Straws and Plastic bags

[Bananna]

I am wondering what everyone's system is for straws....they aren't really washable and I feel terrible throwing them out. The kids, and I too, love them though. What do you guys do?


Also those really thin plastic bags that you put your veggies in at the produce section, atleast in my area aren't recyclable. Again wonderin, what do you guys all do?

Thanks girlfriends....and boyfriends if there are any of you out there, lol...

[Lelê]

I do wash my straws...unless they are bitten (by my 4.5 yo). If they are hard to clean (dried smoothie) I put on a tupperware with water for a while. I only recycle my and sometimes DS's straw, because I use it so much.

As for the plastic bags... you could recycle it, by washing and taking with you. OR you could do something crafty with it, and fuse it together with other plastic bags into a recycled plastic fabric.

[Zella Juice]

I bought some pyrex glass straws on ebay. I LOVE them. They are thick enough for green smoothies and I accidently dropped on in my ceramic sink and it didn't break!

Here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pyrex-Drinking-Straws-Set-of-6-non-toxic-glass-straw_W0QQitemZ280250438646QQihZ018QQcategoryZ1277 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For the plastic bags I save them and use them again. I bring my own canvas bags and just throw them in the canvas bags and hang them by the door so I can grab them when heading out to the store. Sometimes I have to turn them inside out if there is water in them. I just throw them on this shelf until they are dry and put them in my canvas bags. I also take some smaller cloth bags for stuff like avocados that aren't weighed. I use one of my huge canvas bags for the leafy greens and just throw them all in there because those are rang up by quantity and not per pound.

The produce manager comes out and greets us because that's basically the only area in the store we shop and we are always wanting bulk produce. It's cool to get special attention. :D

[Snownoir]

Yes to glass straws!! They're great. And they feel nice between your lips too. I haven't bought any off ebay but a local glass blower makes them here. I clothesline my plastic bags after I rinse them and try my hardest to remember cloth bags so I don't use the plastic bags in the first place.

In fact, I keep my straw in my wallet because its one of those long check book ones. So its always protected and with for when I might need a straw too. :D

[Raene]

I don't buy straws for this very reason but boy am I excited about these glass straws!!! Thanks for that idea.

[Bananna]

Cloth produce bags? They would have to be very light....sometimes I imagine laying a thin little blanket across the check out scale, lol.

And glass straws! I love it! How decadent....but I don't have a dishwasher ...as of yet.

[Sugar Snap Pea]

Glass straws!! Cool! :cool:

[Jennifer N]

I also rinse out my plastic bags and reuse them for produce. I want to get those special reusable bags that let produce "breathe" and stay fresh longer, but... that costs money, and I'm cheap!

https://www.greenbags.com/
http://www.ecobags.com/Our_Products/Produce_Bags

[Bananna]

ok Jennifer I am In Love with the entire ecobags site! I want the lunch bags too...my kids would love decorating their own lunch bags!

[Raene]

Speaking of lunchbags, has anyone ever seen those stainless steel bento boxes that have a lid/clasp and the lid doubles as a plate? I saw some folks with em but they just said they got them online...didn't say where. This isn't a tiffin...we have those already but they aren't very practical for kids in my opinion. Anyone know? Thanks!

[tanishamarshall]

I have to get some glass ones. Lately I have been really getting into drinking my smoothies with straws. I'd love to use a glass straw instead.. Thanks for the links.

[jacsam]

I really don't use straws but I do re-use my plastic bags. I have canvas shopping bags and I just store them inside those bags so they are there and ready to go when I'm shopping, when they get a hole or yucky, I toss them. I'm still using them but on a much smaller scale than the average person. I also have a light weight bag that folds into a small pouch, which clips onto my purse, which I love. Because it's clipped onto my purse I always have my own bag when I run into the store to only get a few things...before this I would forget to grab my canvas bags and have to use one of the stores plastic bags.

[rawbutterfly]

Raene- if you use the banana search, I remember seeing a long thread about the Bento boxes.
Also, I couldn't live without the glass straws.

[Eva]

The thin flimsy ones are actually illegal in South Africa and some other places. And in Ireland it's illegal to get them for free. I think in Denmark, Italy, France, Hungary, and some other places I'm sure, most stores charge a small fee for bags.

When I go to the market, I almost never see many people without the reusable shopping bags or baskets. It's just a habit that works.

I remember how strangely I was treated when I brought my own bags to the Stop and Shop in Massachusetts. Like I was spitting on the counter or doing something wrong. So crazy!

[Zella Juice]

I can afford all those special bags. Pillow cases, old t-shirts, and dish towels work fine for me.

[linda7276]

? I'm curious about why the straws?

[Bananna]

Yes, I just read the headline of an article that read something like 'plastic bags illegal in California' ....I don't have time to find a link or have even read it, so I don't know....

I am SO glad being green is now so socially acceptable that being ungreen is becoming UN socially acceptable!

Linda- not sure what your q is? ....why do I ask about straws...I use those plastic ones at the moment, which aren't recyclable, and impossible to clean properly...maybe a pipecleaner? Anyways...I was just wondering what other greenbees do that way. Glass straws...still amazed, they sound so Rich! (not that I care about that but still, small things to make one feel rich like glass straws can go a long way in my book, lol).

[Zella Juice]

Plastic Straws are not meant to be washed over and over. How water releases the plastic in them and it goes in your body. Same for plastic bags. The only thing you can do is avoid plastic whenever possible.

I love my glass straws. I don't have a dish washer I just use a bamboo scuwer (I just realized I don't know how to spell that word) or a pipe cleaner would work too..someday I will pick some up. I also saw some test tube brushes on ebay that would work. But who wants to pay for stuff when you can just look around the house and find what you need?

[linda7276]

Yes, I just read the headline of an article that read something like 'plastic bags illegal in California' ....I don't have time to find a link or have even read it, so I don't know....

I am SO glad being green is now so socially acceptable that being ungreen is becoming UN socially acceptable!

Linda- not sure what your q is? ....why do I ask about straws...I use those plastic ones at the moment, which aren't recyclable, and impossible to clean properly...maybe a pipecleaner? Anyways...I was just wondering what other greenbees do that way. Glass straws...still amazed, they sound so Rich! (not that I care about that but still, small things to make one feel rich like glass straws can go a long way in my book, lol).

Thanks Bananna, my question was why are you using straws? I wondered if there was a reason other than preference, like the sugar on the teeth, or?

Got a kick out of your feel rich comment, cute!!

[Snownoir]

http://www.reusablebags.com/

[Bananna]

Oh hey Linda...yes no reason for the straws other than I just like them. And my kids LOVE using straws for their smoothies....something I am going to be pushing.

Thanks for the link Snownoir! Going to go check that out now...

zella juice. I think it's skewer? yes... checked it.

[Gittel]

Are the glass straws thick enough to withstand children with TEETH? I mean the biting, gnawing-on-straws kind of teeth.

They sound so luxurious.

Gittel

[Bananna]

Well I guess I'm going to find out.....I'm thinking 'chewers' usually chew on stuff that is chewable. Like I don't notice my kids chewing on the glasses....but I don't know...I think that is plausible the younger your kid is...I've got 3 and up....I'll have to counsel them just as a reminder, they know about broken glass and they know what slivers feel like. So long as the child is old enough to understand I think it'll be fine!

[RawHeaven]

The thin flimsy ones are actually illegal in South Africa and some other places. And in Ireland it's illegal to get them for free. I think in Denmark, Italy, France, Hungary, and some other places I'm sure, most stores charge a small fee for bags.

When I go to the market, I almost never see many people without the reusable shopping bags or baskets. It's just a habit that works.

I remember how strangely I was treated when I brought my own bags to the Stop and Shop in Massachusetts. Like I was spitting on the counter or doing something wrong. So crazy!

Cool about other countries. Plastic bags are banned in most retail chains & grocery stores in San Francisco now. You gotta bring your own bag. Maybe the rest of the nation will follow suit. :D

Correction: I think in some stores, only type of plastic bag has changed. ??? Anyway, folks are usually pretty good about using cloth bags in the Bay Area, but it could always be improved. At least there's some progress with the new laws.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/28/MNGDROT5QN1.DTL

[RawHeaven]

Love the glass straws - thanks for sharing. I will add it to my wish list. :)

[Zella Juice]

Thanks for the speel cheke Bananna. I get lazy sometimes.

My child is 8 and does good with the glass straw. You won't believe how thick these babies are. I have dropped them a few times (short distance) and they didn't break. I was sure they were broken and after examining them..they were fine.

It makes me so happy to hear they are outlawing plastic bags. I always think of the island out in the ocean that is made of plastic and it's twice the size of Texas. :eek:

[Aleesha Sattva]

I bought some pyrex glass straws on ebay. I LOVE them. They are thick enough for green smoothies and I accidently dropped on in my ceramic sink and it didn't break!

Here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pyrex-Drinking-Straws-Set-of-6-non-toxic-glass-straw_W0QQitemZ280250438646QQihZ018QQcategoryZ1277 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



thanks... i just ordered myself some - much cheaper than other places i found!!!

[Zella Juice]

No problem Aleesha.

Another tip for rawbies...Pyrex also makes a thermometer that goes in the oven to measure the temperature inside. It's helpful. I realized mine was running too high and now set the dial to the lowest setting. It beeps when it goes past the temperature you enter in. I also use it when whipping up stuff in the blender to make sure it doesn't get too hot. I bought it on ebay for $17.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i got my glass straws... oh i looooooooooooooooove them!!!!

looooooooooove them!

[Raine]

I also rinse out my plastic bags and reuse them for produce. I want to get those special reusable bags that let produce "breathe" and stay fresh longer, but... that costs money, and I'm cheap!

https://www.greenbags.com/
http://www.ecobags.com/Our_Products/Produce_Bags

I think you'd be better off in the long run using the ecobags instead of the greenbags. The greenbags are only good for 10 uses.

Since I only ride a motorcycle, I've made an art form of figuring out which bags to use. I like the reusable bags and have found it interesting the diversity amongst the stores:


Whole Foods: $0.99 15" x 14" (funky pattern design)
Half-Price Books: $0.99 18.5" x 15" (pretty emerald green)
Bed, Bath & Beyond: $1.99 ($1 goes to charity) 22" x 21.5" (black - also has short straps for hand carrying & longer shoulder straps)


I'm going to pick up a couple more of the BB&B and the Half-Price bags because they have worked so well. I particularly like the BB&B ones because you can stash a 6-roll of toilet tissue in there and bungee cord it to the bike.

It just doesn't do much for the Harley image to have a roll of toilet paper strapped to the bike! ;)

[Aleesha Sattva]

you use toilet paper???

no no no no no... read (http://www.timelessspirit.com/JULY08/walk.shtml) this please!

[Raine]

you use toilet paper???

no no no no no... read (http://www.timelessspirit.com/JULY08/walk.shtml) this please!

I appreciate your enthusiasm but I have to admit I laughed the whole way through the article! The sheer thought of my boyfriend being informed we were ditching tissue and going with reusable flannel for bathroom use would be beyond hysterical. I can't even get that boy to use the post-consumer paper - he likes his tush paper to be soft and disposable.

Everything in life is a balance - I don't own a TV, my bike is paid for and gets 46 mpg - and I was riding it as my only mode of transport before it became fashionable with the fuel prices - I am predominately raw, etc. Tissue paper is one of the boundaries.

Thanks for the suggestion though. :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x87/recyclinggoddess/23_33_11.gif oh okay... i'll let this one pass then *giggling*

[coco]

wow. i am pretty radical about some things but that flannel bum wipe business is just unsanitary. hulda clark insists that underwear should be boiled to sterilize it after each use, i can't imagine what she would say about using a flannel cloth that is just cleaned in the regular wash. yikes. hello parasites. not for me, thanks.

i have a pyrex straw that a glass blowing boyfriend made for me and while it's good it is very hard to clean. i push a bit of cotton or tissue through it with a skewer stick.

here's a reusable produce bag made in my old town.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5621296
i have made some in the past out of unbleached musin with a velcro closure but the best ones for produce that i have used are just made of terry cloth that you dampen to keep veggies crisp. you have to be careful not to have the fridge too cold though or it will freeze up and wreck your lettuce.

[Raene]

I think that's just because of what we've been taught "our bodies are dirty and produce dirty things." It's what our parents taught us when we were small, giving us feelings of self-guilt and embarrassment. I can't believe someone would suggest boiling underwear.
It also reminds me of people who have OCD...wash your hands all the time and then EVERY single germ in the air is going to make you sick as hell. Build up some immunities, honestly!

[Bananna]

Why don't you just go the extra mile and use leaves?

Sorry, lol...just joking, while it is a little too out there for me, I did wipe all my babybums with washcloths as wetwipes gave them rashes.

Funny this thread just came up again...I am ordering my glass straws this morning! ....I'm hoping the pipecleaners will clean them ok. One day soon, I will have a dishwasher....or maybe I should say one Year soon.

[kaybee]

those ecobags are definitely more reusable but the thing about the greenbags is that they have clay or something in them that actually is supposed to absorb the ripening gasses that the veggies put off and so because it absorbs them it keeps them from rotting. personally we tried them and didnt really notice a difference but maybe other people have had luck?

[Aleesha Sattva]

well i used cloth diapers throughout their childhoods as well... and those had poo in them (which of course you remove but waay more waste than a wipe does) and i never found that gross to be honest.

as for the straws... i use em and wash em right away... so it's more of a rinse really. easy to clean that way.

[Ilse W.]

Aleesha,
I really enjoyed reading your article about the "bum wipes". What a great idea. I grew up in Germany in the 50s and remember my mother having knitted cotton menstrual pads. She also always used cloth diapers, and so did I while I was still in Germany. We also used a cloth handkerchief to wipe our nose. It all went into the wash, no problem. I am going to find me some cotton flannel and make some bum wipes. I find that on a raw diet, there is hardly anything to wipe. Luckily, I'm single and don't have to convert anybody, lol.

[Aleesha Sattva]

be sure to get the thickest flannel you can find. it will last you years. we are still using a few of my original ones... made 14 years ago!!! thick flannel is the key to longevity.

welcome to my world!

[Green_Woman]

Reusable butt-whiping rags sounds like an AWESOME idea!! I mean, think about it, when we take a shower most of us use rags or sponges, and we reuse those, and you're telling me there aren't pieces of %#$! that get stuck on those rags? Well, we wash and reuse those and they're fine...

Besides, if you're a raw fooder, even your bodies "waste" has to be fairly healthy. ;)

Cloth produce bags? They would have to be very light....sometimes I imagine laying a thin little blanket across the check out scale, lol.

Take the produce OUT to weigh it, silly. ;) I always use reusable shopping bags (I have a variety, everything from the cheap mesh ones that can easily be washed, and one really nice, insulated one I bought at Trader Joe's that I use to carry lunches I want to be cool longer)...

If I forget my reusable bags, I generally carry my groceries by hand or try to fit them ALL into ONE plastic bag, which my green-minded boyfriend then takes to the Safeway recycled-bags bin. :)

[coco]

when i use cloth diapers i wash them in the hottest possible water (that's what is generally recommended) and hang in the sun to dry whenever possible (this also helps to kill any lingering bacteria).
i also wash towels and washcloths in hot water, this is a common practice to get them really clean.
hulda clark is a very knowledgable woman with a high cancer cure rate, i think some of her advice is very good actually. she knows a ton about parasites especially.

[RawHeaven]

Raine you made me LOL regarding your boyfriend using the flannel wipes. I could just imagine the same reaction if I suggested the same to my bf. He probably wouldn't even respond. hahaaa.

I think it's a good idea though and to Green Woman's point well if you notice, there really isn't, ahem ahem, much residue on the tissue after wiping anyway when you're raw for awhile. And we're less toxic generally so our poo will be too. So I imagine it could work well. Will I be trying it anytime soon? Truthfully, I will have to think about it. Taking it one major deprogramming at a time.

[Raine]

Raine you made me LOL regarding your boyfriend using the flannel wipes. I could just imagine the same reaction if I suggested the same to my bf. He probably wouldn't even respond. hahaaa.

I think it's a good idea though and to Green Woman's point well if you notice, there really isn't, ahem ahem, much residue on the tissue after wiping anyway when you're raw for awhile. And we're less toxic generally so our poo will be too. So I imagine it could work well. Will I be trying it anytime soon? Truthfully, I will have to think about it. Taking it one major deprogramming at a time.

Can you just imagine - if it's not the boyfriends being shell shocked, what would company have to say? Several colorful words come to mind just thinking about some of the people I know. ;)

[Aleesha Sattva]

only two people have ever complained... and i have a lot of students come here. my mom and one friend. she brings her own tp and he goes to the local gas station to use the toilet.

doesn't bother me at all to be honest... in over 14 years i can only imagine how much tp my family has saved.

but it's not for everyone, just like raw isn't for everyone... i'm cool with that. i just do what i do cause i believe in it. not to make anyone else believe in it. http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x87/recyclinggoddess/thheart.gif

being who i am and living my life the way i do... is me. honouring the earth by using reusable products (menstrual, FBWs, kleenex) and reusing jars for juice and storing stuff in the fridge... washing out ziploc bags instead of tossing them, taking my plastic bags to the thrift store to be re-used and always having cloth bags on hand when i go shopping, buying compostible dog poop bags for our walks with the dogs... all these things matter to me.

i'm not trying to make the world like me... just doing my part is all. one thing at a time.

[Ilse W.]

Thanks again, Aleesha, for your post. It got me to your magazine, then to your blog, then to the latest issue of your magazine. Wow, I just spent 3 hours reading, and a lot of things became a lot clearer in my mind. I even ended up on German websites with Goethe quotes, what an inspiration. Yes, and I will get the absolute softest flannel I can find. I only use flannel sheets from Lands End, the thick 5 oz. variety. I think I'll buy some of their leftover sheets and use those. My tush is worth it, lol.

[Aleesha Sattva]

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x87/recyclinggoddess/icon_hug.gif

[Zella Juice]

Thanks for sharing Aleesha! Great idea. I was getting tired of all the tissue pieces that get stuck in my cooch anyways.

[Bananna]

Wow, I just got around to reading the rest of this thread...since I am only now getting around to the glass straw ordering....

I see this thread has gone to @%*(, lol....which makes me wonder now....what do you all use for your monthly? ....I'm guessing Aleesha uses flannel?

[Aleesha Sattva]

i use flannel and a menstrual cup. been using it for about 14 years now. got a new one around 3 years ago???

here's a link:

http://manymoonsalternatives.com/category.php?cat_id=9

there's a review in my mag as well but i'm not into searching for it at the moment. if you want to read it, let me know and i'll find it for ya. :)

[oceanluv]

most stores now have bags that you can buy for .99 or so, and are made of recycled plastic. the Publix in my area also recycles the plastic shopping bags and foam containers from eggs and produce. Unfortunately, there is no muninciple (sp?) recycling. Before I moved to Fl. I used to have a worm bin for composting my kitchen scraps. I miss my worms :( also when I was in Europe, many years ago, I saw lots of people using mesh bags, like macramed or crocheted. those fold up nice and small.

[oceanluv]

did i miss something? I thought we were talking about straws and bags, lol.:rolleyes:

[Bananna]

Well we.....were.

[Aleesha Sattva]

and then i got involved in the discussion LOL

[oceanluv]

and then i got involved in the discussion LOL

well, Aleesha, you sure keep it interesting. ;)
back in the day, when I needed such things, i used a sea sponge. I don't know if they had the cups then.

[Aleesha Sattva]

well they still have sponges! i haven't tried them as they seem messy.

[oceanluv]

well they still have sponges! i haven't tried them as they seem messy.
yes, they were. had to have access to water to be able to rinse them.
at the time I mostly stayed home, so it didn't matter that much.
now, post menapausal,and don't have to bother with any of it. :D

[Aleesha Sattva]

ah i dream of the day i'll go menapausal. i wish i wish i wish...

[oceanluv]

ah i dream of the day i'll go menapausal. i wish i wish i wish...

this is one wish that I am certain WILL come true. :p

[Aleesha Sattva]

giggling... soon I hope :)

[Bananna]

ok back to bags and straws for a bit, lol...I LOVE my glass straws!!!!! I clean them with a pipe cleaner easily, or if I get to it quickly after use, a rinse will suffice.

And now I have ordered all my kids these recycled cotton lunch bags...which apparently you can customize with fabric paint. I will report back soon on them.

Next I will get some crocheted type produce bags..because I think they are the sexiest...lol. I think sexy looking green things will help reduce stigma, lol. http://www.ecobags.com/Our_Products/Our-Classic-String-ECOBAG

And ....now just researching the flow products.

[iheartrawfoods]

Speaking of lunchbags, has anyone ever seen those stainless steel bento boxes that have a lid/clasp and the lid doubles as a plate? I saw some folks with em but they just said they got them online...didn't say where. This isn't a tiffin...we have those already but they aren't very practical for kids in my opinion. Anyone know? Thanks!

If you check out the site Vegan Lunch Box blog, she has links to a thousand different lunchboxes. I have the lunch box that you are talking about, but I cannot remember where I got it.

[Aleesha Sattva]

oh i soooo want some of those bags!!!

[JCB44]

I bought a few "green" bags from the food store, they were about a 1.00 apiece. The health food store sells glass straws, I have not bought one, they are quite high

[RaeVynn]

And ....now just researching the flow products.

I love my Diva cup! Also, Glad Rags (available online or at most natural foods, health, and food co-op stores) are great.

I made my own fabric pads years ago... and I still have them! I generally use them when I'm around home, sleeping, and for liners with the Diva cup.

I'm also known at our local produce market as the "parachute bag lady"... one of the guys there is so taken with my Chico bags (which are made from ripstop nylon, I believe), that it is how he identifies me!

I reuse produce bags as much as possible. Since we shop a local food co-op extensively, I'm all about helping to lower THEIR costs, as well. So, I reuse the bags, don't use bags for some things, and bring my own containers for lots of the bulk items.

[Yana]

. In fact, I keep my straw in my wallet because its one of those long check book ones. So its always protected and with for when I might need a straw too. :D

That's awesome!! :D