Recycle my running shoes (Change 130)

Spring and Fall cleaning doesn't happen very often around my house.  Truthfully, I have a hard enough time keeping up with the regular daily cleaning, let alone the thorough cleaning that should probably be done at least once a year.

However, every spring an fall, I faithfully pull out my kids clothes, have them try on those that I think will fit for the coming season, and give-away those that won't.  I've always had a problem with shoes, though. 

Shoes that are in decent shape, I've passed on.  Those that are worse for wear, I throw out.  But I've always felt guilty about it.  Adding to the landfill, just because my kids have worn through a perfectly good pair of shoes just doesn't feel right.  Now I can finally do something about it.

Enter Nike's Re-use A  Shoe Program.  (http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/get-involved).  They take running shoes that are past their prime, grind them down and create athletic surfaces for organizations around the world.  Check out this link here in Ottawa!  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/04/26/ottawa-university-football-field345.html

The only problem with this program is that there isn't a drop off location in Eastern Canada.  I have to go to the US, or ship the shoes to Tennessee.   Those of you living in Vancouver have a drop off location - lucky you!

My parents are making a trip to New England next month, so I'm going to ask them to take my bag of old shoes with them, and drop them off at a retail location. 

It's inconvenient at best, but I like this idea better than sending my shoes to the landfill.   If enough of us Canucks write to Nike/Converse, maybe they will think about putting a location in the Eastern Canada area.  For now, I'm packing shoes and keeping my fingers crossed that my parents will help out.

Use eco-friendly and body-friendly hair conditioner (Change 129)

To go along with the eco-friendly shampoo, I'm now using eco-friendly conditioner.  I found that the eco-friendly shampoo I am using is drying my hair out.  (I guess all the yucky chemical additives of my other shampoo was what made my hair nice, soft and shiny.  The commercials really are true!) 

I'm using the conditioner every other wash, and it seems to be alleviating the dryness.  I never used to have to use it, so I don't like purchasing another bottle, creating more waste, and using more precious resources so my hair looks nice.  On the other hand, I am a bit vain, and don't enjoy looking like I could double for a scarecrow on a bad hair day!  :)

When my current bottle of shampoo is finished, I'm going to try another brand to see if I still have the dryness problems.  Any favourites among my readers that you could recommend?

Thank you!

A big thank you to all my readers, both silent and active.  I couldn't have continued this without your support!  I will still continue to blog about my family's eco-changes.  Stayed tuned for another year of green challenges!  :) 

On that note, I have a favour to ask my readers.  I am looking for suggestions of eco-friendly things to try, that are a) something you have tried yourself, but haven't seen me blog about yet and b) are not on Vanessa's list.   Thank you in advance for all of your ideas - I can't wait to try them out!

A very successful year!

It's hard to believe that over a year has passed since I started this challenge.  I've learned so much from you, my readers - thank you so much for your support, encouragement and comments!   Although I didn't manage to make 366 changes in one year (my original goal), I am very proud that I added an additional 128 changes to my family's repertoire. Some of them didn't work out, but most of them have been lasting changes.

Because of the number of changes to date, I'm only going to highlight the ones that didn't stick.  Everything else has been added, relatively smoothly, and has now become habit about 90% of the time.

Here's what I couldn't keep doing:

2. Environmentally-friendly ant killer
8. Buy environmentally and body friendly face moisturizer
13. No more disposable coffee cups
15. Eliminate baths for kids; have showers instead
17. Use GoodSearch for Internet
21. No more plastic takeout containers
25. Only buy ethically farmed/fished seafood
27. Carbon off-set all vacation travel
30. Make my own hand soap
35. Use vinegar/water to clean eyeglasses
53. Ban Styrofoam
62. Only use dishwasher at night
63. Turn off "heat dry" feature on dishwasher
67. Get rid of mould in shower with hydrogen peroxide
81. Place compost bags in all rooms
120. Return plastic pots to nursery
123. Bring my own containers to bulk store

Not bad, eh?  (Eco Mama pats herself on the back).  I'll keep striving to implement changes that work for my family, and continue to improve current habits to try to get 100% compliancy.

Eliminate plastic wrap (Change 128)

This is a change that shouldn't be too hard to make.  Like Ziploc bags, I hardly ever use plastic wrap in the kitchen.  Occasionally, I use it to wrap the end of a block of cheese, or cover a bowl to put in the fridge.  Any paint brushes are wrapped in plastic wrap if we are in the middle of a painting job. 

I am almost at the end of the current roll sitting in my kitchen drawer.  I've decided that once it is finished, I will not be replacing it.  I will get into the habit of placing everything int he fridge in a resealable container.  I will cover dishes with re-usable covers or aluminum foil (yes, I know, not very eco-friendly, but it can be recycled if necessary).

The biggest challenge will be finding something to cover my little fruit fly trap - a bowl of apple cider vinegar covered with plastic wrap, with holes punched in the top.  Any ideas for a replacement cover?

Use a microfibre mop (Change 127)

I picked up a book from the library this week about eco-changes around the home.  It was an interesting read - put out by the makers of Method brand cleaning products.  It had some neat tips, but most of the tips were either not do-able (i.e. get rid of wall-to-wall carpet)  or things I was already doing (i.e. get rid of poisonous cleaning chemicals).

One of the tips caught my eye.  The writers suggested using a microfibre cloth mop, instead of the traditional dunk mop.  Their reasoning is that the microfibre traps dirt, and therefore prevents it from spreading around like the regular rag-style mops.

It just so happens that I have a microfibre mop sitting in my cleaning closet that I never use.  I won it at the cleaning party I had last summer.   I've hardly ever used it.  i dont' know why - I guess I'm in the habit of using the dunk mop.   I've decided to switch to the microfibre mop.  Combine this with the vinegar and water I use to clean with, and I'm anxious to see if my floors are any cleaner than before.

How is this more eco-friendly?  Truthfully, I'm not sure, but hey, the makers of Method can't be wrong, can they?

Cutting down on canned bevereges (Change 126)

This is an easy change for me - I rarely drink canned bevvies, so giving them up should be a snap for me.  It's DH and the kids that I'm a little worried about. 

The kids don't drink soda pop as a rule, but I do keep ginger ale and Coke on hand for upset tummies or special treats.  I also have club soda which I mix with juice to make our own "pop".   DH likes his G&Ts, so I don't think I will get him to give up tonic water.

Due to DD1's ongoing medical issues, we are eliminating artificial colours, etc. from our diets.  So I have decided that once this current pack of soda is gone, I won't be buying any more.   I will relegate club soda "pop" to a treat served at my parents' house.

I found an interesting fact on aluminum recycling (http://www.quinterecycling.org/recyclingfacts.htm).  Although we recycle our pop cans, the initial environmental cost of producing the cans is quite high.  Not purchasing them in the first place is a good idea.

Another good idea to reduce our carbon footprint.