As I read the Metro News on the train this morning, I saw an ad about the danger of putting used propane tanks in your recycle or garbage. Despite the fact that they are empty of usable propane, they still contain a little bit and can pose a danger of explosion if they’re not disposed of properly. The ad had a picture of one of those small 5lb disposable propane tanks that you can buy for camping and other purposes and a larger picture of a green garbage bag trussed up to look like an oversized hand grenade.
OK, that’s a good point, and not a bad ad in general. But because of the photo, it did get me to thinking. Do you generally consider the waste implications before making a purchase? And does the amount of waste that would result from your purchase ever change your purchasing decision?
For Mollie and me, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” Our habits in this regard have most definately changed.
As I said when I was running as the Green Party candidate, I never claimed to be green. I claimed to always be striving to be greener than I used to be. And I further claimed that taking it step by step and making greener choices an ingrained habit rather than a one time concious effort was far more valuable that trying to do everything at once.
A lot of those changes in lifestyle and purchasing decisions are subtle and change slowly over time. So I couldn’t ever really say that I made greener decisions in any one month compared to the month before, but I sure as hell can back up the claim that my purchasing decisions are a great deal greener than they were five years ago. And by greener I mean that consideration is given to the lifecycle of a product which includes it’s longevity, packaging waste, production stream, etc.
So, I pose these questions to all my readers and hope that you will comment because I am genuinely curious: Do you consider the waste stream and/or production cycle before you make a purchase? And does that change your mind about which product you buy, where you shop, or avoiding the purchase altogether? Please share an example if you have one.
Glenn Hubbers » Photography Blog
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Well, I have loads of examples, but I’ll limit myself to one… this one because I use it every day!
Coffee makers.
For 2 mugs: When I only make coffee for myself, I use a french press that I’ve had for at least 5 or 6 years. This baby gets used almost every day! It’s very efficient and makes beautiful coffee.
For 4 mugs or more: We used to have a drip coffee maker, but when it died, I searched for something that didn’t produce anything other than organic waste after each use. I found a wonderful, stainless steel 12 cup electric percolator for under $100. I have been using it for over 3 years with no problems and it makes excellent coffee every time.
The only problem with being a coffee drinker, is that you simply can’t buy local coffee! I buy organic fair trade beans but the only destination for the packaging (heavy plastic bags) is the dump! I need to grind the beans myself because both my coffee makers require a course grind. I’ve never found a course grind in recyclable cardboard or metal tins! Hmph! Next crusade!
Cheers!