While trying to “green” my life, I always try to think of the small things I can do that can really add up. For example, I made cloth napkins, so we use those instead of paper towels each night (and I have lots of them so we’re never without for lack of doing laundry). Or we’ve switched from sponges to dish clothes so we can reuse them again and again. There’s a ban on paper plates or plastic cups in this house, too.
credit: flickr A Machilla
But, if there’s one thing that I really enjoy eliminating, it’s junk mail. We get a ridiculous amount of catalogs here, and each time we buy something from a new company, we start getting their catalogs, too. One great website you can use to get rid of all of your catalogs is Catalog Choice. You can log in and tell them which companies you want to stop sending you mail (and opt-in for new mailings if you’re so inclined).
For me, though, I hate to have catalogs lying around, so they go immediately into the recycling. I can’t wait around for a stack of them build up and then log in to Catalog Choice to do them all at once. Neurotic? Maybe. My solution? I find the number on the catalog and give them a call right when I get their mail. It’s quick and easy to just ask to be removed from the mailing list. I’m polite and brief, and no one has ever given me a hard time or tried to badger me into staying on their list.
If you live in the area, you probably get those RedPlum.com weekly flyers filled with coupons and grocery store weekly deals. What a stack! Well, today I did something about it. I called up the advertising number on the side and asked to be removed. They don’t even have our names, but they do have our address. The number to call, in case you’re interested, is 1-800-437-0479. I would encourage everyone to do it. Apparently you can also log onto their website Valassis.com to unsubscribe, too, but I tried to find it on there and couldn’t. How convenient!
While we’re talking about being an active, responsible consumer… (We were talking about that, right? Play along with me here…) I thought I’d share my thoughts on voicing your opinions to companies. The other day I read a story about how a loyal Heinz customer wrote in and complained about the high fructose corn syrup in the ketchup. She said she loved the product but would have to stop buying it if they continued to use HCFS. Guess what? Heinz is now making a ketchup without high fructose corn syrup. Although I reject the notion that removing the HFCS suddenly makes the ketchup a wholesome product, I think this clearly demonstrates that companies will listen to their customers – if we start talking.
The other day I complained to Target that they were no longer carrying toilet paper or paper towels made from recycled pulp. I haven’t been back since to check on their status (although they did write back and say that they sent it on to their local purchasing team), but at least I know I’ve voiced my opinion. I also wrote to NJ Transit that same day (I was really fired up) about how they should implement recycling on trains and on station platforms. I see SO many newspapers needlessly thrown in the trash each morning and plastic bottles at night, too. They wrote back and told me about their plans to put recycling at each station – over the next TWO YEARS! I complained about their timeline and they suggested I give them a call – something I still have to do…when I find the time.
Anyhow, my whole point is that I spend a lot of time harping to poor T about how irresponsible some companies are. Why not harp to the companies themselves? Things won’t change if no one voices their displeasure, and the companies won’t have a clue that people like us care unless we start telling them that we do.
Ok, time to step down from this soapbox and relax a bit…enjoy this hot and sticky evening!
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True story. This morning I took Thayer outside to help me water the plants. But instead of me lugging the hose, I took the water from my stovetop pot where I had left hot corn on the cob water to cool the night before. As I’m sitting there pouring the water on my lilac tree I laughed to myself and told Thayer that “it was time he learned how save the world, one bucket of water at a time.” Then I mumbled to myself, “and I guess I’m turning into my Dad”…so I wonder, Ecomotown, have you showered with a bucket lately?
That’s awesome. You know, he’s starting to look less crazy as time goes along. I’m quite close to putting that bucket in the shower, but I seem to have some sort of mental block against it…give it time. I’m sure I’ll get there.
I just recently read that water used to boil vegetables has good nutrients for plants! So stick with the plan! You both know the saying…….”the apple does not fall far from the tree”.
I found how to get off of the junk mail mailing list. Go to their website Valassis.com click contact us then in the drop down menu click remove me from the list, fill in the info and submit. They say it takes up to 6 weeks so we’ll see.
thanks for the direction I have been wanting to do that for a long time!!!