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My parents generation and especially my grandparents generation didn't buy a lot of stuff. I guess you could say they were frugal. They also didn't throw out very much. Is it time we learn to be more like them? About 2 years ago my husband and I moved from New York State to Evanston, Illinois. After spending 44 years in one house, we had accumulated a LOT of stuff! We were also downsizing to a condo, so we couldn't keep it all. It was hard to part with many of the things that held memories for us, but the overwhelming sense was more of, how did we end up with so much? Is this what we spent our lives working so hard to obtain? Now I really don't shop much and think hard about bringing more stuff into my home and my life! We also wanted to find ways of letting go of things without filling the landfills. Donating and selling at yard sales and online were some of the ways we gave our possessions new lives. Facebook Marketplace, Next Door Neighbor, and Vietnam Veterans of America were especially helpful.
Thanksgiving is a great food holiday, but it is also a day for preparing, consuming, and most likely wasting, a lot of food. Here is One5C with tips for wasting less:
"46 simple, doable ways to waste less food at home
Because we all throw away too much"
ByMatt Berical November 20, 2025
If you are changing over your clothes from summer to fall and winter, you might find some shoes that you can no longer wear, for whatever reason. Here are some ways you can sell, donate, reuse or recycle them from Sustainable Jungle.
Sole Searching: Shoes Don’t Last Forever (But They Should)
Reflections on running, repairability, and finding more sustainable steps
Sustainable Jungle Sep 17, 2025
https://sustainablejungle.substack.com/p/shoes-dont-last-forever
Here's something I didn't know about! From One5C:
"Zero-waste influencers are cramming empty bottles with plastic scraps. Is it helping? We asked a plastic pollution expert.
Should you be cramming plastic into empty soda bottles?
What to know about
the ‘ecobricking’ trend"
By Corinne Iozzio September 16, 2025
Here is some helpful information about all kinds of plastic food containers from Sustainable Jungle.
Blowing The Lid Off What To Do With Old Tupperware
here is the link to Sustainable Jungle's article:
https://www.sustainablejungle.com/what-to-do-with-old-tupperware/
Do you get a lot of junk mail? I guess everyone does. It slowed down a little after we moved, but eventually it found us! Well, here is some help from One5C:
Half of all mail is junk. You can opt out.
How to keep junk mail out of your mailbox
By Leslie Horn Peterson September 15, 2025
This article was featured in a newsletter from our local SWANCC (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County). I thought it was an interesting alternative to regular composting:
Exploring Bokashi
A Simple Indoor Solution for Food Waste
Are you looking for an easy way to compost your food scraps year-round - even in winter? Bokashi might be the solution you've been searching for! Bokashi is a Japanese word meaning "fermented organic matter” and was developed in the early 1980s.
What Is Bokashi Fermentation?
Bokashi fermentation is an anerobic process (isolating from oxygen) that uses a special mix of microbes (called Bokashi bran) to ferment food waste in an airtight container. The process is space efficient, fast, clean, and done indoors. Instead of rotting and decomposing, the food scraps pickle, creating a pre-compost that’s full of nutrients and beneficial bacteria.
Getting started
Collect food scraps that are chopped into 1-2 inch pieces. Avoid moldy or rotten items, as well as excess liquids or grease.
Add food scraps to the bucket and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of bran per inch of food scraps each time material is added to the bucket and seal the lid tightly to keep the process anaerobic (no air).
Repeat and be patient
Continue this process until the bucket is full.
Once the bucket is full, allow to sit (unopened) for two weeks.
While you are waiting for the fermentation to be complete, be sure to use the spicket at the bottom of the bucket to drain the bokashi tea every few days – you can dilute the tea (1:100) and use it right away.
Add finished pre-compost (pickled food scraps) to the garden
After two weeks you should smell a pickle-like odor when the bucket is opened, and you may see white mold. This indicates successful fermentation!
Bury fermented food waste into garden or compost piles.
Rinse the bucket and repeat the process!
One last article from One5C for Plastic Free July:
"There may be more plastic in the oceans than we thought
Our understanding of the scope of plastic pollution is constantly evolving—particularly when it comes to tallying microplastics in our oceans. A study published last week in the journal Nature indicates that previous estimates might have been off by a factor of 10. The reason? They didn’t account well for nanoplastics—bits less than 1 micrometer in size, or around 1/50th the thickness of a human hair. The paper estimates that there are roughly 27 million metric tons of nanoplastic in the North Atlantic Ocean alone. When the team analyzed water samples from various depths, they found that polyethylene terephthalate (that’s PET, or the stuff used to make single-use water bottles) to be the most-prevalent; polyvinyl chloride (common in pipes and toys) and polystyrene (that’s foam) were the next most widespread.
What you can do: Reduce your use of single-use plastics, support organizations and legislation pushing to curb plastic production, and brush up on our top 13 tips for avoiding microplastics."
Here's the link to that: https://one5c.com/how-to-avoid-microplastics-136931472/
This article from HEATED is from June, but I wanted to share it with you because it is about plastic pollution, and Plastic Free July isn't over yet.
Another reason to boycott Walmart
The nation's largest retailer isn't just backtracking on diversity. It's also backtracking on cleaning up its messes.
Emily Atkin Jun 03, 2025
My city of Evanston has a plastic bag ban, which was enacted a year (or 2) ago. Since then, I have started saving whatever plastic bags I have, or get from other places. We use them to bring produce from the garden, for packing shoes, wet bathing suits and dirty laundry on trips, and I keep a small one folded up in my purse in case I forget to bring one shopping. I have also started saving bread bags to use in the fridge, since the grocery compostable bags don't keep the produce so fresh. So even when I do get a plastic bag, it is never single use! Here is an article from One5C about the state of plastic bags:
Plastic bag bans work—
but we can do better
Even if bags are going down, plastic pollution overall is still going the wrong way
BySara Kiley Watson June 23, 2025
Plastic Free July: A Week-by-Week Guide (No Guilt, Just Progress)
Plastic Free July: A Week-by-Week Guide (No Guilt, Just Progress)
Here is Sustainable Jungle with the history, encouragement and tips to improve our Plastic Free July goals. Okay, I'm a week late with this, but better late than never!
I found out recently that I can bring my old, worn down, sneakers to a local store to be recycled! They told me that if they are usable, they refurbish them; if not they are taken apart and the materials are recycled in various ways. That's great! Here is an article from One5C about recycling clothing and shoes. Just in case you need some room in your closet!
What do I do with old clothes and textiles?
How to responsibly clean out your closet
By Molly Glick & Bridget Reed Marowski May 8, 2025
It's spring, and that means that spring cleaning can officially begin! Yay.
Here is an article from One5C about throwing out expired food:
The Truth About
Expiration Dates
By Liza Schoenfein March 31, 2025
"Spring cleaning means many of us are taking a long look at our pantries and cupboards, and encountering a raft of “best by” and “sell by” dates. Picture this: You excavate a jar of artichokes that’s been hiding behind a stash of bean cans, only to find that its “best by” date passed last fall. It looks OK—nothing blue and fuzzy going on—but the phrase “When in doubt, throw it out” is lodged in your head, right where your parents stuck it, and so you toss it. You’re not alone.
Food waste accounts for more trash than any other type in the U.S., yet manufacturers slap all kinds of dates on packaged grub, tacitly encouraging people to turn potentially good food into even more rubbish. Confusion over what these dates mean is a leading cause of food waste in U.S. homes. According to ReFED, a nonprofit focused on food waste solutions, opaque dates led to 1.45 million tons (about 5.6%) of household chucked grub in 2023; across all sectors (that includes supermarkets and restaurants), that total is 4.24 million tons."
Click the link below for the rest of the article:
Here is a problem we've probably all had at one time or other. Many municipalities are having junk pick up days this spring, but is that the best option? One5C has some suggestions.
What to do with
a stinky, old mattress
When it comes to beds (and pillows), think creativity first, landfill last
ByKate Bratskeir March 27, 2025
https://one5c.com/what-to-do-with-mattress-137203930/
Did you know that:
"SURVEYS INDICATE THAT 54% OF AMERICANS FEEL OVERWHELMED BY CLUTTER—YET 40% ARE AFRAID TO FACE IT."
Yes, I can believe that! So here is Sustainable Jungle with some ideas about decluttering without
"creating a mountain of trash bags destined for the landfill."
https://preview.mailerlite.com/z4t4o1u4f3/2690838265002464961/h1p2/
Economic Blackout- Feb. 28!
Economic Blackout- Feb. 28!
Besides not giving more power to the corporations that increasingly control us, here's another reason to buy nothing tomorrow, especially from the biggest vendor of all:
The Science Based Targets initiative, a United Nations-backed entity that validates net-zero plans, has removed Amazon from its list of companies taking action on climate goals after the tech behemoth failed to implement its commitment to set a credible target for reducing carbon emissions.
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-08-14/amazon-carbon-emissions-climate-change
Have you heard of "Fashion Haul Videos?" I hadn't either. Tomorrow is Economic Blackout day, so I thought I would post some articles about not buying things.
IT'S TIME TO OVERHAUL OUR
HAUL-HAPPY MENTALITY
https://preview.mailerlite.com/u3t2t8w3l4/2665470931538809995/b0x5/
One more from Sustainable Jungle:
PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE MEANS STUFF IS BUILT TO BREAK Ever felt like your smartphone or laptop mysteriously starts slowing down right when the newest model is released? That’s not just bad luck—it’s a design feature. This phenomenon, known as planned obsolescence, is a strategy where products are intentionally designed to have a limited lifespan, forcing consumers to replace them sooner than necessary.
https://preview.mailerlite.com/t7n9f3d5c7/2685764810599044876/y4j2/
The Art of Making Do With Less (and Being Happier For It)
Just in time for the February 28th Economic Blackout, here is an article from Sierra about how NOT to buy stuff!
Instead of buying something new, why not regift, borrow, or stick to what you already have?
By Jacqueline Kehoe Illustrations by Adrián Astorgano
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/buy-nothing-reuse-regift-make-do-with-less
This is an article from our local "Evanston Roundtable" about our city's plan for cutting down on waste, but it could be an inspiration for other cities or towns trying to figure out ways to do the same. This is a long-range plan that many people put a lot of work into. Our city has an Environment Board that coordinates with many volunteer groups, because the people here believe in science, and that climate change is real. We know it's an urgent crisis, and we have to do everything we can to keep it from getting worse. Does your city or town have a plan, or could they benefit from looking into what other places are doing?
Update on local recycling
and moving toward zero waste
by Belinda Lichty Clarke February 18th, 2025
https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/02/18/an-update-on-local-recycling-and-moving-toward-zero-waste/
What to do with old electronics
What to do with old electronics
Did you or someone you know get some new electronics over the holidays? Do you need to get rid of some old ones now? Here's how from One5C:
"According to the U.N., electronic waste is the fastest-growing stream of trash in the world, and piles of gizmos rotting in landfills can leech all kinds of nastiness into the ground. January is prime cleanout season, so we figured it was as good a time as any to share our best tips for responsibly getting rid of your stash of electronics excess. You can start with responsibly disposing of your electronics, and for extra credit why not move on to that shoebox full of batteries, too?
Hey, I just learned about a company that recycles clothing! How great is that? Well, I was really excited about it, and sharing this great idea, but it turns out that it is only in the greater Chicago area, what we around here call "Chicagoland".
Anyway, check out their website, and if it sounds good to you, click on the link to request service in your area!
"The average person throws away 68lbs of clothing per year. Clothing and Housewares account for approximately 10% of the municipal waste stream. 85% of clothing does not get recycled or donated, it gets trashed."
If you have a gas grill, you have probably been doing some grilling this summer. Maybe you have been wondering what to do with the empty cylinders and tanks. This article from Sierra might help:
Where Can I Recycle Propane Gas Cylinders and Tanks?
Some tips on how to green your grill
By Jessian Choy July 2, 2024
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ask-ms-green/where-can-i-recycle-propane-gas-cylinders-and-tanks
So Much Stuff
So Much Stuff
Back in October, I posted about a book review I read in the New Yorker magazine. I asked if anyone had read it yet. Well, I finally got a chance to read it and it was great! Not only was it well written, but it was fascinating! It's all about our (human's) relationship with things, from tools made by our early hominid ancestors to meaningful attachments to objects, the industrial and other revolutions, to capitalism, advertising (sorry-I had a tiny part in that!), plastics, hoarding and literal mountains of trash. Not only did we make things, but it turns out things actually played a part in making us. It has taken millions of years to get to this point, so we aren't going to fix it overnight. I think understanding how we got here can be a first step in making a change for the better. I strongly recommend reading this book:
So Much Stuff- How humans discovered tools, invented meaning, and made more of everything, by Chip Colwell.
Time for another informative article from the women of The League of Women Voters of Chicago's Waste Not Want Not:
"Batteries: Life and Death
Waste Not Want Not- Written By Winifred Flint and Julia Utset
Adapted from the Go Green Glen Ellyn newsletter
Did you know February 18 was National Battery Day? We didn't either! As battery usage increases, we should think about their impact on the environment and what we can do to make them more sustainable. Single-use batteries may be the first batteries that come to mind when you hear the word, but these tips also concern rechargeable batteries, such as lithium ones, that go inside cellphones, laptops, and more."
for the entire article, click the link below:
https://www.lwvchicago.org/.../wnwn-batteries-life-and-death
This is about Chicago, but I think it is of interest, and could apply anywhere. I will post this on my website, Our Common Home, where you will find more about waste and composting.
Chicago composting drop-off sites see most interest on North Side
https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/01/09/composting-drop-off-sites-sign-up
Preventing Food Waste
Today I went back to the info that I got from Catholic Climate Covenant, because there are so many great tips there. Below, you will find a link to a whole lot of tips for preventing wasted food at home, and a separate link to a really cool cookbook for using scraps! From IKEA! What a great idea!
https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/files/pdf/02/fa/02fab6b6/scrapsbook-april.pdf
Composting
We should all try to waste less, but we have to eat, and eating creates some waste, even when we try hard not to by: shopping with a list, buying what we need, and using up what we buy. But vegetables have parts we don't use (although I may try cooking those beet greens in my fridge). We used to empty the food scraps we collected in our counter top compost container into a large compost bin in our backyard to create a wonderful rich soil for our backyard garden. Recently I learned that there are composting services who will pick up what you collect if you don't have a garden, or if you do, bring the finished material back to you! Lots of options!
Here's a great link to an article about composting: https://www.lwvchicago.org/news/wnwn-composting
Here's a great article from League of Women Voters bloggers Diz Swift and Mary O'Kicki:
Food Waste: Why it Matters
& What We Can Do About it
https://www.lwv.org/blog/food-waste-why-it-matters-what-we-can-do
Nice article from Chicago's Axios:
Oct 16, 2023 - Climate
Chicago rolls out new composting program with 15 drop-off sites
https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/10/16/food-scrap-drop-off-locations-program
The Cost of Fashion
The Cost of Fashion
Selling things you
no longer need
Here are some of the things we sold on Facebook Marketplace and Next Door Neighbor thttps://www.facebook.com/marketplace/
Recycling- is it working?
The short answer is sometimes. Here is a link to a series of articles from The League of Women Voters Chicago's Environmental Action Group. It's called Waste Not Want Not, and focuses on ways to inprove our habits in the Chicago area, but these ideas are pretty universal. This one is about those so called recyclable plastic bags from the stores. https://www.lwvchicago.org/news/wnwn-plastic-bags
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