USBCDC

I inherited my mom's crafting gene, on which I'm trying to draw to add creative repurposing to my daily practice in reducing waste. I was recently appointed to the Board for Perennial of St. Louis, an organization with a mission to educate on and promote creative upcycling. I dove head first into this initiative, and I'm discovering all kinds...

Instead of throwing away straws and takeout containers, I wash them thoroughly and store them to reuse for kids' crafts. In addition to reducing the amount of take-out/drive-thru in which we partake, I'm also trying to be conscious of exercising the third R - refuse - by requesting that they leave out paper napkins, plastic-ware, straws, etc....

Our neighborhood has a very strong sense of community; therefore, walking or biking is much more enjoyable than driving. It allows us to meet and visit with neighbors, explore new places and overall enjoy the outdoors. 

I think water and land most motivate me for reducing waste via composting. I have realized already in the short amount of time that I've been collecting food scraps to put in the compost bin just how much food waste my family and I produce. It makes me sad to know how much I've been contributing to landfills when I could have been diverting...

Not completely separating out all of my waste, I could eliminate so much more and recycle better.

I love Tapo Chico and Pelligrino bubbly waters with Lime so I bought an Arke Carbonater iii this year to almost totally eliminate all the glass, cans and sometimes plastic bottles I was using. I love it! So much cheaper too!!!

I was disappointed to discover that there are only 3 climate-friendly supermarkets in the entire St. Louis bi-state area. The closest is still 20-30 minutes away. The map with which you can identify your nearest climate-friendly supermarket also gives you the opportunity to sign a petition for a supermarket using eco-friendly refrigerants near...

Biking or walking to the grocery store is easy because it's only two blocks. But it's oddly less enjoyable than driving because I see a lot more trash on the walk versus the drive. The walk takes me to the back driveway entrance of the grocery store, and there is so much trash everywhere. Perhaps my next action should be complaining to the...

Refuse is the most difficult component of the other "R's" - consumerism is an everyday part of the American way, made too easy with my Amazon subscription which makes it so easy to buy anything I want (or think I need). Refusing to buy in the first place has the biggest impact on my footprint but is also the most difficult. When I buy...