An important achievement

I'm pleased to report that I've already influenced a few people to start refusing plastic bags when going shopping, as well as returning eating utensils and packets of ketchup whenever they order food to take home. It's a pretty simple, easy-to-do step that can help reduce waste too. Now if only more restaurants are open to people taking their own food containers for leftovers or meals to go.

Backyard Composting

From the Lower East Side Ecology Center:

If you live in the Big Apple, the New York City Compost Project in Manhattan is holding a basic composting class on May 14. It will be at the Carver Community Garden on 242 East 124th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, New York, NY 10035. The registration fee is $5 and the class will run from 12 noon to 2 PM. Composting bins will also be available for purchase at a discounted rate.

Doin' it Rite

Three years ago, I wanted to dispose of a medication that I took only once. I went to my local Rite Aid pharmacy and asked if they could take it back for proper disposal. The answer was no. Last week, I noticed a sign for the Rite Aid Take Away Environmental Return System. For $3.99, you can buy a Sharps Compliance envelope, place your expired/unused/unwanted medications inside, then mail it for incineration.

The program is available in all stores except in the state of Maine, where another program is in place.

Umpqua

I saw a sign for Umpqua oats in my local Bad Ass Coffee shop. They are made from whole rolled oats full of fiber and antioxidants called avenanthramides. The oatmeal is packaged in recycled boxes. I haven't tried it yet, but the products sound delicious.