DIY Waste Audit

Think of landfills as acne on the face of our planet: The more junk we bury, the worse the breakout is. An average person generates 4.5 lbs of waste a day, and the EPA says 75% of that could be recycled. On top of that, it's estimated that 21.5 million tons of food waste goes to landfills each year.

Unlike puberty, this problem won't go away with time unless we become conscious about waste. This Earth Day get down and dirty in your dumpsters and perform a waste audit. It's an easy and effective way to measure what you're producing. When it's completed you'll have a better understanding of the waste you create and how to reduce it.

Assess your options
Before diving in, you need to see what options are available for waste diversion in your area. You may already have a curbside bin for recycling and compost, just make sure you know what materials are appropriate for each. Many county websites offer information about local services and resources. Pay attention to the plastic numbers that are accepted in your area because they differ by region.

If you don’t have a municipal recycling or compost hauler then you’ll have to research alternatives. There are a multitude of redemption centers and independent recycling services to choose from. Make sure to take note of exactly what materials each place does take, because not every type of plastic or food waste is accepted. Some local farms may take your compostables, or you could start your own compost pile or bin at home if you have the space.

Understand your habits
Designate a week for the audit and make sure everyone sharing your home understands the process. Make a log for yourself that includes the following categories: item, material, amount and stream. (Stream refers to where the item would be sorted; Either landfill, recycling or compost.)

Place the log by the waste bins and record each item as it goes in. Be as specific as possible about the materials and measures. A cereal box, for example, is made up of a plastic bag (landfill), cereal (compostable) and the box itself (recyclable). In that case you would note that each item was sorted into a different bin and estimate the amount of cereal. Make a distinction between pre-consumer (ends of veggies) and post-consumer (uneaten carrots) food waste.

Clean up your act
When you've finished recording you'll have an idea of what's passing through your household. Use your results to adjust your consumption habits.

Are you using a lot of molded plastics that can’t be recycled in your area? Maybe you should buy a reusable cup that can be brought to your favorite coffee shop instead of needing a new one for each visit (many places do not compost the paper cups that are coated with plastic). Few places recycle the types of cups used for iced beverages, but even if you can recycle it, the relatively common practice of shipping the waste to Asia is not very green.

Did no one eat that huge pot of white bean soup or the three bunches of kale from the market? Consider cutting down, or cutting out altogether, the food items you see that are not being touched. Sure, we’d all like to eat healthier, but if no one is actually making beet smoothies then that’s just a weekly waste.

Food packaging often makes up a large part of household waste. This is where a steady relationship with local farmers and vendors can come in handy. Farmers markets allow you to bring reusable bags to pack up produce, rather than buying it prepackaged in plastic, or worse, Styrofoam. Farmers that do use packaging -- those little green plastic baskets that are often used for berries, for example -- may be open to taking it back once you are finished with it. If markets are not easily accessible then consider buying in bulk.

Seek out options that work for you and remember that a zero waste lifestyle doesn't develop overnight. Small changes to your habits can have a huge impact over time.

--Cover image courtesy of iStock/moshimochi

Bianca Hernandez is an editorial intern at Sierra. She recently received her MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California and has written for various publications.

 

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This Will Make You Ride Your Bike More

Most of you don’t need any convincing that you can save the world with two wheels, and that knowledge alone is doubtless sufficient to make many new bike commuters. Good for you! Please skip ahead to the cute animal posts.

But perhaps there are a few among you who like to ride your bikes, who know that they’re good for your health and that of the planet, but who just don’t get on them very often. (I’m speaking here about commuting, errands, etc. Recreational cyclists are more likely to have the opposite problem--they don’t get off the bike very often.)

If you want to up your mileage, here’s the tool you need: a cheap cycle computer. Sure, you can spend $700 on a Garmin Edge 810 that will track your cadence, calorie consumption, and heart rate while teaching you Swahili (OK, almost), but you can easily find far cheaper yet serviceable models that will give you a speedometer, a clock, and what you need most--an odometer. (As you can see, I use my pre-Garmin Cateye; a similar modern model will set you back about $25. Planet Bike has one for around $35.)

Why is an odometer so important? Because the trick to riding more is to set yourself an ambitious but achievable goal and then use the odometer to track your progress. The goal can be weekly, monthly, or annual; make it large enough to require a change in your present behavior, but not so large that you could never do it. Then let your odometer be your guide.

Last year, for example, I rode about 800 miles on my commuter bike. (OK, 832 but who’s keeping track?) This year I decided to kick my goal up to 1,000. That means (I figured this out while riding along) I need to ride 83.3 miles a month. And so far, so good! I was sidelined for a couple weeks by illness, but that just made me determined to make up the deficit. I started riding to the grocery store regularly, riding to the pool on Saturday morning, riding over to my friend George’s house to borrow a tool. If I’m behind one week, I find excuses the next to get on the bike and catch up.

Would I have ridden 250 miles by now without a goal and a way to track it? Possibly, but not likely. As anyone who’s ever played a video game knows, computers are great enablers of obsessive fixations. A simple computer on your bike can harness your completion drive to change the way you get around. Onward to 1,000.

Photo by the author 

PAUL RAUBER is a senior editor at Sierra. He is the author, with Carl Pope, of the happily outdated Strategic Ignorance: Why the Bush Administration Is Recklessly Destroying a Century of Environmental Progress. Otherwise he is a cyclist, cook, and dad. Follow him on Twitter @paulrauber

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Spring Cleaning, Homemade and Detoxified

It's time for spring cleaning. Attempting to spiff up every nook and cranny in your home can be stressful, but did you also know it can expose you and your loved ones to dozens of harmful toxins? Just thinking of the harsh fumes and neon hues must have you wondering if there's a better, safer way.

You may already have ditched the phosphate-heavy cleaning agents for more eco-friendly options, but you can even opt to make your own cleaning products. Make sure you have the following common ingredients on hand (you'll save multiple trips to the store): white vinegar, baking soda, citrus, hydrogen peroxide, washing soda, rubbing alcohol, essential oils, and castile soap. These cleaning recipes will save you money and help you take control over what you put in your home!

For the laundry room. Using just three ingredients, Rebekah of Potholes and Pantyhose fixed up the only laundry soap you'll ever need. Her recipe will last you through 50 to 100 loads of laundry (depending on the efficiency of your washer), and only costs three to five cents each time.

For the kitchen. Now that you have the perfect laundry soap, it's time to detoxify your dish-washing products. Erin, the mom behind the blog The Humbled Homemaker, created this great liquid dish soap.. If you prefer a dishwasher (which may be a more efficient option), check out Wellness Mama's homemade detergent.

For the bathroom. Kresha from Nourishing Joy, a self-described bathtub scrub snob, found the recipe for success with her homemade bathtub scrub. The secret ingredient? Eggshells! The calcium and rough texture from the crushed shells are perfect to get your tub, sink, and counters gleaming.

For the windows. Leslie, the blogger of Crunchy Betty, is a home remedy master, and her homemade glass cleaner may be one of her all-time favorite recipes. The four magical ingredients will work together to leave your windows streak-free. Plus, with a nickname like Alvin Corn, how can you resist this cleaner?

For everywhere else. Want something that works for all over the house? We've got you covered. Live Renewed blogger Emily came up with two fabulous recipes for disinfecting wipes that you can use for quick cleaning in any room. Frugal Granola also has a 3-in-1 household cleaner that will save you time and money. Even though it only says 3-in-1, we're pretty sure this cleaner could take care of just about anything in your house.

--Image courtesy of iStockphoto/perkmeup

Jessica Zischke is an editorial intern at Sierra. She is currently studying environmental studies at Dartmouth College, where she also works as a staff writer for The Dartmouth newspaper.

 

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What Plant Will You Be This Spring?

Have you always wanted to get into gardening, but never knew what to plant? This quiz will help you figure out what plant best fits your personality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What celebrity chef are you most similar to?

A. Swedish Chef

B. Julia Child

C. Ina Garten

 

Who's your favorite folk musician?

A. Mumford and Sons

B. Simon and Garfunkel

C. Joan Baez

 

How well did you take care of your Tamagotchi? (Be honest.)

A. It was constantly dying

B. I'm still playing

C. What's a Tamagotchi?

 

How long does it take you to get dressed in the morning?

A. Forever. All of my clothes are in unsorted piles. 

B. A minute to throw on whatever is closest

C. Not long. All of my clothes are organized by season and color

 

Who is your favorite farmer?

A. Old McDonald

B. The couple in American Gothic

C. Joel Salatin

 

If you answered "A" often:

You're interested in gardening, but may not be ready for the responsibilities that come with daily care. Try something that doesn't require a lot of water, like succulents or other drought tolerant plants.

If you try only one plant this season it should be: aloe.

If you answered "B" often:

You're ready to dabble in gardening but may not have the space or time to do it as much as you want. Start off with some herbs like basil, mint, or one of many others that grow easily. You could also try window boxes with rows of lettuce, or hanging baskets. 

If you try only one plant this season it should be: sunflowers.

If you answered "C" often:

You have the time to put in a sizable garden, or at least more than one or two potted plants. Consider what plants grow best in your region and how much space you have. If your space if cramped, try window boxes and a dwarf citrus tree. If space is not an issue, get creative with native plants, putting in a raised bed or just turning your whole yard into a garden. 

If you try only one plant this season it should be: strawberries.

 

--Cover image courtesy of iStock/PeJo29

 

Bianca Hernandezis an editorial intern at Sierra. She recently received her MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California and has written for various publications.

 

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Swap It Like It's Hot

I had no idea what I was doing, but, scissors in hand, I happily sliced away at what was once a favorite T-shirt during last weekend's Bay Area Swap-O-Rama-Rama. I had never been to a swap before, but organized swapping has been gaining momentum across the country and online.

Swapping is when people trade items, typically giving up things they don’t want for things they do. It can be a thrifty way to makeover a wardrobe, restock a makeup cabinet, or refresh a bookshelf with unread titles, all while keeping unwanted items out of the landfill.

The Swap & Sew I attended took place in a gallery. There were sewing machines, snacks, and tables where swappers could put items that were up for grabs. I had read ahead and brought a bag full of old clothes, intending to combat my hoarder tendencies by culling my closet, but my intentions were thwarted when I found myself wanting to take home as many clothes as I was giving up. Tables quickly became piled with items, and were restocked with each wave of participants.

After perusing the items up for grabs I decided to venture into a DIY Reverse Applique T-Shirt workshop. Some participants (experts?) wielded their own stencils and shirts, while others, me included, were less prepared. The two organizers were more than happy to help.

I quickly got to hacking away at my old t-shirt and struck up conversations with the people around me. Most had never been to a swap, but they had all brought items to give away and found items they wanted to take home. Though some had never done a DIY project like the reverse applique technique, they were encouraged by the organizers. Anytime anyone said, “I think I did this wrong” they were told that there was no “wrong” way, and that doing it wrong was actually perfect.

At the end of the day I left with a bag full of "new" clothes, a shirt I had resigned to never wear again, and a headful of ideas for revamping my closet. I was also pretty excited at the prospect of another sewing circle full of impromptu conversation.

How you can swap

The Swap-O-Rama-Rama is an international organization, so check out one of their meetings in your area, or start your own.

If joining an online swap forum, make sure you read the guidelines. Many of these online communities have rules and regulations. There are often rigorous verification processes in place to ensure the safety and security of members and transactions. On Reddit there are communities for clothes, nail polish, bras, makeup, books and more. Some are more stringent in their screening process than others. Always use caution when sharing personal information online.

If you want to give stuff away but don't want anything in return, check out Freecycle.org. The site has a list of freecycling groups by location. You must ask to join the groups, but after you're approved, you can post and browse freely.

Go to a clothing swap Meetup. 

 

--Cover image courtesy of iStock/gemenacon

 

Bianca Hernandez is an editorial intern at Sierra. She recently received her MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Southern California and has written for various publications.

 

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Easy (and Delicious) Coconut Planting Pots

Want to make your own natural planting pots? All you need to make a gift for someone (or yourself) is a nice young tropical coconut -- plus you can enjoy a healthy drink at the same time.

What's the difference between a young coconut and an old one, you ask? Young coconuts are covered in a soft husk, their milk is amazingly sweet, and their meat is creamy, almost like a light cheese.

The great part is that their soft shell can easily be turned into an extremely cute mini-pot for a plant.

To start this project, get your hands on some young coconuts. You can find them at an Asian market, a health food store, or maybe tucked away in the corner of the produce section of your supermarket.

Next, you need to open the coconut. There are tons of videos online showing multitudes of ways to do this, but here is a tried and true method: 

 

Once it's open, you can decide what to do with the milk and the inner meat. How about making a nice tropical drink by adding eco-friendly rum and a splash of lime juice? Or just have a refreshing glass of coco-water and eat the inner meat with a spoon, or use the meat and the water for some healthy smoothies. I typically go for a drink right out of the coconut and carve it like this for a flat-bottomed goblet:

Regardless of how you decide to consume your coconut, for your planting pot you'll want to remove all the inner flesh and the husk. A serrated blade works best for getting rid of the husk, while a spoon is a good tool for scraping out the coconut meat.

At the bottom of the coconut are three little eyelets. At least one of them should be loose. Use a knife to poke it out. Then wash the coconut with water and let it dry.

Once the coconut shell is completely dry, plug the eyelet hole with some cork and fill the coconut with potting soil or soil from your garden.

Now you have an awesome little pot for flowers, herbs, or even cacti.
























--Photos courtesy of Emily Fromm and iStockphoto/Design56 

James Rogers is a former editorial intern at Sierra. He graduated from Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment, where he studied a combination of environmental studies and journalism. While at Western, he was the editor in chief of The Planet magazine, and he has written for Conservation Northwest Quarterly, Public Eye Northwest, and The Western Front.

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What're the Least Bad Palm Oil Products?

Thanks to the Union of Concerned Scientists, Greens now have a resource for avoiding foods and products that contribute to palm oil-related deforestation. The UCS' report, whimsically titled "Donuts, Deoderant, Deforestation," scores the palm oil sourcing of a few dozen companies in categories like "peat-free," "transparency," and "traceability," to name a few.

The UCS study, released this month, argues that brands like Kraft, Starbucks, Wendy's, and Dunkin' Donuts show "no commitment" in ensuring that the palm oil they use is deforestation-free. The UCS does however give credit to other brands like Nestlé, L'Oréal, and Subway for their efforts to prevent such deforestation. "Multinational companies really hold the world's tropical rain forests in their hands," says Calen May-Tobin, the UCS's lead analyst for their Tropical Forest and Climate Initiative.

Palm oil is used in thousands of foods and personal care products that Americans consume on a daily basis. Unfortunately, palm oil production often requires mass deforestation and peatland clearing. Indonesia and Malaysia are the nations most directly hit by this wave of palm oil deforestation. Their forests are home to elephants, tigers, and Sumatran orangutans, all of which are critically endangered. Many of these forests grow from tropical peat soils that contain massive carbon reserves. When the trees are cleared, that carbon is released, exacerbating climate change.

While the UCS's list provides a damning indictment of many American brands, it's also a useful tool for choosing between products. May-Tobin hopes the UCS scorecard will encourage environmentally irresponsible companies to change their course and practice the ethical messages they spout. "These corporations should live up to the their 'wholesome' branding by demanding sustainable palm oil. To do so would save tropical forests, rich with biodiversity, and help limit the severity of climate change."

--Image by iStockphoto/prill

Callum Beals is an editorial intern at Sierra. he recently graduated from UC Santa Cruz where he studied history and literature. He enjoys hiking, camping, and waking up at ungodly hours to watch soccer games.

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What’s in Your Lunch? 9 Healing Food Tips

Remember going to the doctor's office when you were younger? The shots were scary, but then you got a cool bandage to show off to your friends and maybe even a colorful balloon to carry around the rest of the day. It seemed like there was always a cure for whatever was ailing you, and hearing that your problems could be solved with this or that pill might have been a relief. However, the movement to use food as medicine has gained momentum recently, and some people are saying that maybe we didn't need all of those prescriptions in the first place.

We sat down to discuss this topic with Mandy Murphy, a registered dietitian and 2014 Fellow at the Center for Health Leadership at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, where she is pursuing her Masters. "When a patient’s just been diagnosed with heart disease or heart inflammation or high cholesterol, [food] is not even addressed, when a driving factor was probably stress and food," Murphy said. "It’s like, 'Here’s a pill or a prescription,' and that to me is unsettling." [Editor's note: Always check with your doctor before making any changes to your health regime, especially changes that involve prescription medications.] We were interested in her perspective, so we asked her to share some of her best tips for using food as medicine and leading a healthier lifestyle, plus her go-to anti-inflammatory tea recipe — delicious and nutritious.

Turn to food. “The foods we eat should promote health on a daily basis and that can kind of be our primary prevention. But then when we do get sick we can use food and natural remedies instead of going to Western medicine immediately," Murphy said. She believes there is a place for Western medicine, but when dealing with the common cold, food should be the first place you look for healing.

7 Easy Steps to Green Your Valentine's Date

Are you feeling the pressure to plan the perfect date for Valentine's Day? The good news is that a relaxed, wallet-friendly evening is better for the planet. Whether you have a one-on-one, group, or solo date, let these thoughts inspire you to have a more creative, sustainable night. Just read our simple ideas to put a little eco-love into your date.

Step #1: Stay in. The first thing most people do when they realize Valentine's Day is around the corner is frantically search for dinner reservations. However, it can be hard to know how sustainable a restaurant is and whether ingredients are local and organic. So ditch the dining out and turn your date into a fun night at home.

Step #2: Go home-cooked. Resist the urge to buy a pre-cooked meal from a store and try preparing a dish from scratch. You can even make a date out of going to the farmers' market for the best ingredients. For an extra challenge, try a vegetarian or vegan spread, like this sun-dried tomato and spinach pasta with zesty sauteed kale. Once you have everything you need, head home and cook it together — you'll both have lots of fun and get more time together.

The 5 Worst Foods for Environmentalists to Eat

Spoiler alert: Stop reading now if you can't live without Quarter Pounders, packaged pastries, or expensive sushi. —Avital Andrews

 

We'll let Pulitzer Prize–winning food critic Jonathan Gold get on his soapbox for this one: "People need to stop eating BLUEFIN TUNA. Period. It'll be difficult because bluefin is uncommonly delicious and tends to be served at high-end sushi bars, where the fashion is to say 'omakase' and submit to the chef's will. But the numbers of these magnificent fish are dropping fast. If we don't stop eating them now, we'll stop in a few years anyway because there won't be any more." Carl Safina, who founded the Blue Ocean Institute, adds, "Because they're long-lived, bluefin populations don't stand up well to heavy fishing pressure—that's why they're so depleted. It's just too sad to eat them. Plus, big fish are high in mercury." To rein in your share of the overfishing disaster currently unfolding—bluefin stock is down by more than 96 percent from unfished levels—order a vegetarian roll instead.