I have to admit I’ve been feeling somewhat holy about going to the trouble of schlepping our huge Styrofoam blocks out to one of the only two places in Portland that will take them. I feel less holy after what I’ve just found out. …. which I’ll tell you about in a minute. But first [...]
Entries Tagged as 'garbage problem'
Where to get rid of Styrofoam blocks in Portland
June 13th, 2013 · No Comments · Disposability, Packaging, Polystyrene, Recycling, Trash Disposal
Tags:cheaply made goods·garbage problem·landfill·non-recyclables·packaging·polystyrene·recycling·Styrofoam·throwing stuff out·waste disposal·wasteful packaging
Why we don’t want to be inhaling or swallowing Styrofoam
June 10th, 2013 · No Comments · brain theory, Consumer Issues, Disposability, Trash Disposal
It’s not rocket surgery. All you have to do is watch the surface of any hot liquid in one of those Styrofoam cups to see it forming a slick on your drink. When every cell in my body goes “Ew!” I pay attention. I may not be a scientist, but my body knows a few [...]
Tags:disposable·disposable food containers·food containers·garbage problem·landfill·non-recyclable food containers·non-recyclables·polystyrene·Styrofoam·Styrofoam food containers·take-out food containers·throwing stuff out
We’re all eating Styrofoam
June 6th, 2013 · No Comments · Consumer Issues, Decluttering, Disposability, Packaging, Polystyrene
See the big blocks of Styrofoam cluttering up your garage or basement. Does the thought of taking a big bite out of one of them repulse you? Surprise! — we’re already essentially doing that. Styrofoam, a brand name for polystyrene, takes 500 years to decompose. When we throw it away, it doesn’t break down in [...]
Tags:environment·environmental toxins·excessive packaging·garbage problem·making a difference·packaging·polystyrene·Styrofoam·toxic·toxic materials
Collectivitis combined with the ecological mindset
March 18th, 2013 · 1 Comment · Collecting, Consumer Issues, Disposability, Philosophy, The Packrat Mind, Trash Disposal
You might think it’s dumb that I write about things like pen caps and sock hangers — but that would mean you were missing my larger purpose. My assignment (call it a compulsion if you must) is to scrutinize each and every little item and ask the big questions — go all the way back [...]
Tags:cheaply made goods·collecting·collectivitis·disposability·garbage problem·landfill·packrat mentality·throwing stuff out·too much stuff·waste·waste disposal
Just Say NO to STUFF
December 10th, 2012 · No Comments · Consumer Issues, Decluttering, Trash Disposal
I used to blame myself for being a packrat, but I’ve noticed that every living person I know has this same clutter problem. A lot of dead people I’ve known have this problem too, and the living people around them aren’t at all happy about it. Wait. Maybe I shouldn’t blame myself. At least not [...]
Tags:decluttering·excessive packaging·garbage problem·packrat mentality
Back to the Caves?
December 5th, 2012 · No Comments · Consumer Issues, The Packrat Mind, Trash Disposal
The global garbage problem disturbs me horribly. The whole world is filling up with stuff just like our homes are. I don’t think going back to being cave people is the answer. My hope is that if we start from the microcosm of our own dwellings, word of our efforts, of our refusals to participate, [...]
Tags:cave people·cheaply made goods·excessive packaging·garbage problem·packaging·planned obsolescence·start at home·wasteful packaging