Garbage Everywhere. American's Love Affair with Cheap Goods

 I have owned the same dinnerware set for over 15 years. It's about quality not quanity. I have 10 year old leather shoes that are still classics. I saved up for my livingroom couch when we moved into our new home and it's 16 years young. I buy antiques because things were once made proudly with precision craftsmanship. I love to upcycle products. I challenge myself to make things like wreaths, wood and floral decor with scraps and flea market finds. 

My Great Grandfather bought us expensive leather shoes at the beginning of the school year and again if a growth spurt. His motto was buy the best and not a bunch of junk over and over. He lived through The Great Depression. Waste was not an option. -We have lost this attitude to the detriment of our mind, body and the animals on this planet. I find it comical some of the ideas politicians or dime a dozen activist groups come up with to "Save our Planet." Why isn't there a real effort to lessen garbage choking landfills and the ocean? 

I can throw a dart and hit a dollar store doing brisk business. I shop there. They are useful. I have found them in very rural areas without a grocery store for 30 minutes. My problem is the pure junk. Cheap solar lights that don't last a season, plastic containers of all kinds, cheap throw away little toys, plastic decor in all seasons that is thrown out and not stored and the list goes on. I have worked at and seen many offices with their cheap little things like cardboard Happy Spring Signs, garland, tinsel shapes, felt shapes decor that they throw out once done because it cost $10 and they don't want to store it. Just buy more next season! Nursing and Assisted Living Facilites really tally up disposable items between the activities director purchases and sales reps bringing junk for the different seasons. I'm sure schools and daycares are just as bad too. I recently read an article about the garbage online shopping has created. It makes sense. Stores get big boxes of freight but, now everyone is getting boxes and packing materials to their home. How about all the plexi glass everywhere since COVID started? Where will the millions of pieces that are not biodegradable go? Read about bottled water. The marketing makes it seem like a pristine water source when in reality it comes from a municipal water source in a town in the U.S. 

Plastics are choking our oceans and grounds. So the next time you want to buy some stuff because it is cheap or easy think about what you can do to help the earth because this waste we are creating is at the heart of the problem. There will always be supply if there is demand.

Ideas to Save Money and Keep Waste Down

• Use dinnerware and resist using foam and plastic plates.
• Purchase a quality, reusable water bottle and hot drinkware.
• Resist buying cheap decor you will throw out at the end of season.
• Shop with totes and try not to use all those plastic grocery bags.
• Add compartment totes with handles to trunk for purchases. They make insulated ones too!
• Filter your water at the fridge or the tap.
• Buy sandwich containers instead of sandwich bags. Mason jars are great for soup and salad!
• Buy a lunch bag. It helps you get into packing a lunch and using washable containers.
• Make your own cold tea. It is easy and cheap. Skip those plastic bottles in the store!
• Buy from your local farmer. Less packaging and less movement. Bring your tote!
• Purchase sturdy flip flops and resist those $1 and $5 ones that last a month.
• Upcycle and recycle. Buy second hand stuff. You don't have to go out of your comfort zone. If your local thrift shop is dirty then maybe it's a garage sale or sharing kids clothes amongst friends.
• Have a friends and family swap. Invite people to someone's big garage or patio and create a swap list. Whatever doesn't sell offer to donate. Maybe you have a club or campground that would love this too! A craft swap would be fun!