Anna Getty's Easy Green Organic - Anna Getty [10]
WATER CONSUMPTION
Water is our most valuable resource on the planet, and unfortunately, it is not very renewable. In a class I took on sustainability, the teacher referred to water as “holy water” and told us to treat it as such. In the kitchen we oft en use large amounts of water for both cooking and cleaning. Here are some ways we can reduce our water consumption:
1. Collect the water you use to rinse produce and use it to water houseplants or an herb garden.
2. Make sure you fill up your dishwasher completely before running the cycle.
3. If you are shopping for a new dishwasher, make sure it has the Energy Star seal of approval. These appliances have cycle and load adjustments and are more efficient than comparable models.
4. Instead of running water in the sink when you’re washing up, consider these options: If you have a two-sided sink, fill one side with the soapy wash water and the other with the rinse water. If you have one sink, fill up a bucket with rinse water.
5. Consider installing an instant water heater in your kitchen so you don’t have to run water while waiting for it to heat up.
reuse
Reusing things can be challenging because as a society we are so used to using something once and then throwing it out. Disposable cameras, batteries, food utensils, tablecloths—the list goes on. Instead of throwing something out, consider reusing it.
1. Reuse food scraps, such as vegetable peelings, by composting them (see page 43 for more on composting). Think about it; instead of filling up the garbage bag, the food scraps go back into the earth to help grow more food.
2. Instead of throwing out old nonstick or aluminum cookware, use them for various types of storage in the garage. For example, an old aluminum pot is great for storing holiday decorations or hardware. You can also use a small pot under the sink to store kitchen sponges.
3. Once kitchen towels and cloths get too old and scraggly for cleaning up in the kitchen, bring them out to the garage or cellar. They make great oil rags.
4. Save glass bottles. Peel off the labels, and use the bottles as vases. It’s fun to collect a variety of shapes and sizes and use them to decorate an outdoor garden party.
5. Stop buying plastic cooking utensils, colanders, and mixing bowls—heated plastic can leach into food. Save the ones you already have. They can be used as children’s sand toys. If you don’t have young kids, use these plastic things in the garden, for crafts projects, or another way.
6. Stop using plastic storage containers for food and save them to store office, crafts, and art supplies. Never pour hot food into plastic.
7. Use aluminum cake and pie trays under potted plants as drip trays.
8. Cut plastic bottles in half and use them for starting seeds.
I could go on and on here. The point is that instead of throwing things out or even recycling them, which requires a fair amount of energy, reuse them or give them away so someone else can use them. Of course, you don’t want to give your toxic nonstick cookware to someone else to use for cooking. But your friend or coworker might be able to think of a creative way to reuse them. Try to give all the things in your kitchen the longest life possible.
recycle
Over half of the cities in the United States have curbside recycling. Although curbside programs do vary, here are the three most common materials that are recyclable. Find out what your city’s or town’s program is and really take action in your household. Be sure to rinse all food out of containers before tossing in recycle bins as most recycle programs will not recycle the item if there is food matter on it.
ALUMINUM CANS: Did you know that over 50 percent of aluminum cans are recycled? They are the most common beverage container in the United States,