Plastic Free 2018!

     Everyone makes resolutions around the new year, if your resolution was to go plastic-free you have come to the right place! I've done a similar post to this before but I found some awesome new shops that sell plastic-free solutions to everyday needs, I'm super excited to share these new essentials with you!

     I have found The Zero Waste Collective on Instagram and they have done all of the work for me but I just had to shout out their Instagram page because they are awesome! Here are some of the products I have found with their help. 

Buy this 5 pack of reusable produce bags for $32.83 on amazon

A SILICONE reusable sandwich bag for $11.99 on amazon

  Reusable coffee cup with a silicone cover for $26.95 on amazon

Set of 6, washable cloth napkins for $15.99 on amazon

Bamboo cutlery set with straw for $12.99 on amazon

     The next shop I also found on Instagram called Package Free Shop their products are amazing and their Instagram is so aesthetically pleasing, I highly recommend following them.  Beeswax food wraps, variety or whatever size you need. 

Canning jar drinking lid 

A stainless steel ice pack

    

Fresh start for 2018!

     Hello everyone, it has been a long 6 months away from the keyboard. A lot has happened within that time, I am heading for Florida in May to permanently live there. I got a new job (well old, new job) and will have more time to focus on myself and this blog now that I'm out of the old job. I'm super excited for what this year is going to bring!
   
     What you can expect from this blog within the next year...

• Beach cleanup updates 
• Green living DIY 
• Their Story; will continue 
• Marine life facts
• SeaWorld updates

     I will also continue with recommendations on places to shop and people or businesses to support. I will be adding a segment monthly on the deaths of captive Orcas. This will be called "Lost Freedom" and I will be documenting whale deaths to show an impact on whales and their lives.  

     I am super excited to begin blogging again and seeing where my passion for the earth takes me and this blog next. Happy New Year everyone, here's to a GREEN new year!!   

Hiatus...

     Hello everyone, to those who have been following my blog for the past year, I have had so much fun researching and writing about the things I'm passionate about. Right now I am focusing on my career and need the time to myself when I get it (which isn't often.) May-December is the busiest time for shoppers so I am going to be taking a hiatus until January 2018. I can't wait to be back with new and fresh ideas and continuing with my passion, but until then, farewell. 

DIY mason jar upcyle!

     This week I've compiled 3 DIY mason jar ideas to upcycle your mason jars and reduce your plastic waste! 

Salt and pepper shakers! These simple cute shakers will be a staple in your house AND it's super quick and easy! Find out how to make them here

Toothbrush holder! This DIY only needs 2 items, a mason jar, and chicken wire! Find out how to make this DIY here

Soap dispenser! If you use liquid soap in place of bar soap this is a simple way to spice up your bathroom counter and its plastic-free. Find out how to make this DIY here

How To: Recycle

source

     Why recycle?

     Prevention is better than trying to fix something when it's too late. By recycling, you are helping the environment out tremendously, because not only are the effects of pollution and greenhouse gasses killing animals, they are slowly killing you too. 

1. Dumping our trash into landfills is not sustainable. Our landfills can leak and contaminate soil and groundwater. 
2. Recycling white paper creates 74% less air pollution and 35% less water pollution.
3. Recycling creates jobs, the recycling industry employs more than the auto industry. 
4. Recycling saves money, and not only that but some places even pay you to recycle. 

     What happens to recyclables?

1. Glass bottles become new glass bottles.
2. Steel cans are used for automobile parts and construction material. 
3. Plastic bottles are recycled into carpet, clothing, auto parts, and new bottles.
4. Paper is recycled into new paper. 

     What are the benefits of recycling?

1. Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills, which in turn saves landfills from leakages of toxins. 
2. Conserving natural resources.
3. Prevents pollution.
4. Saves energy 
5. Reduces greenhouse gasses, which in turn helps eliminate global climate change. 
6. It helps sustain the environment for years to come. 

     What are the statistics?

1. One ton of recycled newsprint paper saves 601 kilowatts of energy, 71 gallons of oil, 60 pounds of air pollutants, 7.000 gallons of water and 4.6 cubic yards of landfill. 
2. One ton of recycled office paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 463 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill.
3. One ton of recycled plastic saves 5,774 kilowatts of energy, 16.3 barrels of oil, and 30 cubic yards of landfill.
4. One ton of recycled glass saves 42 kilowatts of energy, 5 gallons of oil, 7.5 pounds of air pollutants, and 2 cubic yards of landfill. 
5. If every American recycled one-tenth of their newspapers it would save 25,000,000 trees a year.
6. Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour and more than 75% are thrown away. 
7. 100,000 marine creatures die per year from plastic entanglement or digesting it. 

     What can I recycle?

1. Aluminum cans. 
2. Aluminum foil and bakeware. 
3. Steel and tin cans. 
4. Cardboard.
5. Magazines. 
6. Office paper.
7. Newspaper.
8. Paperboard. 
9. Paper cardboard dairy and juice cartons. 
10. Junk Mail.
11. Phone books. 
12. Clear glass.
13. Brown glass.
14. Green glass.
15. Plastics.
16. Car batteries. 
17. Household batteries. 
18. Rechargeable batteries. 
19. Incandescent and LED lights. 
20. Compact fluorescent bulbs. 

     What can't be recycled?

1. Glass contaminated with dirt, rocks or food. 
2. Ceramics.
3. Heat resistant glass.
4. Mirror or window glass.
5. Metal or plastic caps and lids.
6. Crystal. 

     How can I recycle?

1. Call a recycling pick up service 
2. Use a recycling service like Clynk 
3. Reduce and reuse (Pinterest is a great tool for DIY)
4. Compost
5. Donate or sell used clothes 

     Resources and more about this topic:

- http://www.lessismore.org/materials/28-why-recycle
- https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics
- https://www.ecocycle.org/files/pdfs/why_recycle_%20brochure.pdf
- http://www.wm.com/thinkgreen/what-can-i-recycle.jsp