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Tip of the day to help save the earth! 3/21/08

By
Real Estate Agent with Windermere Real Estate

Tip of the day to help save the earth! 

Don't buy products with lots of packaging. If you see a small product (for example, a tooth brush) wrapped in five layers of plastic with a flashy cardboardy thing, all in a box made of a foam-like plastic, chances are most of the price is because of the packaging. Find a similar product with less packaging. Wouldn't a plastic wrapper or cardboard box be just as good? Also, stay away from individually wrapped candy and other products. Also, select fresh produce from display bins instead of the pre-packaged variety. The more packaging, the more price, and (more importantly) the more garbage in the landfills.

As always, feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add! 

Comments (6)

Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Jonelle

May I suggest that chemist could do their part by changing the polymer lattice from a poly product to a latex derivative so it can be reduced to an aqueous solution which at high temperatures dissolves rather than winds up in landfills.

Just a thought.

Sincerely

Tom Braatz

Mar 21, 2008 05:35 PM
Michael A. Caruso
Surterre Properties - Laguna Niguel, CA

Hi Jonelle,

Great idea.  I will pay attention to that at the store next time I'm there.  Have a great weekend.  Michael A. Caruso

Mar 21, 2008 05:35 PM
Tom Davis
Harrington ERA,DE Homes For Sale, $$ Save $$ Buy Today ! - Dover, DE
FREE Delaware Homes Search!, $$ Save $$ - Find Homes! Delaware Realtor
Lol well nice post and nice comment from Tom...very educated on it!  Tom D. Realtor
Mar 21, 2008 05:41 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate
Tom:  You know, that is exactly what I was going to suggest.  Yeah, word for word.  You just beat me to it.  And, Jonelle:  If we could all do things like you suggest, there would be so much less waste to have to deal with.  Thanks for sharing.
Mar 21, 2008 05:42 PM
Karen Rice Keller Williams Real Est
Keller Williams Real Estate - Hawley, PA
Northeast PA & Lake Wallenpaupack Home Sales

Jonelle, great tip, though sometimes you have no choice.  My supermarket is fond of wrapping the produce, especially grapes, so that you have to take what THEY want you to take, not what YOU want to take.  Sorry, you only want one pepper?  Here, have two of them, pre-wrapped for you.    Oh, you only wanted a half pound of those $8 a lb. cherries?  too bad, we've already wrapped $12 of them up for you, take it or leave it...

I find it maddening how much the manufacturers package kids toys - you need a stinking power tool to get into it and cut all the plastic ties and you need a SAW to open the hard plastic outer wrap.

I long for the simpler days of plain cardboard and shrinkwrap... 

Mar 21, 2008 05:42 PM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County
Interesting approach I never thought of...we need a "no plastic" day...every day!
Mar 22, 2008 01:06 AM