Paranoid mama

*disclaimer: The purpose of this post is really not to persuade or really even inform. Morso, it's a documentation of a little bit of self discovery I've done over my "weekend." Though if interested I've included some links for those interested to peruse. If I enlighten someone in the process even better. :o)

I read this blog and surfing that blog led me to this. Gah, part of me wishes I'd never turned on my computer yesterday. I spent my entire afternoon surfing sites about recycling and learned that over the course of our lifetime each of us will create 600 times our adult weight, or about 90,000 in garbage. I also learned that every little bit of plastic ever made still exists and even if you recycle it, it can only be recycled down (a plastic bottle cannot be recycled into another plastic bottle.) I learned a lot of other stuff too. One thing is for sure I don't intend on cooking food in the microwave in plastic anymore!

Though I don't intend on going to the extremes that this mom goes to I couldn't help but realize the amount of plastic that my hands touched throughout the day yesterday and today and I feel guilty. I consider myself a recycling Nazi. I use both sides and every part of a piece of paper before it goes in the recycle bin. I cringe when I have to use a paper plate or plastic fork at a picnic. I buy mostly used clothing for myself and the kids. I LOVE Freecycle, garage sales, and Goodwill. I use cloth diapers. Not only because we struggle financially but because it's the RIGHT thing to do to keep crap out of the landfills.

Nothing goes in the garbage if it can be recycled so I do my part. But ahhhhh the plastic I consume. I suppose now it will be easier for me to kick my Mt. Dew habit while I'm at work. :o) All I'll have to do is think of the plastic that I can save by drinking water rather than the soda and I'll probably skip the soda more often. I'm planning on doing more to cut down my consumption of plastics a little more by using tote bags at the grocery store. Hey, it's easier to carry groceries in a tote bag anyway. I don't know how many times a plastic bag has ripped and my wares fallen to the pavement. And this bag is a super cool idea and these bags are really cute and super handy. I love tote bags anyway! And who cares if I get a few strange looks. Maybe I'll start a new trend in my town. Each wave starts with a little ripple somewhere right?

I think I'm teetering on the edge of being a little OCD when it comes to recycling. My mind is in a constant state of chatter anyway. LOL, is that normal? I guess I've always been that way. Now I constantly chastise myself for forgetting to turn off a light or using a disposable diaper. Aaaaaah make it stop!