Passing rain storm but we need much more.
Did you know that May was National Vinegar Month? I didn't until a few days ago. (just curious who thinks up these things) But it is and it is time for spring cleaning of course, and green cleaning at that. But what makes it such a good cleaner?
Well it's because vinegar is an acid (french word for sour wine) and it magically dissolves minerals, which is a lot of dirt, including what's on windows. Vinegar and newspaper are still the first choice for cleaning windows in the UK. How we got on this ammonia kick I'll never know. Vinegar, combined with some other products, really will clean 99% of what you need to do. This is a wonderfully comprehensive site for all your cleaning needs, and more information about vinegar. (be careful, it will give you ideas you might not want to know about) Who needs all those fancy high specialty cleaners anyway?
The Vinegar Institute
So where does vinegar come from? Vinegar can be made from a whole host of things. Basically anything that can sour - from apples to grapes to rice to barley. For cooking you have all these wonderful options like Red Wine Vinegar, and Balsamic and Rice Wine Vinegar. You can flavor your own by adding herbs and garlic. For cleaning, it is best to stick to white distilled vinegar which is mostly made form malt barley.
Vinegar is suppose to be good for you too. Many medical claims are associated with vinegar.
Sounds like something so simple is a little miraculous. Well it is. Since it is National Vinegar Month I suppose exploring all the virtues of vinegar is in order. I'm looking forward to it.
Showing posts with label Mayor tax on plastic bags. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mayor tax on plastic bags. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Bloomberg wants to Tax Plastic Bags - Yes!
Finally seasonably cold, cloudy but clear.
What a great idea. Plastic bags are one of those ridiculous modern conveniences that has made a mess of our environment. From processing to their long drawn out end (plastic can be around for a thousand years minimum) they could easily be the worst useless polluter of modern people.
Okay, so New York City Mayor Bloomberg is desperate to raise money for his city and he thinks a 5 cent tax on plastic bags will cough up an easy 16 million, but if it means fewer bags, I'm all for it. Any money initially raised would probably dwindle as it has in other taxed cities but I say take it and run into a cleaner environment.
New Yorkers waste an estimated 1 billion bags annually which is equivalent to about 120,000 barrels of oil. (that's barrels not gallons) Since only 1-5% of the bags get recycled, disposing of them becomes a huge issue. Many unfortunately end up in our oceans, polluting our marine life and killing birds.
While I was recently in Italy, walking along the cliffs of the beautiful western coast, I looked down and my serenity was interrupted by a bag floating in the water. The moment was ruined for me. I wondered who would have let that happen. Why didn't they retrieve it? Is anyone going to get it now? (I couldn't get down to it, I really was on a cliff) How long before a bird pecks away at it? It happened again later on the trail. It made me sad to think that plastic is so apart of every one's world.
Now in Florence, a plastic bag will cost you 30 Euro, about 45 cents. I am not sure if it is a tax or city mandated but either way, my daughter and her friends are sure to bring their cloth bags when they go shopping. And they are none too happy when they forget them.
I won't go into all the plastic bag facts here but they are staggering, try the link if you dare. And because of the facts, I applaud Mayor Bloomberg for wanting to encourage people to reduce their waste of plastic bags, however method he suggests and for whatever reason.
You go Michael!
What a great idea. Plastic bags are one of those ridiculous modern conveniences that has made a mess of our environment. From processing to their long drawn out end (plastic can be around for a thousand years minimum) they could easily be the worst useless polluter of modern people.
Okay, so New York City Mayor Bloomberg is desperate to raise money for his city and he thinks a 5 cent tax on plastic bags will cough up an easy 16 million, but if it means fewer bags, I'm all for it. Any money initially raised would probably dwindle as it has in other taxed cities but I say take it and run into a cleaner environment.
New Yorkers waste an estimated 1 billion bags annually which is equivalent to about 120,000 barrels of oil. (that's barrels not gallons) Since only 1-5% of the bags get recycled, disposing of them becomes a huge issue. Many unfortunately end up in our oceans, polluting our marine life and killing birds.
While I was recently in Italy, walking along the cliffs of the beautiful western coast, I looked down and my serenity was interrupted by a bag floating in the water. The moment was ruined for me. I wondered who would have let that happen. Why didn't they retrieve it? Is anyone going to get it now? (I couldn't get down to it, I really was on a cliff) How long before a bird pecks away at it? It happened again later on the trail. It made me sad to think that plastic is so apart of every one's world.
Now in Florence, a plastic bag will cost you 30 Euro, about 45 cents. I am not sure if it is a tax or city mandated but either way, my daughter and her friends are sure to bring their cloth bags when they go shopping. And they are none too happy when they forget them.
I won't go into all the plastic bag facts here but they are staggering, try the link if you dare. And because of the facts, I applaud Mayor Bloomberg for wanting to encourage people to reduce their waste of plastic bags, however method he suggests and for whatever reason.
You go Michael!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)