Plastic Pollution Solutions

Plastic is something we are addicted to. It's everywhere. Bags, bottles, cars, shoes, glasses, packaging, electronics, and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, plastic does not biodegrade. And because of this and a specific system of currents, a massive landfill has been created in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. And what comprises most of said landfill? You guessed it- plastic.

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According to this article, the garbage patch is MASSIVE, and almost impossible to view as a whole. But unlike a landfill, the garbage doesn't stay put, and it isn't being regulated because it's not a real damn landfill! That means it's growing. Every. Single. Day. There are a whole host of problems associated with the patch as well.

Source (to see the full size)

Wildlife consumes the plastic, often leading to death. Plastic and other garbage washes up in massive quantities on landmasses all over the globe (sometimes decades old), and because plastic lasts so long, it just breaks down into smaller pieces literally creating plastic sand which also washes up all over the place (source). So what can we do? We can sit an cry about a problem all the live long day, but what do we do when push comes to pollute?

Source (Pictured: Charles Moore, the man who discovered the Patch)

Humans have the capacity for creation and destruction. We all know this. And some very bright minds are working on many solutions to help ween us all off of plastic. Some ideas are very simple. Don't buy plastic! Especially plastic water bottles. Others are less cold turkey. Bioplastics, a relatively new group of materials are slowly being developed and introduced.

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Sometimes, bioplastics are obtained from algae:

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And sometimes from corn, too:

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These materials are more biodegradable than conventional plastics, and they come from renewable resources. But, with any developing technology, there are pros and cons. But that shouldn't stop us from developing a better bioplastic.

But these solutions are just two to a list that might not even be invented yet. There are amny ways to lessen your impact on the environment, and more often than not, being more conservative and conscientious about the environment can actually save you money!

Don't get discouraged, though. The world is riddled with problems like this, but the world is filled with twice as many people looking to solve these problems. So with that said...

Why not be one of them?

The Stigma of Green Cleaning Products

Green cleaning carries with it a dark shadow.

Of course I'm being dramatic, but there's usually a little truth in jest. Many green cleaners are reported not to work as well as normal cleaning products. And this is true. A green cleaner cannot do what bleach or ammonia does, but does it have to? No. You see, there is but one difference between normal, and green cleaning agents:

Time.

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Most people don't have time to clean their home everyday. I know this from experience, trust me. Hell, Budget wouldn't exist if it people had all the time and energy in the world to clean up their abodes. So, typically when someone cleans, the dirt, dust and grime of daily living can build up, and most people don't want to expel the effort to spend extra time cleaning with a green product. And I can understand that! But it's not the product's fault. It's what it's being used for.

 

Look Familiar? Source

Heavy duty cleaners, I'm talkin' the toxic, no nonsense cleansers, usually have no problem cutting through all sorts of nasty stuff. But green products, on the other hand, usually require a little time and elbow grease. And that's where the problem lies. Honestly, it would be best for one to maintain their home regularly with green products, opposed to just deep cleaning their home with them once every few weeks. The convenience of one stop shopping, multi-surface cleaning products is immense. But they come with a price.

So when someone goes to clean up their house with green agents, they might find that the product is working that well. Why? Two reasons. The product could literally be useless. Let's not discount that. Second, green products aren't meant (in my experience) for super tough, caked on, baked on grimy jobs. Sure they'll do the trick if you have the muscle and patience, but most people don't. Hence, they turn to harsh cleansers to do the job more quickly.

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You see, green cleaning products can disinfect. Vinegar, for example, can. Hydrogen peroxide too, but the harsher disinfectants found in more powerful household cleaners which contain monstrous disinfectants that slay bacteria and other undesirables from any surface. But, how much is too much? According to this article, too much disinfectant lead to the creation of "Superbugs" in some hospitals; anti-biotic resistant microbes that resist most forms of conventional treatment.

Evil Superbugs! Source

As we pound these bugs with harsh disinfectants, they start to...fight back.Natural cleaning agents, however,  simply don't pack the punch bleach, or ammonia does. They still clean surfaces and make them safe to use, yes, but they don't obliterate all germ on contact like bleach does. And this isn't a bad thing! We have an immune system for a reason, people! If we are killing all the germs around us, our immune system simply won't encounter and destroy dangerous microbes often enough. And when one does make it in, it is typically a Superbug that can make you super sick. Hell, you don't need a peer reviewed journal to tell you that. It's just common sense.

So don't give up on green cleaners. They work, they really do, and they are safer for your health in the long run. Of course, there are some situations (medical, handling raw meat, bio-hazards, etc) where total disinfection is needed. But around the house, do you really need to wage war with disinfectants, bleach, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals?

Think about it.

Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

Know what fracking is? Here's a definition:  

"Hydraulic fracturing is the propagation of fractures in a rock layer by a pressurized fluid. Some hydraulic fractures form naturally—certain veins or dikes are examples—and can create conduits along which gas and petroleum from source rocks may migrate to reservoir rocks. Induced hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracturing, commonly known as fracing, fraccing, or fracking, is a technique used to release petroleum, natural gas (including shale gas, tight gas, and coal seam gas), or other substances for extraction. This type of fracturing creates fractures from a wellbore drilled into reservoir rock formations." ^(source)

^{Fracking Well (Source)}

^{A dry explanation if I've ever heard one, but informative. Basically, this is the act of forcing water into rock layers underground to force natural gas (among other things) out, so we can use it. There are many schools of thought on this position, but it all gets narrowed down to two sides: For Fracking, and Against Fracking. And as I've been following this issue, these two black and white stances on the issue leave a LOT of grey not covered.}

No trunk? (Source)

^{In case you haven't noticed, the U.S.A. is a little addicted to fossil fuels. Hell, most of the planet is. So until the push for green energy becomes absolute, we have to rely on dirty fuel. The products obtained from fracking can be utilized in a number of ways, and one way in particular that might be of specific interest to people everywhere are vehicles fueled by natural gas. Of course, this same gas that can be obtained via fracking. And like everything, there are pros and cons to using such vehicles.} 

Fuelin' Up (Source)

 
If you look at the article in the last sentence, there are good, solid benefits to nat. gas vehicles. Safer than liquid fuels (in the event of an accident), cleaner than gasoline, cheaper than gasoline. But. There are solid cons as well. The technology needed to build nat. gas vehicles is still new...ish meaning that it costs more to purchase a car outfitted to use nat. gas. Also, one cannot go as far on one tank as compared to gasoline. So at best, this is a band-aid, which leads us right back to fracking.

Is fracking safe?

Shades of grey once again. A month or two back, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper actually drank a little bit of the fluid used in fracking, along with a few other lawmakers. He didn't drop dead thankfully, so it seems like the fluid is safe. But it was never said if the fluid was pre, or post injection into a fracking well. If I had to guess, it was before. Which begs the question, is fracking safe?! The fluid Hickenlooper drank may be benign, containing relatively familiar ingredients, but it's what happens  to the fluid inside the well, and the fluid that comes out of the well when it's all said and done that raises a cause for concern.

Gov. Hickenlooper drinks up (Source)

Radium, barium, and a whole host of other elements was found in extracted fracking fluid. If there is an accident, or the fracking well is not set up properly, this toxic cocktail could leak into nearby groundwater sources, poisoning us all. Also, this fluid must be disposed of properly. Some complain also about earthquakes, or lighting faucets on fire. But some say that both of these claims (including the water quality issue) are greatly exaggerated, or at times, even fabricated!

Propoganda? (Source)

Fracking isn't new. But we need to make sure that we stay safe.

Which brings me to my final point. There are many arguments for fracking. Arguments against, but it seems that in both extremes, there is some severe bias. This website is strongly opposed to fracking. It lists numerous articles, like-minded websites, and so forth. But I didn't notice anything addressing our needs for fossil fuels. Once section of the website simply stated, "we will never run out of fossil fuels."

This website features an article that is pro-fracking, and the article addresses the big positives to the practice. But like its above counterpart, the other side is mocked, rather than addressed. So who do we believe?

Neither.

Know what my opinion is? Do your own research. Read up and get educated. Weigh the pros and cons, and make a decision for yourself.  And know what's great about what I just said? YOU have the will and intelligence to ignore my statements, condone them, or abhor them. So why should the issue of fracking, or any issue be any different?

THIS guy gets it. (Source)

You are a thinking, breathing person. And instead of being for or against fracking, why not try and look for a compromise? Compromise is something that neither of the above websites suggest, but it is usually the best option.

So what do you think? Fracking good? Fracking bad? Or are you somewhere in between? Ah, diversity. I love it so!

Is Green Cleaning Dead?

     All I ever here from companies trying to sell us janitorial products is that no-one is using hazardous chemicals anymore, everyone is going completely green. As far as I can tell, this is a lie. From personal experience, I can say that many customers do not prefer a complete green cleaning. Most of our customers are fine with a hybrid of both green and non-green products, and I've also noticed that a lot of green-friendly commercial cleaning products have been disappearing from the market. But this turned out to be false. Doing a basic search, I found numerous companies selling green products, but they are not well advertised. Many of them I have never heard of, and so. I thought they didn't exist. What else am I supposed to think? I was reading this article: Is Green Still Growing? and it states that everyone was rarin' to go a few years ago when it came to more Eco-friendly cleaning solutions. But now? With the current economy, many people aren't interested. Some companies charge more for green cleaning because of all the extra time involved, and that additional cost is what cripples companies that are wholly green.
     People are also becoming more conscious of their pets. I can't tell you how many green cleaning products I have seen that is geared towards pet messes. Here's an article: Green Pets. Which I find kind of funny. Don't get me wrong- I am all for green cleaning, healthier pets, people, and the environment, but the sheer concept of it when you break it down is sort of ludicrous. People are wary of their pets when it comes to what products we may use on their floor, but when we offer an all green solution, they are...underwhelmed. When we tell them that our green products disinfect work well, but ultimately cannot cut through mildew or soapscum, some customers lose interest right away. The same customers that were so involved with their pets' well being that they are allowing very powerful cleaning agents into a vulnerable area- the bathroom. Which brings me to the next point.
     Do people even care about green cleaning anymore? I'm not sure. This article even asked the question for me: Green Cleaning - Do We Care? They state that there are many green products out there. Hundreds. And a lot of the them claim all sorts of things, like being earth friendly, and biodegradable. And a lot of these products are. The ones we use are, we checked on it. But when green cleaning came into focus, a lot of companies tried to jump on the bandwagon with less than honest chemical solutions that were far from green. This practice is called greenwashing, and it's more common than you think. So common, that many people consume green products without any research, or knowledge about the environment, meaning that they wouldn't know if they were being duped or not! A survey conducted at this website states that many people consuming green products had NO concern of the environment at all, let alone knowing anything about environmental issues. A large percentage of the people surveyed said that Carbon Dioxide depleted the ozone layer.
     What a perfect segway into my last point. If people do care about green cleaning, it's a specific group of people, rather limited perhaps. I could be exaggerating, but maybe I'm not. I have, however, noticed an influx of people doing DIY green products. Limited batch, small amount, and for personal use. Here's a perfect example: Cleaning Product Recipes. If you noticed, these small batch green cleaning products also have scents added to them to make them more appealing to the nose. Strong fragrances are added to many cleaning products, and the matter of the fact is, green cleaning dosen't smell clean. Your house won't reek of course, but there is no telltale whiff of bleach, or powerful lemon scent. Pine. So, we would get complaints when we would clean only with green products. From the customers that wanted us to use nothing but green products. And it's not their fault, they didn't know. So we use a hybrid system of both.
     So. Back to square one. Is green cleaning dead? I don't know. To be honest, there are such mixed opinions about the issue that I don't know where to fall. I've found that companies should at the very least offer green cleaning. They don't have to be 100% green, but that doesn't mean they lose their conscience about their impact on the environment. Being more conscientious about our affect on the planet often requires more effort. And there are many people that might not be ready for that commitment. Like most things in life, it's silly to pick on side over the other blindly. It's best to research, observe, and understand both sides, and then make an informed decision to find out where you stand. As with most things in life, compromise is often best. And maybe, just maybe, it's best to ease into something new, opposed to just blindly opposing or standing up for it. If you're all for green cleaning, great. If you're not, that's fine too! Just make sure that whatever position you take, you've made an informed decision.

Disturbing Environmental News

     Earth is a point of supreme controversy. I post articles about it on my Twitter account all the time. Think about it, it really is. Some believe in climate change, some are bound by facts to believe in climate change, some deny it, some look at the facts as propaganda, you name it. Humans will disagree about anything just to prove each other right or wrong. There is no real winner here. Treating the planet better should be the main objective, not proving anything anymore. People that arent' interested in helping the environment won't. Period. Facts won't convince them. Screaming won't convince them, threats, you name it. Instead of focusing on who's right and who's wrong, why not just help the environment if you believe in helping it? Don't waste your time trying to prove others right, others wrong, no. Just...do. When an oil spill can do this:

     Why are we debating over who's at fault? Just clean the damn bird, worry about the politics later. The more action we take, the more answers we get, and eventually those responsible will be brought to justice. When climate change can do this:

     Why are we debating if it's true or not? Rally the people that do care, and get something done. One voice is pointless in a big crowd, but when you spread the word, and entire crowd and all start saying the same thing. When logging companies do this:

     Why are we wasting time blaming and crying outrage? PLANT and stop them. Complaining does nothing, doing does...well everything. I help the planet every day. Everyday. I recycle a lot more than I ever have, I am more mindful of the plastics that I use, I conserve fuel and I have a hybrid car, I use phosphate free soaps and green seal cleaning products, I shut off lights, I pick up litter, blah blah BLAH. Every one of you can do something. Simple, stupid little things that don't mean much if only one person is doing it, but imagine the power of 1,000 people following suit. 10,000. 1,000,000. 1,000,000,000? Doing the right thing can be scary, or even difficult, but once someone starts it becomes contagious. Why don't you try spreading the bug? Think about it.

Bird in Oil spill picture obtained from here.

Polar Bear picture obtained from here.

Deforestation picture obtained from here.

Easy Ways to Help a Hurtin' Environment

Well, I just learned something absolutely terrifying. If you...didn't read my title. We all know that global warming is a big problem. Not a backburner kinda thing, no way. Well, thanks to this article: New Shipping Lanes in the Arctic the already BAD problem in Antarctica is getting worse due to new trade routes opening up because of ice melting. And that's only the half of it (check out the link, it's an interesting article). Is it really that hard to be more environmentally conscious? Is it really? No.

Small steps are easy. Here at Budget, we started recycling all of our paper office waste, like envelopes, copy paper, scrap paper, everything. One change right there. I don't have to tell you. Working in an office? There's a LOT of paper, and we're trying to recycle all of it. It's a simple way to help conserve our forests. Say what you want about deforestation, we get paper from trees and we have to be more careful about it. Period.

 

If you have a dishwasher, another simple step you can take it simply turn off the faucet in-between placing a rinsed dish in the dishwasher and getting another dirty one ready. I do this, and you wouldn't believe how much water you can save. You wouldn't really think of it that way, would you? Maybe you're skeptical. Well, the next time you do dishes, listen to the white noise of the faucet. Every second is precious freshwater wasted. We need that stuff to LIVE. Why not conserve it? It really is not that hard. Take short showers. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Drink all the water you take from the faucet. If you MUST throw the water out, throw it outside where it can be used by plants. Simple things mean a lot if everyone is doing it.

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Another big pet peeve is littering. I mean, come on. Really? Are we really littering in this day and age? When I go to a park, I see beer cans floating in the lake. When I walk outside, I see fast food wrappers strewn on the side of the road. I've even had litter dumped on my driveway from careless passersby. Are you really that lazy? If you are, I have some tips for you, then. If you have a lot of junk in your car, pull alongside your dumpster or trashcan and walk a total of 3 feet to dump out your cartrash quickly. It's easy. You have an ashtray in your car, don't you? STOP throwing out cigarette butts. They can start fires, and they are LOADED with hazardous chemicals that go into the ground. Get an empty soda can with some water in the bottom of it. Place it in your car. BOOM! Instant ashtray. Cut it open when you're done, dump out the junk into a bin, and recycle the can. See? It's not hard, I swear.
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PHew! Back to the main point. The whole reason why I went on this tangent was simply to show you that it's easy to start being environmentally conscious. These small steps might lead to something more. Something like, gee, I don't know. Not pumping more ozone boosting bi-products into the Antarctic air because humans are ruthless opportunists? Think about it.

Recycling Paper bin picture obtained from this site.

Dishwasher picture obtained from this site.
Virgina's Anti-littering Poster obtained from this site.
Polar Bear picture obtained from this site.