August eco-challenge - how'd you do?

Submitted by DivineEarth on Sat, 09/01/2007 - 09:53.

Published in

Eco-challenge

Hi Folks!

Here was the challenge: "consume less bottled water and thereby create less waste. As an alternative, use a thermos or other reusable containers and bottle your water from home. If the water in your community is less than savory purchase a decent water filter for your house to take out the impurities that discolor the taste. Let's shoot for at least a 50% reduction in our purchasing of plastic bottled water - 100% reduction is the goal."

How did you do?

Alfalfasprout, you were switching to tap water and adding chlorophyll. What were the results with your family?

Plastic..and plastic

Submitted by Chica on Sun, 09/02/2007 - 01:49.

I haven’t bought anymore bottled water this past month. I have a couple of plastic bottles (I know, bad Alina ...but I had bought those a while back) that I refill from filtered tap water, and let is sit, then refrigerate, as Sevara suggested. It tastes pretty good. The only problem I ran into, this past week, was that the tap water has been yellowish -brown for most of the week. It scarred me a bit....so I haven't drunk from home anymore.
One of my work colleague and I have started a plastic bottles recycling program at my job - on a small scale for now, a couple of recycle bins around the campus. We did good…two big paper bags went away with the local garbage recycling truck this past week.

Thank you all for making a difference, and Sevara for provoking us to really do something concrete in helping the environment! You are all so awesome !!!

P.S. I started to save the plastic cutlery I sometime get with my take out lunches, and reuse them. I have a few now, so I refuse the new ones I am ofered most of the time. The funny thing is, everytime I go to get a take out, and I see the plastic cutlery I think of Sevara and his little “saving/recycling them” story. I can’t seem to help it ! ?
Also, I get to feel so guilty if I see others around me throwing them in the garbage, and as the chicken that I am, not say anything at times.

DE helping the planet

Submitted by Coralina on Sun, 09/02/2007 - 10:14.

I haven't purchased any plastic water bottles since the challenge and notice I've become more aware of others who do!

Like you said, Chica, about being a little chicken when it comes to telling others face to face of their bad habits - I'm like that too~ For instance I was looking around at my last work group meeting and saw that almost everyone had a plastic bottle of water on the desk in front of them in anticipation of the long day ... I'm proud to say I had my starbucks thermos filled with water I purified from home. (My tap water purified through my carbon filter.) But not proud that I said nothing to the others ...

For me a better way to spread the awareness is by writing about it here on DE ~ Thanks for leading the challenge Divine Earth~

it counts

Submitted by Chica on Sun, 09/02/2007 - 12:48.

At work, after meetings or lunch together, if I see empty water bottles I ask around if I can have them, and dispose of them in the recycle bin. I do it because I feel comfortable knowing the people around... and we also informed everybody about trying to make a change with the recycling. On the street or in public places, I am the chicken, though if I see bottles on the floor I would pick it up and put it in the trash bin at least.
It counts you care Coralina ... as you said, some don't even realize it that the bottle that they just held is going in the trash... or they don't care...

Pretty good

Submitted by Sevara on Sat, 09/01/2007 - 20:44.

I don't think I personally purchased any bottled waters since the challenge. I did end up with a case of it tho, when someone else purchased it for an outing and it ended up in my possession. All I could think about was the August Eco-challenge and felt weird having it in my house.

On another note, when I go to a restaurant, like Subway, I just ask for a cup of water rather than purchasing a ridiculously overpriced bottle. So it saves money too!

Yet another note...if I go for tea somewhere, the tendency of servers nowadays is to put all beverages in a disposable cup. I always ask for a non-disposable cup instead.

Plastic...What's that?

Submitted by Suncatcher on Sat, 09/01/2007 - 19:19.

I haven't purchased any bottled water since your posts. I saved a glass bottle from an apple drink I purchased from the health food store. I've been filling it and refilling it and I can't even bear the thought of drinking out of anything plastic. Of course I have other containers too but this one has a screw on top and is so convenient. It stays with me, at home or wherever I go. Don't even have to gather any plastic for recycling.