Reusablebags.com

I know, I've already written about how much I like the reusablebags.com site. I just heard that they received the prestigious Bizrate Circle of Excellence 2008 Award for outstanding customer service! Very cool. Check out their site, if you haven't been on it recently.

They have these really cute baby bottles, called Green to Grow. Green to Grow bottles are the best combination we found of design, safety, and corporate responsibility. Every part of these bottles is made with 100% BPA-free, phthalate-free materials - ideal for parents who want a safe alternative to polycarbonate. What a great baby shower gift!

Reducing waste

The idea of recycling is to reuse an item rather than toss it into the trash and have it end up filling space in a landfill, right? What about this novel idea? Why not reduce the waste in the first place? How can you do this, without much effort? Take a look:

Be aware of the items you purchase and how they are packaged. Some manufacturers use layers of wrapping that will just get tossed into the trash because there isn't another use for it. Do a little digging, a bit of research to find items that have less packaging and stick to only buying them. I believe the manufacturers will get the hint when consumers start paying attention to the waste one product makes and opt for its competitor.

One way to reduce packaging waste is to buy in bulk. Buying in bulk cuts way down on the packaging and more often than not, you save money. If you think you have to buy too much when you buy in bulk, consider teaming up with a friend or family member...share the fun!

If you have to buy something that has an excess of packaging, try to figure out what you can use that excess for and then put it to good use.

A great way to curb the surplus in a landfill is to reuse things. One easy idea (and obvious to most) is to do this with is the plastic bags you get to carry your groceries home in. Rather than getting the bags home, emptying the contents and putting them away and throw the used bag into the trash, think about the different things you can use that bag for. Just by reusing items like this will cut down greatly on the stuff that is filling up our precious space-craved landfills. If you have an excess of bags, take them to a local retailer who recycles them. Whole Foods, and many other grocery stores have a bin close to the door, to put your used bags in. These bags are recycled into other products.

The best idea is to buy some reusable bags to shop with. I always take mine into the grocery store (Whole Foods has a big sign, asking people to go back to their car to get their reusable bags!). I'm now starting to carry a bag or 2 in my purse, and will use them in department stores, home improvement stores, and anywhere I might make a purchase.

Recycling, at its best, is prevention of excess. Keeping that in mind and taking the steps to incorporate minor changes into your life will reduce waste and will make it much easier for landfills not to get so over-filled. Prevention of waste takes just a little forethought, and any of us are capable of that.

Checking out the local organic markets

Last night I had decided to check out the local, organic farmers markets in the Kansas City area. I'd been to the one in Brookside, but not recently. There is also one on Red Bridge.

It was raining this morning...a perfect morning to sleep in. Instead, I was out the door by 8:15, heading to the KC Organics and Naturals Market located at Minor Park, just East of Holmes on Red Bridge Road (111th Street). It wasn't raining yet on that side of town, but I only stopped for a few minutes, since there were only 5-6 vendors. I bought some great looking zucchini squash.

Next was Brookside. I wanted to get there a bit later, after a few of the stores had opened. I was early, but did browse through The New Dime Store. It's such a unique store! By this time, the rain was coming down, so my trip through the Brookside Farmer's market across the street was fairly quick. I did pick up some beets (I LOVE roasted beets), tomatoes, and some flax seed bread.

For some reason, I was inspired to make my favorite meat loaf recipe, from The New Basics Cookbook. (Market Street Meat Loaf). It's full of veggies, and the recipe calls for both beef and pork (but I use ground turkey in place of the beef, and yogurt in place of the half and half). So, my next stop was Whole Foods to pick up the rest of the ingredients.

The farmer's markets are a treat. It's fun to people-watch, and talk to the vendors/farmers. Don't forget your reusable bag. Check these out.

Reusable bags

I stopped at Whole Foods yesterday. They had a big sign out front that said: "We'll pay you $.10 per bag to turn around and get your reusable shopping bag from your car!" I was proud to say that I already had 3 in my hand. (I purchased 2 of them from reusablebags.com). I love their website, their mission, and the way they conduct business.

Last month I attended a bridal shower of a dear friend's daughter. My goal was to buy something that had NO packaging, and then gift wrap it with material that could all be re-purposed or re-used. It was a no-brainer that I would use a cloth shopping bag as the wrap (I used kitchen twine to tie a bow.) The bride-to-be loved the Heavyweight Hemp/Organic Cotton Grocery Bag.

My favorites are the Reisenthel - Mini Maxi Shopper, Long Handle bags. I have several colors, but my favorite is the polka-dot one. I bought it this summer in Seattle, and wish I had a few more, in different colors, but haven't been able to find them on-line. Has anyone seen them?

For those of you who still use the plastic bags from grocery stores, department stores, take-out restaurants, and a gazillion other places...please recycle your bags. Wal-mart and Whole Foods both have a great bag recycling program.