The first is; a few plastic bottles or a ton of aluminum cans? DH is a soda addict and I alternate between the 2L bottles and the cans. I get the cans when they are on sale b/c I know aluminum is 100% recyclable, whereas plastic isn't. But the cans can be soooo expensive when they are not on sale, and we end up with tons of cans. And no, asking DH to give up the soda habit isn't an option
Second: a plastic broom that last years or a wooden that has to be replaced often. I chucked the plastic broom last year for an all wood one in an effort to reduce the plastics in our home. Only problem is, now the straw bristles are already wearing out and the broom is going to need replacing soon (I sweep at least twice a day, see the dogs in siggy, LOL). I had the plastic one for about 5 years before it was worn out. So which is better?
I would love to hear everyone's opinions.
__________________
Blessings,
Amy
Mama to Brendan (08-18-98), Ian (01-15-01), and baby Connor (6-1-05)! Also mom to my beloved goldens, Haley and Chase
Location: In the Land of Golden Warmth, Surrounded by Majestic Mountains, Inspired by Desert and Ocean, Cocooned in Love
Posts: 2,692
I would say go with the cans whenever you can afford to.
As for the broom, I would personally go with wood as it is biodegradable, even if you end up buying more brooms that way. I'd look for a broom with a replacable head if possible. Perhaps someone knows of a source for a higher-quality broom. Or perhaps you could vacuum instead of sweeping.
Location: somewhere between complete exhaustion and utter euphoria
Posts: 5,828
Ecolovables broom/mop. I love mine. I also have a straw broom that I have had for 12 years. Has held up great. Granted, it has not had much use since I got the Ecolovables 3 years ago. But, I even sweep carpet with it. It is a Libman.
__________________
Michelle
-- Mom to Beth, 11 and Sam, 8 both dairy and gluten-free
Wooden brooms from the Lions Club are awesome.
We bought all three sizes - monster broom for carpets, regular broom for wood and kitchen floor, and small broom for children.
The largest one wore out because it takes a lot of abuse on our rugs and my husband sweeps like he's trying to fan out all hellfire...seriously, the children and I have to leave the room.
The other two are in excellent shape. I think we spent $20 total and the money goes to support the Lions Club and I think - THINK - they are either made by the blind or the revenues go to services for the blind - or both.
Location: When I dare to be powerful -- to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
Posts: 9,423
A) Cans when ever you can
B) Plastic broom with Ecolovables broom/mop for moping. I have both, and love them... and I have had the same broom and Ecolovables broom/mop since before we got married, and they both still works great.
There is something to be said for that kind of stuff. I have a plastic garbage can too... why? Becuase it cost $6.99 (compared to $25.99 at Costco for a metal one, and that was a GOOD deal) and becuase it works well. We have tupperwear too. But never heat in it, and we only have glass and ceramic dishes (including cups) and long term food storage. Even our juice container, but for some things... plastic is the more economical choice. Even though it is a little less echological. Although if you can do the more expenzive choice, I would for sure go with a good metal garbage can... they are SO pretty.
Love Val
__________________
Val; Living the dream we have been working towards for over 5 years.
Mama to Alex, Cyan, and Logan. Wife to my very best friend.
I see how buying a plastic broom that lasts longer than wood is tempting for 2 reasons.
1) It costs less.
Of course that is an issue in almost all of our lives and one that has to determine our decisions in sitations where money is tight. Plastic is the Earths enemy (don't I sound alarmist today? ) and I feel I should avoid buying it if there is a non-plastic alternative (provided I can afford to do so.)
2) You may think it is kinder to the environment because it lasts longer.
The way I see it is plastic pollutes during its manufacture, pollutes during its use (offgas, etc), and pollutes when it is disposed of. The wooden broom will have to be replaced more often and at higher cost, BUT it is made from a renewable resource and is biodegradable. It is the kinder choice for the Earth, but not so kind to your wallet.
Here's my thought of the day:
When your plastic broom wears down and you need to buy a new one, have you ever stopped to think WHERE the plastic bristles went? They didn't just disappear...you can neither create or destroy matter. All that plastic went SOMEWHERE. This really gets me thinking about tires. When your tires wear out and the tread gets real shallow...where did it go? What about everyone elses tires? And all the tires in history? It almost seems like there should be thick layers of black rubber laying along side all the streets but there isn't. It went *somewhere* though. This is like thinking about the edges of the universe to me...trying to figure out where all this stuff went!
This really gets me thinking about tires. When your tires wear out and the tread gets real shallow...where did it go? What about everyone elses tires? And all the tires in history? It almost seems like there should be thick layers of black rubber laying along side all the streets but there isn't
OT and not what you are talking about, but this reminded me. I remember seeing a piece several years ago about how recycled tires made awesome road material. It was cheaper and more durable, plus it was another use for all those tires, but the asphalt lobby was halting the effort at every turn. It was really sad.
My Dad runs a tire manufacturing plant, so tires have always been a subject in our family.
Location: somewhere between complete exhaustion and utter euphoria
Posts: 5,828
Heather,
Being a huge Nascar fan, I have learned this - tire gunk sticks to the road surface for a while. Then it balls up and goes to the edge and is then washed away in a rain. What is stuck to the surface of the road just prior to a rain, along with oil, antifreeze, etc, is brought to the surface during the initial stages of rain. This is why the road is much more slick in the first few minutes of a rain (or longer during a drizzle). It all ends up in the ponds and rivers and oceans. But then, why aren't the bottoms of the rivers coated in it? Cause the Earth is covered in so much water and thus it is dispersed?
Harder compound tires "shed" less quickly, thus last longer and produce less "gunk". (Don't ya love my technical terms this morning?) I love that I can get 70,000 miles out of a 40,000 mile tire. I am wondering what I will get out of my 70,000 miles tires.
In Alabama, in years past, there were problems with tire "junkyards". Then one near us caught fire. It burned for weeks with massive pollution in the process. Now, you pay a still fee for disposal of each tire removed from your car when you get new tires. Hasn't detered people from driving, just like the gas prices. But I won't go there this morning.
well, i guess i will be the voice of dissent here. I wouldnt drink out of aluminum cans regularly. Occasionally is fine, but if he is drinking at least a 12pk a week, I wouldn't do it. I relaly think high metal content in our bodies is the cause of a LOT of illness. Yes, it may be better on the earth to go the cans route, but I dunno-- I just am not comfortable with it.
Not that plastic is great.. and I wonder what leeches from it, but at least it isn't metal. LOl you could always start buying glass bottles for him the little 6oz ones?
heather
__________________
Heather , mama to Liam, born 12-19-01, and Simon, born 04-17-05 wife to Mark, married 09-23-97
Just wanted to say about the tires... in our area you can take them for free to a tire recycling place, and there they are shredded and put in our local parks around the playground equipment, in our schoolyards around the playground equipment.
I've been wondering about this for myself. I need something to put around our fort/swingset combo, and I don't know which is better - but that's a whole other thread. lol!
__________________
Delpha
Homeschooling Sahm to 2 boys - Devin Grey 10!, and Logan Dale 3, happily married to Casey
about building with old tires, but I would personally have major concerns about living in a house made of tires... As for road materials, that's where a lot of glass goes in this part of the country - they crush it into the most minute particles to use in the road bed. But then they claimed they had too much and stopped glass recycling altogether
I personally love my wooden broom. There's a lot of folklore behind brooms (you're never supposed to bring an old broom to a new home), so I like to think of them as something traditional. A plastic one just doesn't conjure up that opinion, you know? We also had a broom specially made for our wedding (to jump over). I put charms on it and wound it with ribbon and it's hanging on our wall - I just think it's so beautiful, that something utilitarian can have some greater meaning.
As for the soda - my husband likes it way too much too. I got him to go for 'natural' sodas, if there is such a thing, and now I he's forced to drink water because I tell him I'll only buy it when it's on sale...
Occasionally is fine, but if he is drinking at least a 12pk a week
Oh, I would say he/we drink easily a 12pk/week HERE! He also gets free sodas at work and while I don't know for sure, I would guess he probably goes through 4-6 a day at work (based on what he does here on weekends)
And *forcing* him to drink something else is not an option, he will just buy it himself.
I admit, I like my coke or two a day, and I drink way too much coffee (but it's cheaper, LOL), but his soda habit is extreme, it is all he drinks. But then again, I can't change him, so I have to find the best way to do it. He refuses to drink water, and for some strange reason (call it being raised in a convenience oriented family), he only likes instant tea, which I don't buy b/c I make my own.
Sigh, living with a man who pretty much has the OPPOSITE eating habits can be very stressful at times.
Location: somewhere between complete exhaustion and utter euphoria
Posts: 5,828
I will NOT buy sodas at all. If he wants them, he has to buy them. I used to do that with coffee thing figured out that was his sleeping problems (two cups in morning kept him up all night). Now I buy decaf and put it in an unmarked container so he does not know. He got to a point with the sodas that I threatened making him buy his own fridge for his home office. I did not have enough room in the family fridge and the girls would pitch fits for them. He eased back buying them and the girls figured out I wasn't going to give in. So things got easier. My InLaws drinks so many they have a separate fridge for sodas, beers and candy.
Which is the lesser of two evils?
and Sam, 8 
both dairy and gluten-free
Although if you can do the more expenzive choice, I would for sure go with a good metal garbage can... they are SO pretty. 
Linear Mode
