So this week, in an attempt to reduce the amount of garbage the family produces, I've decided to start keeping empty yogurt containers and other little cups. I wash them, stack them, and put them under the sink in hopes that I will remember they are there once we start our seeds indoors for our third attempt to plant a garden (more on our unfortunate gardening events in another post...).
In only a week, we've managed to gather quite a bit of containers. I bought some kids sized individual yogurt cups and those serving portions of preserved peaches last week. They were on sale and I had coupons for them... after all the savings I had gotten them for less than 10 cents a serving.
Everyone loves a bargain, but I am starting to realize that bargain hunting isn't always environmentally friendly. I'm the type of person that gets giddy at the thought of getting something half price, I'll go the extra mile just to save a buck or two. But where should the line be between frugality and becoming eco-conscious?
After rummaging through my kitchen garbage (Coco or Husband didn't get into the habit of saving the cups yet), I counted 23 empty individual cups. That's only 1 weeks worth! That means that at this rate my little family and daycare kids would consume over 1100 little individual yogurts and preserved peaches a year; this isn't even counting the ones that made it to school or to work!!!! I CAN'T save all these cups, if I did we would be buried in garbage in no time! If I don't save them that would be 1100 more little cups in the landfill. Of course, these won't decompose in a few months, not even in a few years.
Now that I realize the amount of waste these produce I REALLY can't buy these in good conscience. I just hope Coco doesn't go in withdrawal, he lives on this stuff. Well, he'll have to make due with eating yogurt in reusable containers and waiting until peaches are in season for me to make homemade preserves. Everyone needs to sacrifice something, that is part of making a difference.
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