Happy Earth Day! What Kind of Bagger Are You? Take My Poll, Too! --->

Last week Deb over at Menopausal New Mom wrote about how many plastic bags we consume each year---500 BILLION. If you missed this mind-boggling post, please check it out here, it's a must-read. It was she who inspired me to go incognito and hide out in my minivan in various grocery store parking lots over the last few days. I put Laurie Berkner on my iPod to distract the girls, but Abby looked at me quizzically as I tried to discreetly lower my window every few seconds to get a shot, "Mommy, why are you taking pictures of people?" "Because Mommy is being sneaky," I told her. They laughed and laughed as my heart rate shot up every time I thought someone was noticing me and what I was doing.***and yes, these are all real photos I took here in my hometown over the last week.***

But I have to know. Be honest, now! (& please take my poll ---> )


Are you a (1) Everything But the Cases of Sugary Soda Goes in a Plastic Bag Bagger?

(and you in your cute lil' Volvo-- don't be tryin' to tell me you can't afford to buy some reusable bags)

Are you a (2) Two Plastic Bags Bagger?

(C'mon Mr. Manly Man. Man Up Already and Get Some ReusaBALLS!)

Are you a (3) I Don't Even Try To Hide It, I Even Enter The Store Without Reusable Bags Bagger?

(so did you leave 'em in the car & you're too lazy to go back, or do you seriously not own any of your own bags?)

Are you a (4) I Even Carry My Craptastic Subway Sammie in a Single Plastic Bag Bagger?

(or Exhibit B, just your regular groceries in a single bag? C'mon. COME ON.)

(Seriously---do you honestly need that ONE bag?)

,

Or are you a (5) This Bag Is Da Bomb Because It Speaks For Me Kind of Bagger?

This is my personal reusable bag and several months ago I gave away one just like it. But I'm not giving anything away today because I want you to get off your fannies and JUST DO IT already. Get your own. Nag your friends to get their own. Give them as gifts along with some Green cleansers, reusable chamois, etc.

I went to Hy Vee in Mission (a local grocery store) and spoke with one of the managers, Robert. I showed him these and even gave him the purple one to keep:

(reusable produce bags I bought at Whole Foods)

I was wearing my Earth Day t-shirt, had a cart with my reusable bags & groceries inside, my Shatto milk in glass bottles, etc. I told him that as a Green Gal, I'd love to see his store selling these right along with their reusable shopping bags. I added that Whole Foods is doing it and that they've also done away with plastic bags. He didn't have much to say, but was very nice and seemed enthusiastic. The whole time in my head I was thinking about Deb's post where she confronted the manager about the litter in his parking lot. "TAWANDA!" I thought.

I am taking responsibility. I am demanding change. I'm going to keep doing it until it happens.

I encourage you to join me.

Happy Earth Day. Let's change the world together. You can also go to Deb's blog today because she's hosting another phenomenal GO GREEN GIVEAWAY---check it out!

Edited to add: I stash my reusables everywhere--the car, by my back door to the garage, in my purse, etc. so I'm rarely without. If I forget them, my "punishment" is to buy a new bag or two wherever I am shopping. I have quite a collection and have put some in The Father Load's car as well.

TerraCycle: Turning Garbage Into Gold (More Going Green For Spring) & Giveaway winners!

Please please please watch this short video to see what TerraCycle is all about and how it works!

Last year on Oprah's Earth Day show, I heard about a little company doing something BIG in Trenton, New Jersey. TerraCycle takes our everyday non-recyclable waste and turns it into eco-friendly products like tote bags, lunch kits, coasters, pencil cases, backpacks, folders, laptop cases, and trash cans. For a list of products TerraCycle makes with our trash, go here. These are available on the site or at stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, and Whole Foods.

Inspired, I started my own Juice Pouch Brigade last year. I collect empty juice pouches (Capri Sun, Minute Maid, Honest Kids, and Kool Aid) and ship them to TerraCycle (they pay the postage and provide shipping supplies & pre-paid labels). For every pouch I send in, the company donates two cents to the charity or school of my choice. It's a win-win situation: it keeps garbage out of our landfills, turns it into something useful, and benefits schools and needy organizations. For a list of types of trash TerraCycle accepts or other Recycling Brigades you can create, go here. I challenge you to find a brigade that appeals to you and take the first step. It's really very easy. Grab a partner or two if that will help you. Once you get it started, there's no stopping you, and it feels so good to do something GREEN! TerraCycle makes it all so easy--they are the ones doing all the hard work for us. I cannot say enough about them.

(Setting up our juice pouch collection site at New Reform Temple, our charity of choice)

My kids are involved in GOING GREEN! I teach them about our planet, recycling, and encourage them to help! Here they are adding our empty juice pouches to the collection basket.

Find Terracycle on Twitter: @TerraCycle
Become a fan of Terracycle on Facebook: click here

AND , the winners of my GO GREEN GIVEAWAY are: Holly over at 504 Main and Big Mama's The Bristol Project! Email me (erinlynn76@aol.com) your addresses and will ship your bags out by the weekend! I am not techno savvy, so I just chose my winners the old-fashioned way, out of a hat! If you didn't win but want some high quality reusable produce bags, check out Love For Earth on Etsy.com. She is wonderful!

To see the winner of Deb's GO GREEN GIVEAWAY giveaway, please head over to her place, Menopausal New Mom.