About our blog: Trash-Talk
TRASH TALK Yep, it's a blog about trash.
TRASH TALK
Where we learn that talk is cheap and waste is expensive - often needlessly costing all of us and future generations.
OUR MISSION
Our blog is an initiative to open a broad discussion with the intent of finding real-time solutions for the citizens of North Carolina, United States, and the global community. Through Trash Talk we aim to share what's being done with our human caused waste, who bears the cost, and how we can improve both on an individual level as well as our broader communities. Sometimes, the waste generated by manufacturing is responsibly handled, other times, not so much... and we all end up paying the ultimate price.
Trash Talk is also meant to be a forum to learn from other's successes and failures so that we can put the brakes on needless waste and share products and ideas for a better life and better future for generations to come.
There is a lot of 'greenwashing' and creating some not so functional products that wind up in our landfills, but filtering through the digital noise can be time consuming and challenging. Sometimes those efforts can be expensive endeavors and sometimes failed attempts to reinvent our routine.
Trash Talk is designed to both educate and take out some of the guesswork in purchasing products aimed at living more sustainably.
Finally, Trash Talk is also a place to learn why it can be so challenging for for governments in a variety of capacites, from legislators to county and municipal leadership, to enact real change in complex political environments. When we show collective conscientiousness and determination for change, amazing things can happen.
So, let's get started
TALKING TRASH!
Our planet needs your.....HELP!
Plastics don't just get thrown away, they end up in our food systems.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is putting the staggering numbers into easy to 'digest' visuals.
You can help to lower these numbers by refusing single use plastics. We have solutions that don't sacrifice convenience.
Refusing single use plastics will erase pictures like this one. It's hard to imagine scenes like this one when a beach we visit is cleaned up, but our trash winds up miles away.
Let's refuse single use plastics to avoid scenes like this one.
In the United States alone, we use 29 million barrels of oil just to make plastic bags and bottles - just plastic bags and plastic bottles.
Petrochemical companies are not consumer facing, but they are influencing our product choices and our policies. It's time to stop the largest contributors to our Plastic Planet by refusing the single use plastics they are offering!
Replacing Single Use Plastics
Practical Solutions to the Pernicious Plastic Bag
Many responsible countries, states and municipalities have already banned the use of destructive and pervasive plastic bags. Here are some products that you can use to replace them. So far all items listed below are available on Amazon, but I'll just be providing the company and/or specific product links.
Lotus Sustainables:
Trolley Bags Set
- Great for larger grocery shopping trips
- Keeps the shopping trip organized
- Keeps the shopping bags as well as the produce bags organized
Lotus Sustainables
Produce Bags 9 pc
- Feeling guilty about grabbing those flimsy produce bags as you choose to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables? These produce bags are even better at separating your produce.
- Color coded by size
- Machine Washable
- Includes tare weight label
Lotus Sustainables
100% Cotton Produce Bags
5 piece cotton produce bag set
- Feeling guilty about grabbing those flimsy produce bags as you choose to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables? These produce bags are even better at separating your produce.
- Colore coded by size
- Machine Washable
- Includes tare weight label
Bag Podz
5 bag and pod set/ Saffron
- This option is for those who value the style of the traditional plastic bag, but without the plastic.
- Bag Podz offers a variety of color options.
- This is a fabulous product that can fit in the glove box and carry a large load of groceries, but it's possible to only grab one bag for those quick trips too. These come in 5 bag and 10 bag packs to accommodate different size family shoppers.
Bag Podz
10 bag and pod set/ Saffron
- This option is for those who value the style of the traditional plastic bag, but without the plastic.
- Bag Podz offers a variety of color options.
- This is a fabulous product that can fit in the glove box and carry a large load of groceries, but it's possible to only grab one bag for those quick trips too. These come in 5 bag and 10 bag packs to accommodate different size family shoppers.
Bag Podz
BAG PODZ LINK:
- Bag Podz offers a variety of color options.
- The bag and pod fit in the glove box of your car making 'managing' reusable bags easy.
- No need to fold them. Just wad them up and stuff them back into their 'pod' when you are finished.
- These bags can carry so much more weight than the plastic version.
Bag Podz
5 bag and pod set/ Caribbean Blue
- This option is for those who value the style of the traditional plastic bag, but without the plastic.
- Bag Podz offers a variety of color options.
- This is a fabulous product that can fit in the glove box and carry a large load of groceries, but it's possible to only grab one bag for those quick trips too. These come in 5 bag and 10 bag packs to accommodate different size family shoppers.
Bag Podz
10 bag and pod set/ Carribean Blue
BAG PODZ LINK:
- This option is for those who value the style of the traditional plastic bag, but without the plastic.
- Bag Podz offers a variety of color options.
- This is a fabulous product that can fit in the glove box and carry a large load of groceries, but it's possible to only grab one bag for those quick trips too. These come in 5 bag and 10 bag packs to accommodate different size family shoppers.
Reisenthel
The Carrybag
- Great for smaller shopping trips, farmer's markets, and for bringing dishes to friends and family.
- Has a small zipper pocket to hold reusable produce bags like the Lotus Sustainables above.
- Reisenthel has a LOT more designs. We are simply putting out a couple of designs that have multiple coordinating pieces.
Reisenthel
The Carrybag
Carrybag Shopping Basket/ Baroque Marble
- Another classic and stylish look from Reisenthel. There are lots of other great designs to choose from.
- Great for smaller shopping trips, farmer's markets, and for bringing dishes to friends and family.
- These baskets have a small zipper pocket to hold reusable produce bags like the Lotus Sustainables above.
- Reisenthel has a LOT more designs. We are simply putting out a couple of designs that have multiple coordinating pieces.
Reisenthel
The Carrybag
Carrybag Shopping Basket/Black
- This is the size for the Classic basket. If you like the design, but want something a bit smaller, head over to the Reisenthel site by clicking the abovoe Reisenthel link to look at their variety of options.
Reisenthel
Mini/Maxi Shopper
Mini/Maxi Shopper
- This is one of those handy bags that is easy to keep tucked away in a backpack or a purse for those unexpected shopping trips.
Reisenthel
Mini/Maxi Shopper
Mini/Maxi Shopper
- This is one of those handy bags that is easy to keep tucked away in a backpack or a purse for those unexpected shopping trips.
Reisenthel
Thermo shopper
The Reisenthel ThermoShopper Bag
- On hot days with several errands to run, the Thermoshopper can help give you a piece of mind by keeping your cold packed items cold.
Reisenthel
Carrycruise in Action
- To help you stay ready to pack up your things at the supermarket or department store, Reisenthel has made it easy to be at the ready when you are finished shopping. Pair this with the Mini/Maxi Shopper or Bag Podz and your shopping trips will not only be easy, they will be stylish too!
Reisenthel
The Citycruiser Bag Only *Needs Rack
CityCruiser Removable Bag/Dots
- This pairs with the City Cruiser Rack
- Slides on and off the rack for easy transport.
- Has an umbrella pocket
- Both top and front access to inner contents
- Pair this with the Mini/Maxi Shoppers and your shopping trips will not only be easy, they'll be stylish too.
Reisenthel
The Citycruiser Bag Only *Needs Rack
CityCruiser Bag/ Baroque Marble
- This pairs with the City Cruiser Rack
- Slides on and off the rack for easy transport.
- Has an umbrella pocket
- Both top and front access to inner contents
- Pair this with the Mini/Maxi Shoppers and your shopping trips will not only be easy, they'll be stylish too.
Reisenthel
Citycruiser Rack
- Large wheels for smooth rolling
- Folds down to a more compact size
- Lightweight, yet sturdy
- Holds the CityCruiser Bag