Photo: butkaj.com
If you’re gearing up to entertain a houseful of guests, you might have disposable plates and cups on your shopping list. (Because you don’t have enough dishes, we get it. Not because you’re shirking dishwasher duties.) Instead of Styrofoam or plastic that will end up in the landfill for a long, long time, consider actual paper plates. These plates and bowls are made from wheat straw, not trees.
Not only is a mailbox overflowing with catalogs and junk mail a pain, it’s also an environmental waste. All that glossy paper (and oh, the fake credit cards!) wastes fuel as it makes its way to your house. And then what? We throw it away. Reduce the pile of junk mail that arrives on your doorstep by visiting the Direct Marketing Association or Catalog Choice where you can register for free and then opt out of receiving certain mailings.
If you use cotton swabs, make sure that you’re using those that are made of paperboard rather than plastic. They’ll break down easier in the landfill and can even be added to your compost.
