It is easy to feel defeated. Day in and day out we hear of the losing battle to preserve our environment. We are saddened and angered by the wanton disrespect of the earth shown by many who are in positions to make an impact. Seeming like small players-or rather like an audience-we stew in our frustration. Surely, someone will step in before it is too late.
But, time drifts onward and we see with amazement how, in many ways, the earth proceeds to be ravaged seemingly unchecked. We become annoyed and apathetic as we witness the crime for there is nothing we can do to make a significant difference.
That is where we are wrong.
“Would you like a bag for that?” asked the cashier. I looked down at the greeting card I had purchased and envisioned it being put in a bag that I would promptly discard within minutes.
“No, thanks. I can put it in my purse,” I replied. The cashier looked confused. The question had been perfunctory and was not often replied to in the negative. I left that store and realized that I had made a turning point in my attitude.
Bags. There are bags for everything and everyone. Paper or plastic: we are given a choice. Some are compelled to have both. How often do we hear in the grocery store, “Double bag it and then put it in plastic. I don’t want things spilling all over the place.” These people then walk out of the store with more wrappings than goods. How easy and how thoughtless.
Do we need all these bags? Our European cousins don’t have this problem. They bring their own carrying bags to the market. We can follow in their shining example by using canvas totes. Most grocery stores have them available now for purchase (often for $3 or less). They are strong, durable, washable, and reusable and can be stored in the trunk of the car conveniently on hand for grocery shopping. Habitual use of these totes by an informed public can dramatically decrease the amount of trees wasted in the production of short-lived paper sacks, the petroleum product needed to manufacture plastic bags and the landfill space needed for discarded plastic bags.
Some see bags as proof that the item(s) they have purchased has indeed been paid for. They envision lights and whistles going off if they were to walk out of the store with their naked purchase. This apprehension could be allayed by requesting a paid sticker for the item or possessing the true proof of purchase, the receipt.
With respect to bags, consumers are not the only problem. Some cashiers, such as the one mentioned earlier, have difficulty grasping the general concept of not wanting or not needing a bag. We have to be vigilant and quick in order to catch them before they bag an item. Before we can blink they have thrown our pack of gum in a bag fifty times its volume and are proudly pushing it toward us. If we give this bag back and try to enlighten them in a subtle way that we really didn’t need a bag and that we want them to employ it for a more worthy purchase, we may witness a blank look followed by, “Oh, OK.” The bag is then crumpled and tossed in the garbage. Or if we are able to stop them before the item is actually in the bag, our petition to forego the bag is disqualified with a wave. It’s no trouble really, they insist. And we find our efforts are in vain.
Despite failures to illuminate others, there are many opportunities for us to change our own ‘disposable’ ways. We must be cognizant of the fact that to attract consumers, products are often packaged in excessive and unnecessary wrappings. Some companies have adopted a more responsible attitude in their packaging practices and acknowledge the impact on the environment. They use recycled paper and plastic in their products and or packaging. It is important that these companies be rewarded for their positive approaches with our patronage. Also, manufacturers often put toll free numbers on their products for comments and questions. It is wise to let a company know if we find a product’s packaging environmentally irresponsible.
In the home, brown paper lunch bags may be replaced with reusable nylon zippered lunch cases or lunch boxes. Similarly, we can cut down our use of plastic sandwich bags, wax paper, plastic wrap and aluminum foil in favor of durable glass food containers. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are useful for storing left-overs as well as transporting meals.
We many be weaned from our dependence on paper towels by using dishcloths made of 100% cotton. They are strong and absorbent and besides their reusable quality are far superior to paper towels for most kitchen uses.
Rather than having it be the rule to purchase meals, snacks and juices in single use containers, we can make it the exception. By focusing on buying in bulk, we can decrease the volume of garbage attributed to packaging and use our own food and beverage containers to repackage meals. Many manufacturers aim their marketing toward children and make the packaging colorful and especially enticing. It is critical to educate our children about conservation and not adopting a ‘disposable’ attitude. In this way, we will help them see past the wrappings and develop their own sense of responsibility to the environment.
Many times juices are available in concentrate form so that the water can be added at home in our own reusable pitchers. The end result is the same beverage and we are spared the hassle and ultimately the expense of transporting large bottles of essentially water.
Convenience plays a big role in our product choices. Yet, our desire for convenience should not outweigh our responsibility to avoid wastefulness. Using heavily packaged disposable products that have short-term uses such as toothpastes that come in pumps or liquid laundry detergents leaves the problem of having to discard bulky plastic containers after the products are used. But, if these products must be used, it is important to recycle them. Plastic containers usually have a recycling symbol and number one through seven stamped on the bottom. Most towns accept one and two for recycling and many will take all of them.
Adhering to our local recycling rules and encouraging others to do so can make a significantly positive impact on our attitudes toward taking a stand for the environment. It is essential that we put thought into the products we use each day. By making more responsible choices, we have some control over the amount of garbage we spew out onto the earth each day. Every small difference we make is a victory for the earth and in the end ourselves.
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