting into the guilt of what you’re doing to the environment. At least as far as the divorce. I’m going to get into the guilt of moving.

I really don’t like moving. And I should know. I’ve moved over 25 times in my life. Most of those as an adult who actually had to participate in the process. It’s a pain in the ______ (fill in the blank depending on your temperment). As we are staring another move in the face I’ve been thinking more about the process. And I’d have to say, one of my greatest moving pet peeves is the moving box. I’m pretty darn good when it comes to packing (so many years of practice and all) but to take full advantage of each cardboard box they must be not-too-heavy and yet completely full. A box that isn’t full is a disaster waiting to happen. Especially if they are getting stored for any length of time. The sight of a caved in box about to topple a stack is enough to make my neck scrunch up and wonder “why, oh why, can’t square pegs fit in round holes?”

And then what do you do with the boxes once you’ve moved? I know, many do end up on freecycle.org and craigslist, but what about those now ruined, caved in boxes? And the ones that got wet when put in a puddle instead of directly on the back of the truck. (Not speaking from experience here, nope, not me.) Some may get recycled, but too many get tossed in a dumpster on their way to the oh so plentiful landfills that abound. I will claim one or two for forts or play-houses now that the reason for a move is the two legged squirt that would rather play in a cardboard box than the most expensive toy any grandparent could give. But that’s another story.

In trying (not so quickly, I know) to wrap up this story, I come to the point. I found out about rentagreenbox.com and can finally give a sigh of relief – the better way is here.

“Rent-a-Green box is America’s first, comprehensive, zero-waste pack and move solution made entirely from post consumer recycled trash mined from local landfills. Our mission is to provide relocating business and residences with an authentic and genuine earth friendly packing and moving alternative that will save time, money and Earth.

We convert massive quantities of post consumer trash to make really cool earth friendly packing and moving products that replace traditional and expensive supplies like cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and Styrofoam peanuts that are really bad for our Earth.”

Here’s a product, and a service I can get behind to the point of pledging to use them for my family. I hope these guys are a great big green wave of the future. Pass the word and be a part of the solution. Doesn’t the thought of moving seem just a little bit less daunting?

*This is strictly a personal endorsement of this company’s ideas and goals. rentagreenbox.com has no idea who I am and probably would refuse my calls if I made any. Except when I place my order of course.

Posted in Green Living, Recycling | 3 Comments »