I never except a plastic bag when practicing consumerism, unless I’m at the liquor store where they make you take a black plastic bag. I’m thinking its time to take my reusable bag to buy beer. If its big enough to put in my purse than it goes in my purse. It drives me mad the things people say yes to plastic for, like a candy bar or oversize boxes that you mine as well carry. I usually am that crazy lady in line that mutters something to them like “for real you cant just carry that”, or “wow, all that plastic for that huh”. What about taking your re-usable bag to the mall? I did that today for the first time. One because I don’t even like the bags department stores offer and two because I already have enough from all the previous years that Ive found uses for in my closet, like storage. But, I’ve observed there’s something strange about this. I remember being a teenager and going shopping with friends and remember feeling like the more bags I could accumulate the better, a symbol of all the “shopping” I had been doing. “hurray” consumerism… spare me! I love being in my ripe prime age of twenty six and not rejoicing over such things anymore. However, I think this still exists for many people, the idea to accumulate bags while “shopping”. Whatever, I would like to see more people with there whole foods reusable bags at the mall. I think I just have a serious problem with plastic bags! Mainly because the majority of littering i see are plastic bags and they don’t bio-degrade … HELLO!
I love when you see people with all there goods in plastic bags then they get in a hybrid. Or people that drive hybrids and don’t recycle. A hybrid becomes a trendy statement like buying a mustang, as oppose to a conscious decision one makes to better the environment. I don’t drive one because I cant afford one right now, but I am aware of the emissions of my vehicle, and I do recycle, and say “no” to plastic.
I didn’t always recycle, I was that guilty conscious woman that fitted all my recycling in a paper bag and put it next to the trash can hoping someone else would grab it. Or in hopes I made it easier for a fantastic homeless person that comes to find the weekly recyclables from all the idiots like me, that put them in the trash bin. I still think those people should get stipends from the state, but that’s besides the point. Anyway, I make a few choices on a daily bases that obviously pride myself on.. I don’t buy body soap in a plastic bottle, I have yet to find a place that will recycle it, for one. For two, I just don’t understand the point when I can get a bar of soap wrapped in paper and use it till it’s gone. Leaving no waste behind. Lets face it, if I could buy shampoo in a bar I would probably do that too.
I seriously consider everything I throw away. More than that I picture it in a landfill, and think to myself is this really necessary? It drives me mad when I go to the trash bin (I live an apartment building) and see chairs or other pieces of furniture that could have been clearly donated to the good-will. I recently learned animal shelters need a lot of donations too, like towels and blankets. Things people find weird giving to the good- will, but like me, cant fathom it ending up in a landfill. I don’t compost yet, but plan to eventually. I’m trying to invent a reason to compost for the urban dweller who has no access to proper gardening. What other conscious choices do I pride myself on … hmmm, I unplug everything before I go to bed unless I need to charge my phone. I’m not sure exactly why I do that. I think I’m saving energy, but lets face it, that’s really easy for me… I live alone and have a total of probably 4 things plugged in at once. Anyway if I think of more ideas I’ll let you know ; )
