Trash

Larry Fisher, a modern day tinker who works out of the limelight to convert trash into useful goods that he then shares with local community organisations, explains why reusing is even better than recycling.  Read more

By Lynne Nittler, cross-posted from Davis Enterprise

Our culture teaches us to value what we put on our bodies more than what we put in our bodies.

Folks who might gasp at the price of organic heirloom tomatoes will spend quite a lot on a pair of shoes, jeans, or a handbag, etc.,” says Rhonda Gruska of Monticello Seasonal Cuisine, one of the food providers at the “What’s On Your Plate?” event at Sunday’s Cool Davis Festival. Read more

We Americans have a lot of stuff and we dispose of a lot of stuff, and all that stuff we throw away, took a lot of energy to create.

John Johnston, local resident and Environmental Engineering Professor at Sac State likes to tell his students “unlike the Cat in the Hat there is no magic “voom” to make all that stuff disappear.  Right now we stack it up in our landfills or send it across the seas for other people to turn it into something useful.”

But many people are starting to rethink what we do with our waste, and they are coming up with lots of new and creative solutions.  Read more

“Ultimately, I am trying to use our business as a way to push through change for the better. For our kids and our community as a whole.”

Find out how one Davis working mom is tackling food waste and climate change. Read more

Guest post by Juliette Beck of North Davis as part of Low Impact Week. If you would like to submit your own blog post or video diary on the Low Impact Challenge, please email jemoores AT aol.com

Hopefully you saw the No Impact Man movie. Colin, his wife Michelle and their toddler cut drastically back on their consumption for a year and discover they can live better with less stuff, and more local food, biking and quality time with family.

What did you think of the experiment? Was it effective? What could you do without or change that might actually yield positive benefits?

One attendee of last night’s film – a woman from Spain that now lives in Davis– thought that going without electricity for a year was extreme. “I love watching movies. We don’t have a TV but Netflix is like a hobby.” She wasn’t so keen on composting either, but she is perfectly content living in a small condo. “In Barcelona, everyone has small apartments. It’s what we are used to.”

I cringed a bit, thinking about my recent move to a three bedroom house that probably requires a lot more energy to heat and cool. As a product of the suburbs, the house is “what I am used to.”  It made me realize that so much of what we do is habit – done without thinking or taking time to explore and try out new options.

This week’s Low Impact Challenge aims to bust up a few, old habits and encourage folks to prioritize some climate-friendly alternatives in dealing with their trash, energy use, transportation, water, and food.

Today being all about trash, perhaps you can help me with a predicament. My old landlord wants me to get rid of my compost pile even though it’s not done composting. I’m very proud (and rather attached) to my compost pile – it’s the one thing I grow well.  My new landlord is not so keen on compost but agreed to a worm bin. What should I do with my cherished, quasi-composted compost pile?

Thanks!

These are tips from Low Impact Week, which was held in February 2011 but can be done anytime!

On a per capita basis, Americans generate more waste than the rest of the world, about 4.6 pounds per person per day, partly because of wasteful and unnecessary packaging and partly because of excessive consumption.

You may have heard horror stories of barges laden with garbage in the ocean or overflowing landfills.  Fortunately, repairing, reusing, and recycling can cut down on waste significantly, but better yet, you can avoid buying throwaway items in the first place.

Today, we invite you to generate less throwaway trash by trying one or more of these ideas:

• Use cloth bags (not plastic or paper) to bring home groceries or other purchases.
• Give up bottled water; tap water has a lower carbon footprint, and will save you money.
• Carry your own cup or thermos to use throughout the day; avoid disposable cups.
• Recycle any and all plastic, paper, and metal you use today.

Do you have a good idea to share with your neighbors? Add your comment below this blog!