I just recently heard of USAgain, a green company that collects used clothes and resells them worldwide. If you’ve just gone through last year’s school clothes, USAgain is the perfect way to hand off the too small everything.

USAgain sets up clothing drop-off bins across the country where you can easily stop and drop off no longer needed clothes and shoes. In total, there are more than 10,000 drop-off locations around the country, so there’s a kick-butt chance that there’s a bin near you. You can search for the closest bin using the search form at USAgain or contact them them with questions.

USAgain accepts clothes, shoes and household textiles of good quality, that are ready to be re-worn and reused. Household textiles include tablecloths, towels, bedding, blankets, bedspreads, etc. They DO NOT accept goods like mattresses, furniture, appliances, carpet, household items, toys or trash.

USAgain benefits your community in three major ways – for people, planet and profit. For people, they help contribute well-being by providing new clothes or used new clothes for folks in need, along with jobs. For the planet, they keep clothes out of the landfills and help conserve resources needed to trash or make new goods. Because the company is a for profit company, they’re helping to grow a more sustainable green industry, contributing to the local and state economy by paying salaries and taxes, and purchasing goods and services from other local businesses.

If you’d like to get involved, you can…

• Sponsor a collection bin on your property.
• Organize a collection drive at your school.
• Volunteer to help sort and distribute donations to local people in need.

On my post the other day about insulated lunch bags, reader Sabrina left an interesting comment. She said, “I have a concern about all of these products using PET. Doesn’t it contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals?” She then referred me to a link at Healthy Child Healthy World that digs into the issue of whether or not PET bottles are releasing endocrine disruptors.

The research on how PET may leach various phthalates is in the early stages and is inconclusive, but that’s beside the point. What Sabrina actually got me thinking about is safety vs. green living, and how they don’t always go hand-in-hand.

Sometimes better safety and green living co-exist easily. Take green cleaning products. Not only is it safer to make homemade cleaners because you cut out chemicals that can hurt your kids, but it’s eco-friendly as well. Homemade green cleaners are green because they cut down on massive amounts of packaging and don’t release harmful toxins into our air, soil or water.

Not everything is so cut and dry though. For example…

Child car seats are basically big hunks of plastic. Plastic, as we all know, is made with non-renewable oil. Additionally, I’ve never seen even one car seat (as of yet)  made with organic fabrics and few are made with child-safe dyes. Car seats are about as opposite of eco-friendly as you can get. Yet, obviously car seats are 100% safer than tying your baby down with a nice recycled box and some organic hemp rope – know what I mean?

Or take the lunch bag situation I mention above. Plastic coated lunch bags, vinyl, recycled plastic and other materials may contain more chemicals than an old fashioned organic cotton lunch sack, making them less green. But on the flip side, if you’re talking safety, organic cotton is a horrid insulator. Even with an ice pack melting all over your organic bag, you’re going to run into food safety issues, because clearly the bag lacks insulation.

We could even bring ice pop molds into the mix. You’ve got silicone molds, which I’m a fan of, but some people think aren’t safe. Or you could go with plastic molds, that may contain chemicals, but they will massively reduce your household waste over packaged ice pops. Do you go with the plastic ice pop molds to avoid waste or say to heck with it and buy the packaged ice pops?

I’ve owned lots of items that aren’t eco-friendly, but that are necessary. For example, my son’s two car seats, child safety products like door latches and non-eco-friendly band-aids (because good luck finding the greener kind at your local store). We’ve owned bike helmets and non-organic sports safety gear (like pads and such) and non-eco backpacks because the less eco one fit my son better.

Overall, it can be a little bit of a mess if you live in today’s world and you’re striving to be safe and green. You can’t always choose both.

What to do? 

I can only speak for myself, but I try not to dwell too much on what I’m doing wrong in the world of green. That’s a recipe for mental anguish that I don’t need. If we need something for safety reasons, and it’s not available in an eco-friendly version, I’ll still bring it into my house if it’s necessary.

Sometimes I feel guilty sure, but then I remind myself that we haven’t brought a grocery store plastic bag or roll of paper towels into this house in years and years. We always use reusable water bottles and we drink plain old tap water vs. using bottled or a plastic, non-recyclable filter. We don’t buy a bunch of consumer junk we don’t need and we  buy used before new when we can. We use green cleaners and PVC-free shower curtains and glass dishes over plastic. I don’t have the greenest car on the market, but I did get the most efficient I could and I keep driving to a minimum. If we can’t afford the greenest sunscreen – well, we do the best we can.

It’s the green actions you DO manage that make the biggest impact. Little things add up. In the end, I want safe and I want green. If I can only have safety, I deal with it and hopefully make green amends in another area of my world.

What do you think? Is it hard to choose between safe vs. green at times? Tell me in the comments and take the poll below…

]]> http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/greenliving-vs-safety/feed/ 1 http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/look-out-reusable-bags-harbor-deadly-illnesses/ http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/look-out-reusable-bags-harbor-deadly-illnesses/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:54:47 +0000 Jennifer Chait http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/?p=5069

Every once in a while, (okay often) the American Chemistry Council tries to convince consumers that reusable bags are indeed the devil in disguise. Just to clear things up, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents most of the major companies engaged in the business of chemistry, such as the Plastics Division, the Chlorine Chemistry Division, and the Chemical Products and Technology Division. I.e. a lot of companies who are making stuff that has the ability to trash the planet.

You gotta hand it to them, the ACC tries REALLY hard. They use phrases like, “Thinking Green? Pick Plastic!”

They remind consumers that plastic bags rule. How come? Because, “Nine out of every ten customers continue to prefer plastic bags over other options for their utility, resource efficiency, recyclability and reusability.” BUT in totally mixed up news from the ACC, they can’t decide if people are able to use plastic bags responsibly or not. Here’s a fact – most curbside programs will not accept plastic bags. You have to take your bags back to a major grocery chains that accepts plastic bags and plastic wrap for recycling. The ACC, who remember, claims that consumers love plastic bags for their, “recyclability and reusability” also states (pdf), “Research shows that consumer awareness remains low, and shoppers often forget to bring their bags back to the store.” Um?

The ACC notes that, “More than 90 percent of Americans reuse their plastic bags as trash can liners, lunch bags, and for pet waste pickup.”

The ACC tells you that, “An estimated 832,394,000 pounds of post-consumer film (including plastic bags and product wraps) were recovered in 2008, according to the latest National Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Bags and Film Report (pdf). Keep in mind that research for this report was conducted by Moore Recycling Associates Inc. of Sonoma, CA for the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council. AND what the ACC doesn’t tell you is that while 832,394,000 sounds like a lot, the EPA notes that more than 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are used in the U.S. each year and only about 12% of bags and film were recycled in 2007. Way more plastic bags aren’t recycled than are.

Best of all, plastic bags protects you from… DEATH!

Sometimes the ACC goes too far. This year, for example, the ACC funded a study, Assessment of the Potential for Cross Contamination of Food Products by Reusable Shopping Bags (pdf), that surprise – found that reusable bags have the potential to kill you. The report states, “A sudden or significant increase in use of reusable bags without a major public education campaign on how to reduce the risk of cross contamination would create the risk of significant adverse public health impacts.” Wow. Reusable bags are a public health issue now.

The study was a response to all the states who would like to see plastic bags banned entirely. Of course ACC is four square against this. So they’d like to remind you that bags kill. OMG.

It sounds all nice and terrifying until you hear that the researchers got most of their bags from folks who admitted, “Hey, I never wash my bags.” The ACC report also notes that the easy fix is, duh, washing your reusable bags.

However, because we’re at such a risk for sudden death via our reusable bags they further note, “Printed instructions on reusable bags that they be cleaned between uses or the need to separate raw foods from other food products, public service announcements, and health advisories are recommended.”

That’s a lot of flim-flam to keep people safe from reusable bags. Especially when you consider that the country is literally being killed by junk food or consider how many people can’t even figure out how to wash their hands correctly – most major studies on hand washing find that only 83% of folks wash up in public restrooms and that they do so for just 11 seconds on average. But sure, let’s all worry endlessly about reusable bags.

To avoid sudden death with two easy steps:

1. Don’t use lame store brand reusable bags. I know, they’re just a buck or so, but honestly, they don’t last long, are hard to recycle when they die (which will be soon) and you can’t wash them. Buy quality reusable bags that can be tossed in the wash. I bought one $30 or so set of recycled cotton reusable bags over 2 years ago and they’re still going strong.
2. Wash your bags. I wash mine once a week OR anytime I carry produce or meat in one.

That’s it. Two steps! Can two steps alone save you from the evil that is reusable bags? Yeah. And guess what, I didn’t even need to conduct a costly study to tell you so. Maybe I should be working for American Chemistry Council?

Honestly, plastic has it’s place. I’ll give the ACC that. I was very thankful for my son’s safe infant car seat, for example. I like the parts of my car that are comprised of plastic. I really adore bike helmets and the medical tools we need that are made with plastic. But plastic bags? No, I’m not on board and you shouldn’t be either.

Plastic, until we have better solutions for specific issues, is fine, even good. However, using reusable bags over plastic bags is one really awesome step you can take that helps keep landfills a little less full, cuts recycling costs and keeps the earth cleaner. In the case of bags, plastic is the enemy. Don’t fall for media hyped studies that make little sense.

More reusable bag tips coming soon!

Recycling should be a family affair but often recycling can seem very complicated to little kids. Take it from me; at age five Cedar “recycled” some of our silicone homemade popsicle molds claiming, “They looked recyclable!“  Reluctant adults in your home may actually not get recycling or they may be using their lack of know-how to get out of recycling.

Either way the following tips can make recycling easier for the entire household and if everyone knows how to recycle there’s no excuses.

Know the laws: You can’t encourage the family to recycle properly unless you know your local laws and policies about it. Locate your state’s government website and then type “recycling” into the search box once at the site or call your local garbage company.

Have a family recycling meeting: Which recyclables go in which bin, which stuff is actually recyclable vs. trash and which items can be composted, reused or donated before you recycle are key topics to cover with everyone. WHY we recycle is also an excellent topic. For little kids there’s no need to drag a meeting like this on for hours – just cover the basics.

Keep talking: In my experience it takes a while to introduce new green issues to the family. A meeting is good start, but with kids especially you have to keep talking. Work in little conversations about recycling. Kids may not get all of it in one sitting but eventually small conversations start to add up in their thirsty little brains. One excellent place to discuss recycling is at the grocery store. For example, when buying a product ask your child, “Do you think we’ll be able to recycle this? Or will it have to go to the dump?”

Hang a poster: You and the kids can make a recycling poster to hang up that includes visuals of typical items your home uses and can recycle – i.e. cans, glass jars, paper and so on. Search old magazines for images to use on your poster, take some photos of actual items or draw pictures freehand.

Have a dedicated home recycling area and then label it: Every home needs a dedicated home recycling center (but that’s a much longer post). For now keep in mind that a recycling center should be easy for kids to reach and not move around (like from the garage to the kitchen and back again). After setting up your bins label each bin with text for older kids and adults and little pictures for younger kids. Recycle Now is meant for schools but they have an excellent collection of recycling sticker labels you can print that would also work great for home bins. If you can’t find some waterproof recycling labels check out Planetpals for some free recycling clip art; print it; then affix pictures to your bins with clear packing tape.

Put your kids in charge: When you give a child responsibility in the form of “You’re in charge of making everyone do this” kids tend to take on a task with gusto. My son, for example, at six and seven years was in charge of lights (keep them off), reusable bags (don’t forget to take them) and checking the thermostats. He did other green stuff too – but these were his major, “In charge” tasks and he kept up with them perfectly. Now he’s a little crazed actually about lights being off actually – but I guess I’d rather have him crazed then not.

Make it meaningful – plan a trip to your local recycling center AND drive by the trash dump as well so your kids can see their actions in well, action. Visit a neat recycling website for kids or read a cool kid-friendly book about recycling; Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids is a good choice for younger kids, although it’s a little older so you’ll have to update your child on newer recycling issues.

How are you involving your kids in the recycling process?

The Gap has teamed up with the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN denim drive this March to help bring more used denim into the program. Right now through March 14th, if you take in used denim to any Gap store they’ll donate it to COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN and you’ll get 30% off any new denim purchase.

The COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN program takes donated cotton jeans and converts the used denim to UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation. The insulation is then provided to communities in need to assist with building efforts.

According to the program:

UltraTouch is composed of 85% recycled cotton fibers and is an environmentally safe, non-itch insulation without carcinogenic warnings, formaldehyde or chemical irritants. It provides exceptional thermal performance and acoustically provides 30% better sound absorption than traditional fiberglass insulation. In addition, it is one of the only insulating products that contain an active mold/mildew inhibitor.

Since the start of the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN program they’ve helped to build 180 houses through Habitat for Humanity affiliates. This is a great time to clean out your closets and make sure that your clothing actually gets re-purposed for a good cause; plus of course you’ll get that discount.

Offer valid from March 5, 2010 through March 14, 2010 in the U.S. only at Gap, GapKids, and babyGap stores.

In My plan to cut out excess packaging, I discussed my plans for cutting out excess packaging this year. However, first I need to know which packaging I have that’s excessive and can be cut, so a small green home audit about said packaging is in order.

I went through my bathroom and found the following packaging – along side each I’ve made notes about which I can cut and which I’m not so sure about.

Packaging in my bathroom:

• Organic Body wash – this was an unnecessary impulse buy and one I don’t need it and two I can cut it by using unwrapped bar soap, homemade body wash, or fill a reusable container with body wash at the natural food store.
• Organic Shampoo – I rarely use shampoo and don’t need a special kind so I can get a refillable bottle instead.
• Conditioner – I have naturally curly hair (blah) and use a super charged, really good organic conditioner. Since I can’t find a decent conditioner in bulk, I don’t know if I can cut this. One option is to make my own conditioner. I make hair masques, but I’ll have to look into conditioner.
• Organic face wash – I should make my own like I used to, but not sure if I want to. I like my current face wash.
• All natural facial grains – I LOVE these facial grains, but I can make my own in a reusable container, they’re not as good IMO, but close.
• Organic shaving cream – well, I could quit shaving, or figure out how to make my own. This is a bath product I haven’t ever tried to make though, so I’m not sure. We’ll call this a maybe.
• Razors – I use recycled razors from Preserve. Right now I like shaving, so I suppose I’ll keep them, but I don’t love how the Preserve razors work. My goal is to find an eco-razor I like better.
• Bath scrubby – I usually have a washable bath scrubby in the tub, most of the time made of natural hemp – right now though for the last year I’ve been using one made with organic cotton fibers. Since I use them to death and rewash, I’m not concerned.
• Lip gloss – OMG I have so much lip gloss that it’s embarrassing. I LOVE lip gloss, especially my Tarte lip gloss. I think though what I’ll do is just commit to buying new Tarte and one take along organic lip gloss when I run out, then recycle the packaging. Another option is to make my own lip gloss more often.
• Deodorant – This is one of the biggest baddies in my bathroom. I don’t buy organic or natural because I’ve never found one I like that works. Trust me, I’ve tried a ton too.  The perfect goal would be to find a healthier one that works in less packaging, but I’m not holding my breath.
• Cosmetics – I actually own very few cosmetics. I don’t really wear make-up much due to the excess packaging and time involved. I have maybe 4-5 organic products, but they were all sent to me by companies for reviews and all have recyclable packaging. However, it’s not like I’m out there buying cosmetics.
• Body lotions – I actually have two bottles of lotion right now, (impulse buys) which is not cool. I used to buy only bulk lotion. However, I think what I’ll do here is switch over to just using my organic soy lotion bars. I LOVE these bars and the packaging is not only reusable but recyclable.
• Face lotion – I hate my current face lotion, and frankly don’t use it much. It’s an organic brand that turned out to be lame. I would like a good face lotion, but I think I’ll stick with making my own unless I can find a brand I actually like that comes in recyclable packaging.
• Q-tips – not organic, and come in lame packaging. I’ve never seen them in bulk though, but I bet could find them in organic cotton. They’d still have the packaging though, but I use them for various things, so I’m not sure I’d give them up.
• Nail polish remover and nail polish – this along with the deodorant above is a big bad, but I like cute nail colors. Darn it. I need to switch over to just using more natural brands of both. Goal – better brands and just a couple of colors.
• Female products – I actually have various sorts; reusable pads, organic tampons, and organic pads. I should cut out all non-reusable pads, which I never used to use ever (not sure why I half switched? Lazy maybe). There are lots of options that are not disposable, so being lazy is a bad excuse.
• Hand soap – I always buy bulk soap and refill my refillable container, so I’m doing good here.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste – I only buy recycled toothbrushes from Preserve and I recycle them when I’m done. I’m not sure what to do about the toothpaste situation. I currently use Tom’s of Maine cinnamon clove paste with fluoride. I know the debates about fluoride, but I’m on the side of it’s better. I’m not sure if I could make my own. I’ll look into it, because it would cut out the packaging. However, one good thing is that the tubes are recyclable so maybe this is some packaging I could keep.
• Floss – my dental floss comes in plastic packaging and while I do toss it in the recycling bin, I’m not 100% sure it’s recyclable. I need to cute out floss packaging, but since I don’t know anything about it, I’ll need to look into it.
• Oils – I don’t use perfume, but I do use essential oils. The packaging is recyclable though, and I use them to make homemade beauty products, so I won’t be cutting them. Note, I rarely buy them.
• Hair ties and clips – I use little plastic bands and plastic hair clips right now if I want to wear my hair pulled back. I could quit that and just use a piece of cut hemp like I used to.
• Comb – I have a plastic comb, which will probably last many more years. I should buy a more sustainable, non-plastic version the next time I need one though.

Whew. That’s a lot of bathroom stuff, and I’ve got a lot less than most people I know, which is scary. All in all my audit revealed the following…

• There’s some non-reusable packages I can cut. Shampoo, lip gloss, body wash, and facial grains. I’ll need to get some refillable containers that are non-toxic for these products or buy less (like with the lip gloss).
• I need to research floss and see what’s out there that’s eco-friendly.
• My bathroom is pretty non-toxic overall. I use mostly organic products, but I could find a better, more eco-friendly versions of deodorant, cotton swabs, and nail care products.
• I need to do away with non-reusable female care products and plastic hair clips and bands.
• I need to find out if it’s possible to make homemade organic shaving cream.

If I do all this, it’ll save on lots of packaging and result in a healthier bathroom overall. Coming up soon, I’ll run green home audits for packaging in the kid’s bathroom, kitchen, and pantry too.

Now, is there any excess packaging in your bathroom that you could cut?