Recycling and conservation

katiewhompus

Totally random, but yesterday I was reading my shampoo bottle and it states that if you turn off your shower while shampooing/conditioning  you can save $150 a year and 3200G of water. Yeah, that isn't happening in this house.

We do turn off the water while brushing teeth and my new years resolution is to be better about recycling though!

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Haha, I always shut the water off when I shampoo and wash my body but it's usually to conserve hot water for Ben!  I take long showers.

I'd like to be better about recycling.  I've never really taken the time to figure out where to get the bins or where to drop the stuff off.

SunriseAmber

AATB - i have no idea where to take the bins either. If any one has any clue to this please let us know.

Nebb

Our city has a really great recycling program. We organize papers and tins into their respective (grey and blue) bins, compost waste goes in the green bin (food, paper towels, yard waste), and our garbage is really just whatever else.

alynne1113

I unplug everything all the time, we don't have TV or internet where I live so its mostly the toaster or lamps ect.
I also abide by the "if its yellow" rule, since we have a septic tank and well water.
In the summer I also dry my clothes on a clothes line.

However, I am AWFUL at recycling, I burn like..everything (except glass and cans). It has to do with my laziness and the fact that the nearest recycling facility is like ..40 min away and we don't have garbage pick up.

I don't think I would turn off the water while shampooing my hair though.

reddy123

Water prices were jacked up here, most people had to pay more in their rent, but our complex got a letter from the landlord saying, "If you install a water-saver shower head, take shorter showers, and turn off the water while brushing your teeth, I won't charge you more rent."   The only one I am guilty of is (somewhat) long showers, so I was like, "I'll take it!". I need to get a little timer though, I'm trying to limit myself to ten minutes instead of 20+.

katiewhompus

I love our recycling which is why I feel guilty about not doing it. We just have a giant bin and everything goes in and they sort it later. It just never gets from the kitchen to the garage.

maratea

Hahaha, fuuck that! I like to stay warm the entire time I'm showering. I do turn the water off when I brush my teeth though.

We actually don't recycle, but the reason is most of the packaging we purchase is either compostable (cardboard, paper, etc.) or isn't recyclable in the first place. We save all of our cans and take them to a metal recycler (money!).

AllAboutTheBenjamin

No I don't normally freeze.  I always keep the door to the bathroom shut so the dog doesn't go in there and eat the rugs or the garbage so it's usually toasty in there.  Plus it's not like I'm standing there for several minutes, it's usually like what, two or three minutes?  No big.

I have done it shaving before, too.  I'd fill up a cup with water and then use that to quickly rinse the razor off while shaving.

Sometimes I take lukewarm showers too.  I read or heard somewhere that colder showers have health benefits.  Not really sure what the benefits are or if that's complete bullshit, but I think it feels good sometimes.  Especially after I work out.

lindseyann410

My work recycles, so I take all my aluminum, plastic, and paper to get recycled.  I just hate seeing all that waste, especially once you see how much it actually is when you start collecting it.

ETA: I don't think I'd go as far as turning the water off while shampooing though.  It's worth the extra $150 to me.  I do turn it off while brushing my teeth though.

reddy123

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_recycling-conservation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:a5e4e1a3-ca15-4353-b4f8-ddf0092afcb7Post:7800477b-0451-423a-b6f5-c87db176f77c">Re: Recycling and conservation</a>:
[QUOTE]Our city has a really great recycling program. We organize papers and tins into their respective (grey and blue) bins, compost waste goes in the green bin (food, paper towels, yard waste), and our garbage is really just whatever else.
Posted by Nebb[/QUOTE]

<div>Ditto this. Our city even started a special food compost bin program (I don't really know if it's practical, but we will see).</div><div>
</div><div>We are avid recyclers, but not as much as my old roommate, he was obsessed. When he moved out, H and I were sooo happy we could go back to regular cardboard, can, and glass sorting.</div>

AllAboutTheBenjamin

I wish I could take shorter showers.  I don't know if I'm just exceptionally slow, or if I'm doing a lot of really unnecessary things in the shower. 

I always blame it on my hair, lol. 

Nebb

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_recycling-conservation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:a5e4e1a3-ca15-4353-b4f8-ddf0092afcb7Post:befc0c8e-4db1-4770-a66b-84eccc7e7717">Re: Recycling and conservation</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Recycling and conservation : Ditto this. Our city even started a special food compost bin program (I don't really know if it's practical, but we will see). We are avid recyclers, but not as much as my old roommate, he was obsessed. When he moved out, H and I were sooo happy we could go back to regular cardboard, can, and glass sorting.
Posted by reddy123[/QUOTE]
Im pretty sure our city uses the green waste as a source of revenue and savings. They sell the compost after the fact and use it for around the city during the spring and summer planting. Seems like a good idea to me, I dont have the patience to compost myself so atleast I know its being done somewhere.

[Deleted User]

H and I usually take showers together, so we have a system worked out that I rinse my hair while he washes his, and vice-versa. I don't know if this actually saves wate,r but it's pretty efficient for us. If I'm showering alone, no way in hell am I turning the water off.

As for recycling, we are careful to recycle as much as possible. We save cans until we have a bunch, then turn them in for extra money. Recycling pickup is the same day as the trash, so we just haul it all to the road Sunday night.

DodgersBride

I admit that I could do a better job. We have a trash chute for regular trash but not one for the recycling. We have a small room in the parking garage with different trash bins like the ones nebb mention. I do get lazy and don't want to go down there and just throw it in with the regular trash.

We don't unplug anything and for most of the year we have the AC on. We do keep lights off for when not needed and we also turn off the water when brushing teeth.

froggatt.clare

AATB and the other person who mentioned not knowing where to get the bins - your town should provide them, just call up city hall.

When I was a sophomore in college there was a TERRIBLE drought in central PA (location of my school) so there were signs everywhere about conserving water.  I got really good at taking super quick showers, and I still do that, especially if I'm in a rush in the morning.

Getting FI to use the recycling bin used to be like pulling teeth (and involved me pulling things out of the garbage) but he's gotten better lately.  I've also encouraged him to turn the water off when he brushes his teeth (and right now he brushes while in the shower, so I guess that's good.)

The most important thing is to just do what you can handle.  If you start to recycle and do a bunch of other things at the beginning, its more likely to seem like a hassle and you'll stop.  If you do one thing at a time, then the first will become a habit and the next thing will be easier to pick up!

AllAboutTheBenjamin

I could never save time by showering with my husband.  I just can't imagine there being enough room, lol.  Getouttamyway.

SEWF

We turn off the water when we brush our teeth, and H does when he's washing himself or the dishes, but I don't. I'm usually cold in the shower anyway (I'm just always cold).I do take very short showers, with one long one during the week to shave and wash my hair. Otherwise, I just wash off.

We do recycle a lot, though. I get that habit from work, since we recycle so many books.

And, at least here, you can get the bins at Ace Hardware (maybe Lowe's and Home Depot) or Price Chopper.

katiewhompus

I think I read cold showers are healthy because they clean without opening your pores so less gunk (soap residue etc) gets in? I love my hot shower though. Showering is my only me time now and I treasure it.

I want to get a compost bin but H thinks it will make our house look crappy  He says this about rain barrels too. I love to garden so it would be a great resource.

Nebb

Adam and I sometimes shower together, he stands partially under the shower head and I stand at the other end and we both sorta have water on us. We eventually switch it up before we get out and its never been an issue of either of us being cold.

DodgersBride

I don't take long showers maybe 10mins tops. I also don't wash my hair everyday so they get shorter on non wash days.

reddy123

Edie- I don't know how to describe it, but he spent a lot of time washing out containers that I don't think could be recycled anyway. We argued about it (in a friendly way) because my dad is a garbageman/recycler.

His goal was to have zero garbage and he was often digging through the trash to find things I threw away to clean- it drove me CRAZY. One time, I was in the kitchen when he dug something out and ate it! That's where I drew the line. I pretty much scolded him like a child and told him he's never allowed to eat from the trash in my house again, lol.

He doesn't live with us anymore, but I should mention this is an old friend, whom I still like, regardless of our garbage arguments.

SEWF

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_recycling-conservation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:a5e4e1a3-ca15-4353-b4f8-ddf0092afcb7Post:119a6661-275d-48d2-9bb3-49964f603dd5">Re: Recycling and conservation</a>:
[QUOTE]I think I read cold showers are healthy because they clean without opening your pores so less gunk (soap residue etc) gets in? I love my hot shower though. Showering is my only me time now and I treasure it. I want to get a compost bin but H thinks it will make our house look crappy  He says this about rain barrels too. I love to garden so it would be a great resource.
Posted by katiewhompus[/QUOTE]

<div>We have a rain barrel, and I don't think it looks that bad. Could you put it in the back of the house so it would be out of the way. We actually have ours right off of our front porch.</div>

AllAboutTheBenjamin

My grandpa in Cali brushes his teeth in the shower.  And I know this because when we stay out there and I use his shower, I always see his toothbrush and toothpaste in there.  I think that's gross.  PLUS.  It wastes more water!

entropicbeauty

FI and I are pretty anal retentive about recycling, unfortunately our apartment complex does not recycle, so we've taken to just collecting all of our recyclables and saving them to take to our parents houses. It gets pretty ridiculous (like 3 brimming bags of glass/plastic and two brown paper bags full of cardboard/paper) - we need to look into something closer that we can do more often.

I'd like to get better about unplugging electronics that aren't in use, the only thing not do-able for me is turning the shower off! I would die, I get cold way too easy and I like taking piping hot showers so...yeah. I'll work extra hard on the other stuff....

Blueyed228

In my town we dont pay for water at a metered level.  The whole town pays the same (low) price for water.

Im pretty sure its because the water in our town used to kill you.  My town is the town that A Civil Action was written about.

kmmssg

We don't recycle because we just don't have a good program around here.  We quit buying bottled water because DS and I can go through 2 of those 36 bottle cases from Sam's club each month.  We have a good Reverse Osmosis system on our water so we don't need to buy it bottled.  If I do buy a bottle at a gas station I use it til it leaks before I throw it away.

We have gone to the CFL bulbs but it's a crock that they last years - they haven't lasted any longer than regular bulbs for us.  I also did a bit of a massive investment in dishes/glasses for when we entertain and have family over.  World market has sets of dinner plates and salad plates that you buy in sets of 12 for around 20.00.  I also got their footed beverage goblets - case of 24 was about 25.00.

We have a huge family and when we are all together there are well over 30 of us.  I have service for 48 including the flatware I splurged for on Black Friday.   No more paper plates, dixie cups, and disposable flatware for us.

That turning the shower off while I shampoo idea?  Yeah, not happening, but I turn the water off when I brush my teeth.

katiewhompus

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_recycling-conservation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:a5e4e1a3-ca15-4353-b4f8-ddf0092afcb7Post:6baa9cfc-12e7-4022-a160-9484412495f5">Re: Recycling and conservation</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Recycling and conservation : We have a rain barrel, and I don't think it looks that bad. Could you put it in the back of the house so it would be out of the way. We actually have ours right off of our front porch.
Posted by SEWF[/QUOTE]

Tht's my plan. The only good place for one would be in the back of the house and under the deck. Our yard slopes severly but it could water my veggie garden and Japanese maple and every little bit helps.

Blueyed228

We also dont recycle because we are terrible humans.

adamar15

We're pretty good about recycling and composting.  Recycling is easy because they pick it up on one of the trash days.  H sometimes forgets that carboard stuff can be composted, not just food.  He's awful about taking long showers.  I yell at him all the time during the winter.  He uses up all of our hot water!  We used to shower together, but now I sleep a little later than he does.

[Deleted User]

They have fancier looking rain barrels, KW, if your H is picky about what kind to get. We just have a basic one that's under the garage roof where most of the water comes off. We also have a compost bin that's covered (looks like a barrel on its side, off the ground so you can rotate it, with a latch that opens for whatever you are composting.

We also have 2 big compost piles out front, but we are in a wooded area so no one really cares and H uses them for his nursery anyway.