Return Pot Turns PLA Plastic into Compost

The Philadelphia Inquirer had an interesting story this weekend about the Electrolux Design Lab competition. A number of interesting devices are mentioned in the article, but I'm most fascinated with the "Return Pot," which uses a magnetic field to turn polylactic acid (PLA) resin into compost for plants. Here's how it works:

"As the user spins the battery-less Return Pot, a ball bearing moves through a coil tunnel, creating a magnetic field that generates electricity to power the return cycle. The result is water, compost and a small amount of carbon dioxide, according to the inventor."

This is basically a home device that turns plastic into plant food. Wow. From a sustainability point of view, that's virtually a miracle. However, there is one major catch. The Return Pot decomposes PLA plastic, not petroleum-based resins, and there just isn't much PLA being used as of yet. D'oh!

If you haven't heard of PLA, it's a relatively new corn-based plastic that is very slowly being adopted in some packaging, such as water bottles and cups. On the downside, it takes corn to create the product, which could be used for food. Also, because the product decomposes, it can't be used in packaging that has to last a long time or stand up to very warm conditions. However, given the right conditions (heat, humidity and micro-organisms), PLA will fully decompose into nutrients for the soil.

I'm going to be writing more about PLA in the future, but in the meantime, do check out the Inquirer article to see the sustainable marvels that some very bright minds have created.

Designed for Coexisting (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Electrolux Design Lab 2007

Bringing Your Own Reusable Bags Does Take a Little Nerve

In my very first post on this blog, I mentioned that I am not a perfect environmentalist, eco-geek, greenie, tree hugger or whatever you want to call it. Far, far from perfect. Living a greener lifestyle has been a gradual adaptation for me and I think I'm still at the very beginning of my journey.

I will illustrate this imperfection over and over again in this space, but here's a glaring example. As I've ranted before, plastic bags suck and it's better to bring your own reusable bags when you go shopping. Basic, right? But I have to admit that I forget or ignore my own advice once in a while. There are two main culprits here:

• I accidentally leave my reusable bags at home when I head out to the store
• While I have gotten used to the idea of using my own bags at the grocery store, I still haven't quite accepted the notion of using my own bags at other kinds of retailers

The first culprit is easy to deal with. I now always leave the bags in the car (yes I drive a car sometimes) after I'm finished with them. If I forget to bring the bags into the store, I head right back out and get them. No excuses.

The second culprit is a little more complicated, but I think it boils down to the fact that it's kind of a bold move to whip out your own bag at Macy's or Target. In America, this behavior is still so rare that I sometimes feel a little silly doing it. In all likelihood, the cashier has never encountered someone who brought their own bag and it does tend to raise eyebrows and elicit comments. Usually there are a few moments of confusion as the checker figures out what I want them to do, and I have to explain it again. It's outside of the normal routine and it can slow things down a tiny bit. A conversation might happen, and it often ends with the checker or other people in line complimenting me on my choice. It's a good dialogue and it sets a good example, but honestly I don't really like the attention. I'd prefer to get in and get out with no fuss.

More and more, I'm gritting my teeth and doing what I know is right. My own pride and shyness shouldn't stop me from changing my behavior for the better. Maybe you're not as shy as me and this sort of thing doesn't bother you. But if it does, just remember that you're joining a quiet revolution and other folks like me are taking the bullet right along with you.

The last time I brought my own bag was to a Dollar Store this weekend. The cashier was totally unfazed and it went as easily as if she had used the normal plastic bags. God bless her. Maybe someday it'll always be as easy as that.

Danny at Simply Green has a lovely post about the joys and perils of bringing your own bag, and the many comments are worth reading.

You Better Believe They Recycle That

Tomorrow is Saturday. Yippee! Even better, it’s the first Saturday of the month—and you know what that means—I can finally recycling another month’s worth of plastic and cardboard. Joy! Although my section of Philadelphia has curbside pickup, they only take paper, glass and metal. Center City just got wicked cool single-stream recycling, complete with 1 and 2 plastic. So jealous.

Thank golly, then, for the many volunteers at the Philadelphia Partnership Recycling Program. Once a month at locations around the city, they give up part of their day to gather up the recyclables that the city for some reason does not pick up from our homes. I get a kick (I told you I was a geek) out of driving over to my local site on Saturday morning with a carload of trash that won’t end up in a landfill. And no, my car doesn't stink... much.

No matter where you live, there are many recyclables in your home that aren’t picked up curbside. Think batteries, plastics 3 - 7, motor oil, compact fluorescent bulbs, computers, cleaning agents and on and on and on. Recycling doesn’t stop at paper, glass and aluminum, but you might have to do a little more work to get the job done. Luckily, it is now very easy to find places to recycle your odds and ends. I highly recommend visiting Earth 911 and searching your zip code to find all the collection sites near you. You can find everything from the Radio Shack in your town that takes old batteries to the Advance Auto Parts store that takes used motor oil. Retailers are starting to pick up some recycling slack, so take them up on it. That nasty oil filter isn’t going to recycle itself!

Earth 911
Single Stream Recycling Comes to Center City Philadelphia (Illadelph)
What's Single Stream? (Earth 911)

Your Own Big Blue Bag of Dreams

Maybe you’ve seen the sticker on the frame of some hipster’s fixed-wheel bicycle. PLASTIC BAGS BLOW. Well it’s true. They do blow. Hard. They also suck. I don’t care what the American Chemistry Council says (even if their token-effort recycling site is kind of awesome and you should visit it—grudgingly). Heck, the whole darn city of San Francisco has banned the baggies. The problem is that plastic bags are so ingrained into American retail culture that it’s hard to avoid taking a plastic bag even if you try. I’m not even going to blame cashiers who stuff my pack of gum into a giant bag after I politely decline the sack. I usually don’t have the heart to ask twice. Working a register is a hard, boring job that pays very little. I’ve done that sort of work and it turned me into a zombie for entire 8-hour stretches.

There is hope. Slowly but surely, companies are figuring out that they can save money by encouraging customers to bring their own bags rather than supplying endless millions of them every year. Every grocery store in my area now sells reusable bags at the checkout lines. 99% of shoppers ignore the eco-bags, but it’s a start.

Here’s my tip: bring your own bag to the store! But not just any bag. Bring a whompin’ big blue IKEA bag. Here’s why:

• They cost a mere 59 cents
• Your 59 cents will be donated to American Forests (at least for now)
• These bags are huge and indestructible. If you have the guns, you can haul an entire load of groceries in ONE BAG. If you don’t have the guns, use two bags.
• Other customers will look at you in wonder as the cashier effortlessly fills your giant bag
• Bags can also be used for laundry
• Because I said so

On the downside, you’ll have to make a trip in a car to IKEA. Maybe that’s your thing. I’m not one to judge. Also, you may have doggies and need the bags for poop patrol. Maybe there's another solution? I’ll look into it.

What’s your favorite reusable shopping bag? Eh? Eh?

San Fran Bans Plastic Bags
IKEA Starts Charging for Baggies
IKEA's environmental stance
Reusable Bags