Until recently, I was still doing things that were hurting the environment because I was too into sticking with what I was already doing to think about its affect. I thought I would share some of these things in hopes that even if someone uses some of these littlest changes, then we can make a difference.
#1 Using your own cup
Exhibit A: I work at Starbucks and ever since the beginning of that time I would just sit at work all day drinking concoctions out of all the different cups. And then…just throwing them away. Ah it hurts my heart to think I was doing that. Starbucks has made some improvement with their hot cups, however, and is made out of 10% recycled product. Sadly, it still isn’t much. Now, instead, while I am working I use the ceramic cups for here. When I am not working but I plan on going in for a drink and leaving immediately, I bring my own cup. This helps to reduce the waste and even the cups that could be recycled, but typically are not. Also, if you bring in your own cup you do get a $0.10 discount!
#2 Holding back on plastic bags
Another one that saddens me. It was so easy for me to just run to CVS when I needed something as simple as a toothbrush and maybe a couple other small items and just accept the fact that they would be put into a plastic bag for me without second thought. Plastic is not
a biodegradable product. It seeps into the soil which cows eat and floats into the water that fish live in. This harmful product can cause death for these animals and if not death, then they remain in the very same animals humans eat, which in turn goes inside the human. Far too much energy is put into making plastic products than is coming out making it a waste of our earth’s resources. Instead, if you have only a couple items, just let the employee kindly know that you will not need a bag. Also, if you must take a plastic bag, be sure to reuse it at home as a trash bag for your bathroom or room. I have also invested in a big tote that I can take to the grocery store when I obviously get millions of food items. Then when checking out, instead of going into the plastic bag, my items go right into my big lovely tote. Whole Foods is an example of a store that contributes to this way of reducing plastic usage.
a biodegradable product. It seeps into the soil which cows eat and floats into the water that fish live in. This harmful product can cause death for these animals and if not death, then they remain in the very same animals humans eat, which in turn goes inside the human. Far too much energy is put into making plastic products than is coming out making it a waste of our earth’s resources. Instead, if you have only a couple items, just let the employee kindly know that you will not need a bag. Also, if you must take a plastic bag, be sure to reuse it at home as a trash bag for your bathroom or room. I have also invested in a big tote that I can take to the grocery store when I obviously get millions of food items. Then when checking out, instead of going into the plastic bag, my items go right into my big lovely tote. Whole Foods is an example of a store that contributes to this way of reducing plastic usage. #3 Bringing a container from home to restaurants
Again, another one where you have to take something along with you but I do believe it is worth the space. If you are one of those people who never finish a meal at a restaurant because it is a large portion or you aren’t sure if you will have a meal the next day if you don’t bring home leftovers (guilty) then you most likely ask for a box at the end of your meal. However, the majority of restaurants use Styrofoam boxes. Styrofoam is not biodegradable and takes up plenty of space in landfills. It has harmful chemicals in it that are transferred into your warm or fatty food when placed in a Styrofoam box and also has negative affects on unborn children, such as problems within the nervous system. One restaurant that I have seen make a change in using Styrofoam is the local Gypsy Den. They now use biodegradable boxes which I think is absolutely beautiful! There was also an article in the March 26, 2007 edition of The Panther last year about how Sodexho, our food service at Chapman uses Styrofoam cups with polystyrene and how that material was actually banned in more than 20 cities at the time the article was written. After looking it up now, it seems as if there are many more who have banned it, including areas in Orange County, but Orange did not appear to be one of them. I have not been to any of the restaurants at school this year so I am unaware if the cups are still being used. However, just beware if so! Here’s the link to that article if you would like to read it.(http://www.chapman.edu/PantherNewspaper/issues//PantherMarch262007.pdf)
I will leave you with those three for now that have been elaborated on, but please…buy fluorescent light bulbs and don’t forget to unplug things when you are using them! Toasters, laptops, fans…you name it and you know you aren’t using it once you walk out of your door into the lovely world. And…for even more benefit, as if helping out each other and the planet isn’t enough…unplugging all of these and switching bulbs means CHEAPER ELECTRIC BILL!
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