Being Greener

[Al1cewith2020vision]

Is anyone interested in a discussion about being greener?

I’m trying to be as environmentally conscious as possible, but find some of the advice conflicting and am frequently frustrated by commercialism masquerading as environmentalism. Then there are actions that have unintended or uninformed consequences, such as asking retailers for clothes to be wrapped in tissue paper instead of using a carrier bag. Would it be better to take the bag and reuse it, than ask for tissue that will be binned?

Recycling is a whole set of issues by itself – for starters shouldn’t we be reusing as much as possible rather than recycling? And what can you really recycle? At work, people put things like polystyrene and foam in the plastics recycling, yet no one I have asked seems to know if you can actually recycle them.

We also face practical barriers to treading more lightly on the planet; time, money, knowledge physical abilities and plenty more. Often it might be a case of choosing the least worst option, rather than making a “good choice”. How could we make better choices?
My aim with the thread is to try to discuss what we could do better. A sort of anything environmental goes thread with the aim of helping us to do less harm and more good.

Thoughts, ideas, problems all welcome. Actual expertise especially so.

Re recycling, your local council website ought to have details of what can and can't be recycled.
Shopping: definitely take a bag with you. Try and buy 2nd hand rather than new.

I share your frustration with conflicting advice and greenwash! I think the rule of thumb is simple "less stuff".

I've just checked the local council web-site and learned that aerosols can go in the recycling - I don't use many, but still good to know.

However, it seems they no longer take clothes and shoes, a change since the last time I checked. Frustrating as I have been putting things not suitable for charity - like DH's well worn jeans - in the recycling. Grrr.

As you say - buy less and use more is a good approach.

We have really been trying to make difference, so far we have:

switched to solid soap for hand washing and showering.

bought reusable sanitary wear

switched to Splosh cleaning products and Smol laundry products.

Stopped driving to work and get the train instead (although still have to drive to the train station).

Started online shopping.

Bought less stuff and tried to reuse as much as possible.

Started taking lunch to work no more meal deals.

I wouuld love to use a zero waste shop for flour, rice etc but we are an allergy household so a bit worried about cross contamination.

Still have a really really long way to go but its a start.