Posts in Category: Individual Action
Cut down the clutter…
… and support sustainability at the same time!
Another catalog from them? But they just sent us one! Baby clothes? That won’t fit my teens! How did we get on that mailing list? What am I going to do with these paper coupons? The closest one of these stores is miles from here. What a waste!
If these or similar thoughts are a familiar part of getting your mail, know that you are not alone! Most of us get plenty of mailings, catalogs, and solicitations that head straight from the mailbox to the recycling bin. Recycling is good. But, when it comes to sustainability, it’s far better not to get things we don’t want or need in the first place. Sadly, a lot of the mail we receive is a case in point. The aggregate environmental cost of “junk mail” –the energy, materials, and other resources necessary to produce and distribute it – is not trivial.
Reducing junk mail, unwanted catalogs, and duplicative mailings is easier than you may think. Very simply, you can opt yourself off bulk mailing lists. Catalog Choice and Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition are two great resources to help you get started.
A few minutes can save a lot.
© 2021. Cut down the clutter is an original post from Yaroki, and may not be copied on other sites.
Keeping Walks and Drives Safe – Sustainably
In northern climates, winter brings snow and ice leading to slippery surfaces. Keeping entries, walks, driveways and other surfaces safe is an imperative. Because it lowers the freezing point of water, table or rock salt (sodium chloride) is often a tool of choice. What many do not realize is that the use of salt causes significant damage to local environments. And many are not aware that there are safer, readily available alternatives.
Using rock salt can damage the local environment and, as it washes away with the snow melt, ecosystems far away. Rock salt may also damage stone and concrete, so switching to a more sustainable alternative may also reduce maintenance costs and save money over time.
Harms of Sodium Chloride
- Harms grasses, trees, and plants by causing a water imbalance in plant roots.
- Kills soil bacteria.
- Damages soil structure.
- Upsets the existing, natural pH balance.
- Because chloride ions do not evaporate, eliminating them from an ecosystem once introduced is difficult.
Sustainable, Safe Alternatives to Salt
| Advantages | Availability | |
| Calcium Chloride | Less impact on nearby plant life Less damage to concrete and structures | Local shops |
| Sand | Practically no impact on local or distant ecosystems | Local Shops / home recycling |
| Kitty Litter (natural) | Biodegradable; little to no negative impact on local ecosystems | Local shops |
| Coffee Grounds | Biodegradable; little to no negative impact on local ecosystems | Home recycling |
© 2021. Keeping Walks and Drives Safe is an original post from Yaroki, and may not be copied on other sites.