reduce, reuse, recycle

new uses for those heavy-duty plastic containers that cat litter comes in! grin

Each big square bucket – originally holding 27 pounds of litter – has a nice tight-sealing lid, so you can, for example, store cat food in one (to keep the cat food from going stale after its original packaging – in this case, a 16-pound sack – has been opened).

Edited to Add: Bonus benefit: this makes the cats glad!

Oh, and there’s a handle, also of heavy-duty plastic, so you can lug the container around if need be. Very useful! smile

taking with me those heavy-cardboard multiple-drink holders when I stop by the coffeeshop for “to go” orders, so that they can be used more than just once. (The reactions of the baristas when I bring one by for re-use vary widely—and have been fun to watch! smile)

• Today I used less paper and plastic by taking my own cloth sacks with me shopping.
• Tomorrow I’ll be taking more things away for another “Recycle Sale” at work.

I expressed my interest here, recently, in doing more reducing-reusing-recycling, an opportunity came up “to turn trash into treasure!”

big smile

These thirty items went to the “Recycle Sale” ...

6 paperback books
5 cut-glass tumblers
5 ceramic mugs
4 green glass bowls
3 holiday cookie containers
2 hardback books
2 thermos-type drink-holders
1 desk-sized photo-frame
1 18” brown plush teddy bear
1 green candle in square glass jar

!!! Hurrah !!!

... while the following two items had to be tossed, having broken in transit (I’ll know to pack things better next time):

1 cut-glass tumbler
1 ceramic mug

small sigh

REDUCE: I think we’re doing fairly well on this, although I’m also always looking for ways to do better.

REUSE: Growing up in a family that believed in “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” as a “Gospel truth” has made this a lifelong mindset for me! grin

RECYCLE: I think we’re doing the “easy” stuff already (100% of our aluminum and glass and, I’d estimate, 80%-plus of our plastic and paper products), but I also feel as though it’s time to do more, to “step up,” to go beyond what’s conveniently do-able, in order to make more of a difference.

I’m looking for feedback, 43T-folks! Thanks in advance for your ideas. smile