Tag Archives: Recycle

Whatchu’ Drinkin?

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As most of you know, single-use plastic water bottles are a HUGE problem when it comes to sustainability, but let me paint an even better picture for you. It is estimated that over 15 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. SO much plastic is being dumped that scientists are now finding traces of microplastics in the fish we consume. All human life revolves around the health of our oceans, whether we think it or not. Furthermore, 1 million single-use plastic water bottles are bought every minute in the world. However, less than ⅓ of this plastic will be recycled. It is naive that we assume that because we live in places such as Austin, TX, our plastic won’t end up in our oceans. Here is some advice to inspire the change within yourself! 

Tap Water 

Did you know that bottled water costs over 100 times more to produce than tap water? Well, the consumer must be paying for better quality water, right? Wrong! 25% of all bottled water is just tap water that was put into single-use plastic and sold. Essentially, you are just paying for well-advertised tap water which is costing you more than you think. A person who only buys bottled water spends around $1,095 annually, whereas a tap water drinker will only spend a mere $0.48 per YEAR. Who wouldn’t want over a thousand extra dollars in their pocket by making this simple switch? 

Reusable Plastic Water Bottles

If a person drinks around 4 bottles of water per day, they will waste 1460 single-use plastic bottles in a year. Even if that person only purchased 1 single-use plastic bottle every day, they would still be wasting 365 water bottles a year. A person who uses a reusable plastic bottle every day will not have to throw away one single bottle that entire year. Reusable plastic water bottles are the most cost-effective bottle to purchase since they will be quite a bit more affordable than stainless steel bottles. Reusable plastic bottles are easy to clean, especially since you can see through them it will be easy to spot any areas that need special attention. However, since these bottles are still plastic they are still more likely to end up in landfills and our oceans. First, when it comes to picking the perfect plastic water bottle, be sure to look for bottles that are BPA-free and PET-free. These are harmful chemicals that can leech into your water over time, especially when left out in the sun or a hot car. Second, make sure the bottle you buy is dish-washer-friendly so that it doesn’t warp when subjected to high temperatures. 

Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Stainless Steel water bottles are the BEST option for the environment, and here is why! Stainless steel, unlike plastic, is not porous, which means it will not leak any toxic chemicals into your water, even if subjected to high temperatures. Stainless steel makes these bottles resistant to rust, bacteria, corrosion, and mold too. Furthermore, Stainless Steel water bottles are 100% recyclable and are much more likely to stay out of landfills. These water bottles are also more environmentally friendly to produce than other materials. Although stainless steel bottles are more expensive than reusable plastic bottles, they are much more durable. The only downside to stainless steel bottles is that when they are dropped, they can sometimes dent. However, the benefits outweigh the cons. Make sure that when you are purchasing a metal water bottle it is Stainless Steel, rather than aluminum. Researchers have found that BPA can still exist in Aluminum, so it is best to steer clear of them all together. 

Hopefully, this information will inspire you to make a cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly change in your life! Most of the United States has clean and safe tap water to drink, so finding a filling station near you won’t be a problem. Let us know how your journey to switching from single-use water bottles to reusable ones has impacted your life! 

5 Items to Reuse and Repurpose at Home

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It is common in hispanic culture that most households reuse items to give them a new purpose. Growing up as a hispanic myself, my family and I were practicing sustainable habits without even knowing it!  

More people should adopt this sustainable lifestyle since it is cost effective and at the same time helps the environment. Today, I am here to introduce you to a list of items that my family and I have reused and repurposed so that you can too!

Plastic Bag from the Grocery Store 

(Because you forgot your reusable bag at home, of course)

The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year. Plastic bags are also used for an average of 12 minutes. To extend their time span of use,  they can be used as a trash bag for small trash bins around the house like for your room or restroom. This way, you can refrain from purchasing actual smaller sized trash bags saving you money and cutting back on plastic usage. That is, of course, if you forget a reusable grocery bag. 

Plastic Food Containers

Brace yourself for someone in your family to eventually be deceived by this. Reusing food containers for other food is a great way to avoid paying for more plastic tupperware. The world produces more than 380 million tonnes of plastic every year and this sustainable habit can help cut that number down. Plastic containers can be reused over and over again.

Old Clothes

Old, torn clothes can be repurposed as a cleaning rag to get rid of dusty areas. It is green and also cost effective. According to the World Wildlife Fund, it can take 2,700 liters of water to produce the cotton for a single t-shirt. So might as well make the most of it instead of throwing it away.

Plastic Bottles

Instead of going out to find a pricey pot for your plant, you can reuse a plastic water bottle. Instead of buying a pencil container, use a water bottle. Instead of purchasing a watering can for your plants, use a water bottle. The ways you can reuse a water bottle are bountiful; from making a bird feeder to using the water bottle to suck egg yolk to even making a jewelry stand.

Disposable Razors

Once your razor becomes too dull to use for shaving, you can repurpose it to remove lint from your clothes. Like any sustainable habit, it is cost effective and this one will make your clothes look nice and presentable. 

Extending the usage of items such as the ones mentioned creates a household with sustainable habit and slows down purchases of disposable items. Growing up in a hispanic household there was no such thing as disposable, only reusable. That itself is living sustainably. You do not need to be Greta Thunberg or Leonardo DiCaprio to make a difference. 

Tag us @envirojunkiess on your Instagram/Twitter posts sharing if your family did the same growing up or if you have more items in mind that can be reused or repurposed feel free to share that with us! 

Links:

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html

https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution

https://treefy.org/2020/06/24/template-2/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20World%20Wildlife,just%20for%20one%20t%2Dshirt.

Apps For Environmentalism

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The number of people worldwide who use smartphone technology is continuously increasing, now there are close to 3 billion users worldwide. More smartphones mean more opportunities for App development. There are a seemingly endless number of apps available to users, whether you have an iPhone or Android. Now, in the palm of your hands are many opportunities to step-up your environmental impact through these new apps. Here is a list of three great Earth-saving Apps and what makes them worth the download! 

Earth Hero: Climate Change  

Earth Hero connects you with reliable climate data from around the world, as well as practical ways to take individual action on the Climate Crisis. Earth Hero has easy signup, which took me less than 30 seconds to register for. When you first access the App you will answer five questions that give you an estimate of your carbon footprint. Once you’ve answered all the questions, you will see a breakdown of your carbon emissions compared to the U.S and the rest of the world. It’s time for change! You can set personal climate goals and track your progress on reducing your emissions. Can’t think of any climate goal? Well, don’t worry because Earth Hero Provides hundreds of actions you can apply to your life. 

Brightly: Eco-Community

The Brightly App is another great app for sustainable living. The Brightly app is unique because of its interactive nature. Brightly connects you with thousands of other environmentalists who are interested in a wide range of sustainable topics. You can meet people through direct messaging them, or you can join one of the hundreds of group chats that are available based on your interest. For example, I love being a plant mom, so I joined a group forum called “Plant Lovers”. Brightly also has a tab for all current climate news and a tab for sustainable searching by topic. Topics include; shopping guides, home and lifestyle, fashion, beauty and wellness, food and kitchen, and environmental podcasts.  If you’re looking to join a global community of environmentalists then this is the app for you! 

My Little Plastic Footprint (MLPF)

It is MLPF’s mission to help you improve your plastic footprint by going on a “plastic diet”. The world consumes too much plastic, but you have the opportunity to reduce your use of plastic. MLPF starts by calculating your Plastic Mass Index (PMI), which is based on the number of plastics you consume, the size of those items, the frequency of their use, the probability of that plastic ending up in the environment, and the availability of alternative products. By using this app, you can find alternatives to your plastic products, and educate yourself by taking quizzes that help educate you on the uses of plastics and how to reduce that use. For example, Did you know that you can easily make your own deodorant? No?  Me either, before taking the MLPF bathroom quiz. I encourage you to download the MLPF app and discover all the easy and fun ways to go on a “plastic diet”. 

Now making an individual impact on the Climate Crisis is even easier through the use of smartphone technology. Hopefully, one, if not all of these apps interest you enough to download. Each of these apps has such valuable information at your fingertips. Download now and be the change! Tag @envirojunkiess on Twitter and let us know about your environmental journey!

Places to Thrift in Austin

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Americans are buying more clothes now than ever. Clothing items have never been cheaper and this is thanks to fast fashion. While fast fashion is a highly profitable business model, it is detrimental to the environment. Producing a pair of jeans requires 2,000 gallons of water and emits the same amount of carbon as driving a car for 80 miles. The fast fashion industry leaves a giant footprint in the environment and is responsible for a tenth of all humanity’s carbon emissions. The fashion industry is also considered as the fourth most polluting industry under food retail. 

A way to avoid spending money on fast fashion is thrift shopping. Thrift stores sell used clothing at an affordable price. That way, you can save 2,000 gallons of water every time you buy a pair of jeans at a thrift store. Thrift shopping allows you to be environmentally conscious while also saving a few bucks. So here is a list of  stores you can thrift at in Austin, Texas:

Buffalo Exchange 

Located on the corner of 29th and Guadalupe St. Buffalo Exchange works to protect the environment by reusing and recycling clothing and gives clothing a second life. Make sure to stop by the store on April 22nd because they are having a $1 Earth Day Sale in support of charities and environmental causes. More information can be found on their site: https://www.buffaloexchange.com/

Pavement

Located on 611 S Lamar Blvd and 2932 Guadalupe St. 

Pavement is a larger than life buy/sell/trade shop. The thrift store has buy counters where you can drop off clothing you want to recycle in return for some extra cash. Visit their site for more information: https://pavement.store/

Uptown Cheapskate

Located on 3005 S Lamar Blvd

Uptown Cheapskate promotes sustainable fashion. Their website is full of insightful information on the environmental impact of fast fashion and the benefits of purchasing used clothing. Uptown Cheapskate has raised close to $600,000 in donations and have helped build 13 schools through their Charity Fill-A-Bag Sale. More information can be found at: https://www.uptowncheapskate.com/upcycling-impact

Austin Pets Alive! Thrift

Austin Pets Alive has 3 locations in Austin: 1409 West Oltorf St., 5801 Burnet Rd., and on 5102 Clarkson Ave. 

Austin Pets Alive is a boutique style thrift store, all their net proceeds go to directly support their lifesaving programs and animals. Fosters actually receive a 20% off on in store purchases. More information can be found at: https://www.austinpetsalive.org/shop/thrift

These are just some of our favorite thrift stores out of the many you will find in Austin. Thrift shopping is a simple way you can make a big impact towards the betterment of the Earth. You can save 700 gallons of water if you buy a cotton t-shirt at a thrift store instead of purchasing a new one. That is an insane amount of water you can be saving just by thrifting! So go out and find yourself a nice outfit. (Wearing a mask, of course!)

Tags: Thrift Shopping, Thrifting, Sustainable Fashion, Sustainability 

Citations:

https://www.planetaid.org/thrift-center/thrift-center-blog/the-thrifting-movement

https://healthyhumanlife.com/blogs/news/what-is-fast-fashion

https://www.levistrauss.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Full-LCA-Results-Deck-FINAL.pdf

https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10#:~:text=Fast%20fashion%20makes%20shopping%20for,pollutes%20the%20oceans%20with%20microplastics.

The top 7 most polluting industries in 2024

Austin’s zero-waste Goal

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The city of Austin is aiming to achieve zero-waste in 2040 by expanding and diversifying the landfills. Austin is also having other programs for factories and facilities. However, the goal can not be achieved without the action of the residents of Austin. Here are a few ways to help as an individual. 

1- Buy a recycling bin 

Get a recycling trash bin, which will help you become addicted to contributing to the zero-waste mission. Also, it raises awareness of the importance of having a recycling bin within your own community. For example, a friend of mine has bought his own recycling bin after he visited me and had a conversation about what an individual’s role can be in their city.  

2- Goodwill.

Goodwill is a well-known store for all kinds of donations. Donations such as clothes, technology, furniture, and appliances can give your old stuff a new life. Goodwill accepts any donation you can think of. By donating stuff you do not need, you are not only helping Austin’s zero-waste goal, but helping the people who are in need. For example, I have space in my place where I put everything I don’t need or got broken, so I donated a broken microwave, heater, and clothes. Another benefit is that Goodwill will give you a Tax break receipt based on donations. 

3- Buy Coffee Thermos.

If you drink coffee on a daily basis, then you should be careful not to waste single-use cups. You should either recycle/compost these single-use cups if possible, or alternatively, a coffee thermos will help you to contribute to the city mission. It will be more convenient for you to carry around and they keep you coffee warm throughout the day. Perhaps, it may be cheaper for you; some coffee shops in Austin do not charge you for a coffee cup if you bring in a coffee thermos.

4- own permit recyclable bags for shopping 

Shopping in grocery stores, malls, and others is an exercise that you do weekly. Plastic bags are what stores offer you to carry your stuff, and when you accept them, you will end up with many wasted bags every time you shop. Having a permit for recyclable bags for shopping will help Austin achieve the zero-waste goal and save you money. If you ever shopped in H-E-B, which you mostly have done, then you would know that they charge for bags. Having a permit recycling bag will help the city and save you money in the long term

Citation 

https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Trash_and_Recycling/Zero_Waste_Plan_-_full_version_-_Council_Adopted_w-resolution.pdf

https://www.recycling.com/recycling-bins/why-need-recycling-bin/#:~:text=Having%20a%20recycling%20trash%20can,by%20saving%20valuable%20natural%20resources.

 

Life After The Blue Bin

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How your recyclables are reused, reduced, and recycled to remake other things.

Have you ever asked yourself, “well, im recycling but I have no idea what they are used for once they make it to the recycling plant…” Here’s the short answer, Recycling truly does our environment wonders. The simple reason for this is because by recycling, we are providing a way to reuse the same exact components needed to continue making certain things, rather than creating an extra amount of product just because we chose to throw it in the trash instead. 

Why is recycling so good for the environment? Recycling is important because we are reducing how much excess waste that we are throwing away. What would be the point if all we did was just continue to make plastics, cans, etc. and continuously throw them into the trash that then eventually makes its way to landfills, dumps, or the ocean, as we previously learned on Tuesday.  

Avoid making a new “batch” 

Recycling allows goods to be remade without having to make a whole new “batch” of the original supplies. But, that is certainly not all. There are so many things that we are able to make out of the common recyclables, so why wouldn’t you want to contribute!?

These are just some of the things that come from your recyclables: 

Many recyclables are used to make jackets. You know that polyester lining in your coats? Ya, this can be made by recycled plastic bottles! 

While cars seem to be all heavy, industrial, metal, that is certainly not the case. Little do you know, a lot of your car parts are actually often made of recycled bottle caps and other metal like containers! These recyclables are mostly used to make parts such as wheel liners, seat cushions, and splash guards. Pretty neat right? 

I think that we can all say that we’ve had our fair share of fun at the playground when we were younger, right? Well guess what – playground equipment such as slides, swings, and other similar equipment is made out of your recycled milk jugs! Yep, milk jugs! The majority of that plastic-like material you find on the playground is made of high density polyethylene, which is the same as that of milk jugs. 

One of the more basic items made from recyclables are toothbrushes. The plastic handle part is made from recycled yogurt cups! Do not worry though, the bristles are new!

So, our recyclables really do contribute to the creation of many things, some random and some are just the average good! Either way, we must continue to recycle because it truly does make a difference and allows us to be useful rather than wasteful. Keep it up y’all! 

Make sure to tweet us @envirojunkiess and share with us what other things are able to be reused, reduced, and recycled to make new things! 

Citations: 

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/71088/15-surprising-things-are-made-recycled-materials

https://www.moneycrashers.com/what-to-recycle-list-recyclable-items-materials/

Learn About Recycling! How to Help with Plastic

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http://greenpagebd.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/87514.ngsversion.1465407024514.adapt_.1900.1.jpg

Plastic is material used worldwide and there is about 260 million tons of plastic that the world produces each year. Most plastic is not biodegradable (meaning, not being able to naturally decompose to an environmentally safe condition overtime). This is because plastic that is non-biodegradable is cheap to make and companies choose a cheaper option vs a more eco friendly option to produce. Going back to the 260 million tons of plastic the world makes, 79 percent is accumulating in landfills, ending up at the ocean and eventually sinking to the bottom where it damages sealife and the seafloor. 

What are Plastic Identification Codes?

How can you help? I’m so glad you asked! You can reduce how much plastic is going to landfills and ending up in the ocean by learning your plastic identification codes! On the bottom of most plastic packaging there is what is called plastic identification code that helps consumers be able to identify if what they bought is recyclable or not. Below, I have an image that explains what each number means, what products each number is usually on and if the plastic is recyclable or not. Screenshot it and use it everyday! Send it to family and friends! Teach people around you about plastic identification codes and let’s make a difference together!

The Numbers on Plastic Bottles: What do Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean? | Recycle symbol, Recycling information, Recycling

How do I use the Plastic Identification Code Chart?

Easy. All you have to do is start with the product you have and compare it to the product examples listed on the chart. From that point, once you have identified a similarity, confirm the symbol that you see on the bottom of your plastic container to the chart and see if what you have is recyclable or not. If I’m losing you, let me give you an example. Let’s say I have a gas container that I am trying to recycle and I noticed that it is listed on the chart under the column called product examples. From that point I need to see if my gas container is indeed the recycle kind so I then look at the bottom can for a triangle with the number 7… Ah I found a triangle and it says 7. Yay! After this the last thing I need to do is look at the recycle curbside column. If it says yes, my gas container is recyclable and if it says no, my gas container is not recyclable and it belongs in the trash… Whooohoo I looked at the last column and it is a yes! I am going to put it in my recycle bin and take it out on Saturday for recycling pick up in my neighborhood. On with recycling!

Where Can I Recycle?

You can recycle just about anywhere in Austin.

  1. You can recycle at your home, ask your fellow neighbor what day is recycle day.
  2. You can recycle at a local drop off station. Austin, Tx has many a drop off and recycle locations. To name a few, there are
    1. 2514 Business Center Dr, Austin, TX 78744. You just have to schedule a drop off time on their website https://austintexas.gov/department/recycle-reuse-drop-center
    2. 1602 Bench Mark Dr, Austin, Texas 78728. You can check out their website to see what else they take besides plastic at https://htownrecycling.com/
  3. You can recycle at your schools located in Austin, many campuses have recycling bins on campus that you can throw your recycling bottles in

Tag Us When You Recycle and Follow For More Facts About Recycling!

References:

http://www.bioplastics.guide/ref/fossil-based/non-biodegradable#:~:text=The%20term%20non%2Dbiodegradable%20describes,low%20cost%2C%20versatility%20and%20durability

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F701928291897773969%2F&psig=AOvVaw1jdo8LHtdIK_0xMIuliuIj&ust=1615386515504000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCLDSm–1o-8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAn

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/whopping-91-percent-plastic-isnt-recycled/#:~:text=The%20vast%20majority%E2%80%9479%20percent,the%20oceans%2C%20the%20final%20sink.

When The Mermaids Cry: The Great Plastic Tide

What You Can do to Reduce Your Austin Carbon Footprint

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 Reduce your Austin carbon footprint.  

The impact of climate change is enormous worldwide, and nothing can be done unless a big Institution such as the UN does something about it. The Paris agreement is a good example. However, there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint in Austin as an individual.   

Drive less and ride a bike more.  

Giving up using a car for transportation can save 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Also, using the public transportation system such as trains and buses is very efficient. However, riding a bike is the best way to commute. Luckily, Austin is among the top bike-friendly cities in the USA. Besides, walking is not just exercise; it reduces 75% of carbon emission then driving for the same distance. Biking and walking do not only reduce carbon emission but its open space and encourage others to do the same.   

Be a fan of local products and shops.   

The more we support our communities is, the more we reduce our carbon footprint. For example, eating locally grown food can save 1,000 miles worth of carbon emissions per year. When we shop from local stores and drink local coffee, we do not require our needs to be shipped from hundreds of miles away. For instance, we should buy our coffee from a local coffee shop instead of Starbucks. Fortunately, Austin has so many local stores.   

What about our homes? 

Every day we have habits that would reduce our carbon footprint. To know these habits, we should know what we spend energy on in our homes. The average American spends 25% of energy on heating spaces, 13% on heat water, 11% on cooling, and the rest on appliances. To reduce the carbon footprint, we should consider the following:

1- Replace lights: LED lights use 85% less power and last up to 25 times longer

2- Turn down the heat  

3- Turn down the water heater  

4- Turn off lights and appliances when we do not use them

Reducing our carbon footprint is our responsibility as individuals, and it only needs our awareness.   

Citation  

Reducing Your Transportation Footprint

https://www.nytimes.com/guides/year-of-living-better/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint

How COVID-19 Taught us to be Sustainable

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How COVID19 Taught Us To Be Sustainable  

Nature’s comeback and how 2020 somehow forced us to live sustainably.

There is no doubt that 2020 was hard for many people. Out of the many burdens COVID-19 has brought upon us, it has also shown us how to live sustainably. There is a silver lining in how we changed our lifestyles because of the pandemic. Sustainability is a way society can continue to grow and prosper while the Earth does as well. Covid has shown us that nature can return to form, and humans are capable of change.

To comply with pandemic guidelines, we were forced to change the norm. Here are a couple of ways we made change. 

Less Carbon Emissions

Photo featured on CNN’s website shows a before and after the coronavirus of Los Angeles’s skyline.

One thing employees universally have a distaste for is staff meetings. The rise of remote learning and work has significantly improved the air quality around the world. According to a study led by Pachama, a climate satellite monitoring company, 20% less generation from power stations, 72% lower particulate emissions, and 50% lower carbon monoxide. This shows that we can improve our quality of life on Earth if we come together. Instead of driving your car across town for a meeting that was shorter than the ride there, we use Zoom now which saves us gas while also helping the Earth.

Focus on Reusable Products

Photo by Erin Clark of the Boston Globe

At the start of the pandemic, we faced a shortage of masks and medical gloves. The shortage showed that medical equipment was not sustainable. To solve the issue, we made reusable masks and gowns by cloth. This same effort for other reusable products will make a long-lasting impact on the planet.

Essentially, if the same urgency and policy is used from the pandemic to fight climate change, we have a shot to leave a better world for the future. That is the duty we as individuals. 

Tags: Sustainability, Environmental Awareness, COVID-19, Carbon emissions. 

References: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51944780

https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/hawaiian-electric-sees-drop-in-demand-during-pandemic

https://pachama.com/

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/07/us/los-angeles-pollution-clean-air-coronavirus-trnd/index.html