It may seem small, but every product we can make out of used stuff instead of buying new, helps the planet & our wallets.
Some of the best dish scrubby’s have been ones that I made from cloth, or from these plastic mesh vegetable bags. I can’t remember if I found this red mesh bag on the beach or if one of my housemates brought it home from the grocery store. But I espied it in my “upcycle department” of my garage this morning, right when I was wanting a new dish scrubby.
The kite string I found discarded on the beach.
In addition to helping the planet and our wallets, finding ways to create everyday household items by DIY upcycle also helps us feel less vulnerable, less dependent on distant corporations.
And also can become the basis of a small local cottage industry. I knew a lady who sold scrubby’s that she had crocheted out of materials that were otherwise destined for landfill.
Description: Red mesh produce bag, which probably contained something small like garlic or new potatoes. Bag is folded over multiple times, and then the layers are bound together by crocheting with kite string. The ends of the kite string are extremely prone to fraying so they are sealed with flame from a lighter.
#HomeEc #upcycle #BeachTrash
Pix here on my DEEP GREEN Facebook page.
This post on the Facebook page prompted the question: “What’s your stance on microplastics?” I responded:
My stance? They are damaging to the environment and to people and ecosystems. (It’s especially disgusting to me that the self-indulgent trash of a tiny, spoiled rich minority of the world population ends up washing up on faraway shores, afflicting poor communities all over the planet.)
However, I feel like we in the rich industrialized world can help offset the damage by at least upcycling plastics to the extent possible. And to the extent that we are willing. Not everyone is willing. But many many of us are very very much into it. And from what I can tell, the number is growing.
And for those who are not willing to tangle hands-on with upcycling as a way to deal with the devastating impact of single-use plastic, you might look into purchasing a Terracycle box with your school, church, neighborhood, or other community. Supposedly just about anything can be recycled.
Sure I would love it if companies would stop producing this stuff. And if the manufacturers and retailers would stop shoving it down our throats.
And I have been pushing for that for many decades now.
However, the stuff still exists.
Despite the fact that I will not drink bottled water ever (well one time in 2020 volunteering at an event I got dehydrated and could not find a faucet so I accepted a bottle of bottled water even though I felt terrible about it), despite the fact that I never accept plastic bags at the store etc. (and never accept paper bags for that matter). A person can only do what a person can do.
That said, We make a mistake if we limit our efforts to the individual and personal. All of us can make a difference even if it’s just by sharing a social media post or a comment in the neighborhood group. Myself, as a career eco activist I have been engaged in extensive education and outreach efforts through my book, blog, public talks, classes, and more.
BTW I recommend Annie Leonard’s series “the story of stuff” if you haven’t checked it out already. She has a book now too apparently.
Back to the sponge – I probably would not have thought to make this if I had not come across a discarded mesh bag, and discarded kite string. I tend to use cloths, or my bare hand and baking soda etc.
But some of the people who share my home with me like a dish-scrubbie, and this actually at least helps them not have to buy a new one. Which helps the planet also.
PS. If you know of any movements or initiatives that seem to be making progress eliminating the production of plastics and micro plastics, please feel free to share them here.