Category Archives: Green Waste

Recycling and Climate Change…8th June 2020…

28 Replies

Hello and welcome to this weeks edition of recycling and climate change news from around the world. ..many countries are relaxing their quarantines and already some are seeing an increase in new cases and in light of recent developments around the world I am guessing it is not over yet…

But let’s not dwell on what we have no control over and look at the good things happening and the things we can control in our daily lives…

Many sources are reporting that because of the lockdowns that there is less food waste which is good news…However, there are still many people who struggle to put food on the table and The National Food Service which operates in the Uk aims to change all that and also improve the health of the nation.

“Eating together is probably the most important way we build friendships. So a National Food Service would do more for our collective happiness and wellbeing, not to mention our health, than anything else we might think of doing.” – Robin Dunbar, Evolutionary Psychologist at the University of Oxford. Discoverer of the Dunbar number.

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I think this is a great idea and it brings together community, friendships and ideas moving forward which is all good…

Coronavirus has delayed climate talks by a year. But the planet doesn’t have extra time, so action on global warming cannot be postponed.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01621-0

It seems to me that some kids have more common sense and dignity than some ADULTS…Well done lad…

What a sensible boy…I’m sure his parents must be proud of him…

Isn’t the world a wonderful place? It is a fact that although man has occupied the world for a long time certain phenomenon still baffles scientists…

https://www.npr.org/2020/05/22/858800112/herd-like-movement-of-fuzzy-green-glacier-mice-baffles-scientists

Offshore floating wind farms are they a thing of the future a way to harness power from the waves, wind and solar power?

Interesting…

Plastic is the scourge of the seas, beaches and landfill much of it cannot be recycled in the normal way…That could all be changed by 2024/25…

This could solve a lot of problems for the world…isn’t science great…?

Plastic is a huge problem in Asia and especially here in Thailand…Where I live most of the shops provide paper bags and use banana leaves and sugar cane as packaging.

This is how my local shops package the vegetables …

Now bamboo is being utilised as cutlery and straws and now plates and cups…Bamboo grows so quickly you can watch it grow…

This article tells about another project which is replacing crockery with bamboo plates and cups a great step forward using a natural product…

Bamboo is even used to package essential oils and other cosmetics..

It makes me very happy to see natural resources used for packaging here…Thais seem to be wholly embracing this practice from a tiny stall to big stores…

That’s all for this week…we are in our rainy season now so hot steamy days and stormy nights so everything is growing super quick…including the bamboo…x

Thank you for reading be well and stay safe xxx

About Carol Taylor: Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all stay safe and healthy xx

Recycling and Climate Change…4th May 2020…and Covid-19…

15 Replies

A new month already nearly half a year gone…A few months of sadness and grief for many but for all of us unprecedented times and restrictions which many of us haven’t experienced in our lifetimes…

I am coping...worried about my family overseas I find it a struggle sometimes to write and even contemplated not writing/blogging last week and then I received a beautiful comment which made me cry…It cheered me on…Thank you…you know who you are…

I have spent more time in the kitchen...just because…my creative streak was waning as my waistline spread…I was eating all the pies…sigh…watching far too much Netflix…dreaming of a Cadburys CHOCOLATE BAR…says she who doesn’t eat chocolate…

Then the boxes of mangoes and bananas arrived at my gate…I shared some bananas with my neighbours who then gave me more mangoes…My son on his shopping trip told me about the queue for free food …someone was giving out free food, masks, handwash and checking temperatures…He said social distancing was being observed and everyone was masked up and waiting patiently…It puts it into perspective really doesn’t it?… I need to stop wallowing and count my blessings…Buck my ideas up…

Let’s have a look at the good things I can find…

Nature is showing us that we are only tenants in this world…That without us the animals will return…we need to learn big lessons from this in so many ways…I hope the people will remember, speak out and cast their votes wisely…

Food waste…I have always thought I have been a good model and wasted little ..I hold my hands up I could waste far less and be more frugal not mean just aware of more…

While I think many are being more frugal and mindful at home what about the bigger picture?

Food waste is increasing…What can we do?

Food Hubs could be the solution we are looking for…I think this is a brilliant idea which has taken off really quickly…In fact, it took only 11 days to survey farmers and pantries throughout the region about what they were facing, establish a plan to raise money to pay farmers to supply pantries and bring on partners.

Food Hubs have happened with GROUNDWORK…

What else can you do?

You can eat sustainably, cook sustainably, dine out sustainably…How to do that…You can take action by clicking this link…

Recycling…These are cool…I love the extension lead idea…The clutch bag so clever…

Lots of brilliant ideas!

Masks…most of us now are wearing a mask at some point when shopping or out walking …This N95 scarf filters the air around you and they are washable…

Also on the Good News Network...I found this…Air Pollution in Major World Cities Has Dropped By as Much as 60% During COVID Shutdowns, Says New Report. It also reports how the Earths Ozone layer is repairing itself…

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https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/air-pollution-in-world-cities-drops-by-60-percent/

Even though we are in trying times and often very sad times there are lots of changes for the good and we are becoming more aware…I know I am… as to how quickly this world is repairing itself…

My hope for the future is a cleaner world… I do want to see communities, and caring for your neighbour becoming the new norm…WORKING TOGETHER INSTEAD OF WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER…

Thank you for reading be well and stay safe xxx

About Carol Taylor: Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all stay safe and healthy xx

 

 

Recycling and Climate Change…16th March 2020…App in the Air…

23 Replies

Hello and welcome to this weeks edition of the latest news on Climate Change and recycling…Thank you so much to everyone who reblogged and commented last week…Your comments are valuable to me and even when I am feeling a little down they brighten my day…It is lovely to see how many of you are doing what you can to recycle, buy local, grow your own very heartening…

vegetables-2299716_1280

 

It was also lovely that so many of you were both surprised and pleased to see the video of Maggie Thatcher,  her commitment and call to arms all those years ago… she still inspires…Great lady…

I know many you are being affected by Covid-19 I hope you and your families keep safe and well…if you are self-isolating it gives you time to read, write and reflect as I am sure this is foremost in most peoples thoughts…

But the world carries on and food waste is still much higher than it should be … watching a programme on the FOOD waste I was appalled at the amount of waste still coming from the stores and manufacturers…

When people…Children are starving this should not be happening so please lobby your stores either in person, by writing or your local government official flood his/her inbox…Food still within its sell-by date nothing wrong with it…should not be thrown in the trash…it could be given to food banks, churches a number of organisations…No excuse for it!

How did they react to the programme-makers…Not by talking to them and certainly not by cutting waste but by locking the bins fencing the bins in cages…It still exists and nought is being done so come on mum and dads army show your commitment to food waste…while you are under quarantine and if you are feeling well take your mind off Covid-19 as those children are still starving…

Wow!… This makes me hopeful for the future…

Air Travel…There has been much in the news about the impact of flying and many high profile people have been named and shamed…unfairly I think in some cases…

Life and work goes on...sometimes other methods of travel are not available or due to time constraints or cost unreasonable…Tori found this app which allows you to offset your flight and compensate by planting trees…It is called App in the Air which has integrated a carbon-offsetting widget within the app, which can give travellers an estimate on how their travelling can affect their carbon footprint based on a “carbon calculator”.
Travellers that offset their carbon footprint the most receive a
Carbon Neutral Traveler badge.

That should please the against air travel activists…

Tori also alerted me to the fact that Wales has plans for a national forest running the length and breadth of Wales have been launched by the first minister.

Mark Drakeford said the scheme – which includes £15m of woodland creation grants – would help protect nature and boost tourism.

nature-forest-trees-path-3

The idea is that people would be able to walk the entire length of the forest, from one end of the country to the other, drawing inspiration from the Wales Coast Path which attracts millions of visitors a year.

That is a massive project but sometimes you have to think big as the world is a big place and I think we need to be upping the ante…Thank you for these Tori xxx

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-51837146

New York recycles less than 20 per cent of the 3.1 million tons of garbage that its residents produce each year, a number well below other major cities. But as of March 12th plans to propose the New Yorkers have to mandatorily compost are being put forward…Will it go ahead?

Something has to happen with that track record…maybe restaurants there should adopt the Singaporean A1…

City Officials also want attractive trash cans and for business have more storage inside their premises and not litter the sidewalks as is now the case…Time will tell I guess…

The Naughty Corner!

According to The Recycling Association...Pringles and Lucozade are the villains.

With its metal base, plastic cap, metal tear-off lid, and foil-lined cardboard sleeve – Pringles’ combination of materials makes the packaging harder to separate and were described in the report as a “nightmare”.

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The Lucozade’s bottle is recyclable but, again, its combination of materials featuring a sleeve made from a different kind of plastic makes recycling hard.

Having read their comments the manufacturers are not trying very hard to change their packaging…my response neither product is healthy so don’t buy them…

On a happier note …All you ice cream lovers…Magnum launched tubs made from recycled polypropylene plastic packaging …said to be a first in the ice cream industry…

Up to 600,000 tubs are now available across Europe, with millions more to roll out globally.

The move is part of Unilever’s wider global commitment to ensure that at least 25% of its plastic packaging will come from post-consumer recycled content by 2025.

Julien Barraux, vice president Magnum, said: “We are proud to be one of the world’s first food brands to pioneer this ground-breaking technology.”

The tubs are available in Belgium, Spain and The Netherlands, with over three million more due to be launched globally in 2020.

That’s good news...Well done Magnum…aka Unilever…

Thank you if you are still here and reading to the end…I look forward to your comments xx

About Carol Taylor: Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great week xx

 

 

Recycling and Climate Change…17th February 2020…Good news and the top 3 polluters…

16 Replies

Hello and welcome to this weeks news and views on Climate Change and recycling…Thank you for all your comments last week it was lovely to have that two-way discussion going…Thank you also to all of you who shared the post and spread the news and views. It seems many of you loved the video on the Sai Sanctuary as much as I did …Trees really do play such an important role in the circle of life…

There have been a few things this last week which have really made me question things…Generally, I am a happy soul and try to keep my posts positive but circumstances are making that very hard…I don’t know why or when as a society it has happened but it has and is happening…I want to believe in the good and the kind…But all these reminders telling us to be kind really shouldn’t be needed…Should they?

I look back through history …I love my research …I have come to the conclusion that man is flawed…I know nothing is perfect and who would want to live in Eutopia? I agree we must progress and grow and that most progression is good… we need inventors…But in that race we are losing something…Something fundamental…

Trees so vital to this planet and its water supply…Flowers so vital for the survival of the bees, Plastic…Plastic…sigh…I have accepted it is an essential part of our lives…What isn’t acceptable is how we deal with the end of its use…

I am terrible at taking photos…But A good photographer to me is our eyes …They show us what is going on in the world…There is an old saying that the camera doesn’t lie…Well, that was true before photoshopping…I am afraid we need to check everything…So much is photoshopped, edited, that we do need to check…No longer can we rely on what we see or hear to be gospel ..the truth…sigh…

I check everything before I post...well as much as I can…I tend to believe the indigenous communities who suffer the most from our actions…sigh…But we can’t see them can we…sigh…We throw our rubbish away during the course of our daily life … a cigarette butt, our small plastic drink bottle, our plastic coffee stirrer, our chewing gum, our six-pack plastic holder, the wrapper from a fag packet…sigh …all these small items add up…Where do you think they end up?

Photographer Caroline Power has a home on the island of Roatan in the Carribean and was out at sea when she came across this “Great Caribbean Garbage Patch”.

In my naughty Corner(again)

When will this stop!

Not only are Coca Cola, Nestle and Pepsico polluting our oceans and killing sea life but they are contributing to obesity and life-threatening conditions...Sigh.Are they worried? Do they care? Of course not…They are laughing all the way to the bank…

There is one easy solution…Improve your health and clean up the planet in one small swoop…STOP…BUYING…DRINKS IN PLASTIC BOTTLES…

Who will do that?

It is a global problem…Our oceans are suffocating…The good news…

How cool is that? Rubber ducks?

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This is where Interceptor is working already, Jakarta…The good news is spreading…Thailand will be having one which is good news…

Happy Days…Clean rivers and seas…

I came across this…I am asking all you Beekeepers …What do you think?

Do bees love Cannabis?

I refuse plastic spoons and cutlery now and have done for a while but if you have a hoard of them or know someone who does here’s what you can do with them…

These are very pretty and a good use for plastic spoons…

I love all the interactions on these posts it makes me feel good and keeps me positive that we are working towards a cleaner, safer earth… especially when my readers send me little snippets of good news when they come across it …Victoria Zigler sends me lots of good news items and this is one of them…

What do you think? My little alarm bell is tinkling…I always want to know more…Is it a safe option?… It could be but to me, it doesn’t hurt to have questions …

Apeel Sciences

It sounds good…

So does this…Thank you, Tori...You are a little star …xxx

As most of you know we don’t have a car we walk or use public transport which I do acknowledge is excellent here…This idea rewards people for doing that with culture tokens how cool is that? I do hope it succeeds…It is a pilot scheme being run in Vienna (Austria) …The city of culture…

 

How cool is this….Go Vienna!

My dear friend Anne Copeland had this to say…

This seems right up your alley if you have not already seen it.  By the way, more info on fabrics and recycling.  Many fabrics are processed with formaldehyde and you can imagine that it NEVER breaks down.  The fabrics in the late 1900s (before 2020) particularly used this treatment.  So it is very bad not to try to recycle every bit of clothing we have.  I wish seniors in high school and young people in jr. college and in universities would be encouraged to find ways to use these materials.  And we are always talking about housing for the homeless, but nothing is ever come up with.  We could probably use some of the materials that are not currently used wisely to create new forms of housing, furniture, etc. with the proper treatment.  They are beginning to use the shipping containers, so why not some of these other things?  Hopefully, more focus on recycling will come.  It is affecting our food sources as well as the overall environment and our health, to name a few, too much not to take notice.  Good for you for championing the cause.

Thank you, Anne, for sharing… you know so much more about fabrics than I do…I will keep my eyes out for the Discovery Channels new article on plastics…Due out in April this year…Bless you xx

Finally…Thank you for sticking with me….I love the Kelly Clarkson Show and I can download it here…I watch the Voice( I love) it and this show I just love how it promotes ideas and encourages ideas on how we can protect the environment and get healthy…This video made me cry… so beautiful …So grab the tissues…xx

Thank you, John Rieber, for your kind words last week…Alex is doing a great job with this show x

Just imagine if we all thought of just one idea which appeals to us…Think of all those bottles we are saving from going to landfill or into the sea…..With so many ideas and enthusiasm around the world to make a difference, we will save the world.

Thank you if you are still here and reading to the end…I look forward to your comments xx

About Carol Taylor: Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great week xx

Recycling and Climate Change…The Good News…

44 Replies

I love that around the world much is going on to minimise rubbish and clean up the world …I do think we all need to take part though and learn just how and what can be recycled as many things are made from a mixture of various types of plastics which then means they need specialist recycling. I am much more aware when I buy something now as to its composition so that in the event it will need recycling at some stage I know where and how…or even if it can be recycled. Are you?

A heart map held by a hand

 

I have decided that in the run up to Christmas and with all the election news and impeachments etc etc…Mondays will be a good news day…

As Christmas is coming I thought that I should turn our thoughts to batteries as there will be many of these sold and thrown away…

Batteries contain several poisonous chemicals and heavy metals and their dumping has attracted environmental concerns due to contamination of water and soil. As such, batteries need recycling to comply with environmental and health benefits.

Happy Hour… 

Happy Hour is traditionally something which denotes bars and drinking on holiday who doesn’t gravitate towards the bars where the cocktails are half price between 4pm and 7 pm???

If you live in Finland however…Supermarkets have taken a step forward and have a happy  hour each day where perishable products are sold cheaper with aim of cutting food waste…What a brilliant idea as not only does it help people on limited budgets but cuts waste food…It is a win-win situation all round…

A brilliant idea which could be adopted around the world…

Who doesn’t love fish? Not so fish guts…well unless you live Asia where products like Phla are made and used in cookery…Not something everyone likes…including moi…

But this enterprising young lady who was a student at the University of Sussex held her nose and developed a plastic-like material made from scales and skin. Not only is it made from waste, but it’s also biodegradable.

Using solar power is on the increase and what better way than to harness energy by natural means…

 

This new hybrid device also uses solar energy…

https://world-news-monitor.com/business/energy/renewables/2019/11/21/new-hybrid-device-can-both-capture-and-store-solar-energy-device-offers-a-new-avenue-for-capitalizing-on-abundant-solar-energy/

So many good new ideas and I think a far better and faster way to help the environment than relying on banning gas-guzzling means of transport…People don’t always react well to being told to stop doing/using this now scenario…But do react much better to ways of using what is created…Like the young lady with the fish guts what she said made sense…

I read an article the other day and when I started reading it I was mentally preempting what would come next and I was correct it was all about not eating beef, lamb, pork, chicken, fish because of the methane and other environmental harm they are perceived to cause…No mention of course of power plants and factories…It didn’t stop there…Bananas, almonds, butter were also on the list ..When telling my son he mentioned the V-word immediately…as being the author…

Of course, we should be looking at the carbon footprint of the goods we buy and buy local and in season…

But we should be praising and encouraging all these good ideas which are harnessing what we have already and benefitting the environment.

Here in Thailand, the quest to stop using single-use plastic bags by January 2020 is in full swing…

137 branches of 7 Eleven across Thailand will stop providing plastic bags from Monday as part of a trial before a nationwide ban comes into force at the start of 2020. The Nation reports that the step is being taken in support of a government policy to reducing the use of single-use plastic.

137 branches out of 10,300 stores in Thailand isn’t many, but it’s a start. Considering how many bags are used on a daily basis I am impressed at how quickly this ban is being taken forward…no if’s and but’s just do it is the message…

 

Finally…22 great inventions and products…..saving the earth seems to be in full swing…

 

Lots of good news today…Please share your good news stories we would love to hear them…xx

About Carol Taylor:

Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

The environment is also something I am passionate about and there are now regular columns on my blog this year. It is important that we are mindful of the world we live in…We all need to be aware of our own homes carbon footprints…where does our food come from? How far does it travel…Simple to do but if we all did it…Not only would we support local businesses but reduce our carbon footprint…

green foot prints eco system

 

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a creative week ahead xx

Latest recycling and environmental news…14th October 2019…

11 Replies

Every day there is something in the news about plastic waste, the environment or Climate change…I believe that much is done by individuals and local groups …Governments …I don’t know lots of talk goes on but is there enough action and is there an urgency…?

One thing I have noticed is that there are many females who are quite vocal and proactive not so many males…Is it me or are the male of the species more interested in finding solutions rather than speaking out publicly?

We all know that big corporations and corrupt governments are at the heart of many environmental disasters…I was however shocked at the number of deaths…

The Philippines is the ‘deadliest’ country for environmental, land activists.

Two in every 10 deaths that Global Witness watchdog group recorded last year took place in the Philippines….Now that is scary …Killed for defending their land or environmental encroachment…

I think it just shows the depth of corruption and greed… The sad fact is that there are many around the world who will stop at nothing to get what they want… 

Look at these 5 great green inventions…

Did you know?

Fabric softeners are packed with toxins and chemicals. Who hasn’t sniffed a clean item of clothing well most fabric softeners contain a cocktail of toxic chemicals…No surprise there then…Think Johnsons Baby Products…

The list doesn’t make good reading...Chloroform, A-Terpineol,Benzyl Alcohol,Benzyl Acetate,Ethanol,Pentane ,and many more products and chemicals which are on  the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list and linked to CNS disorders…which are easily absorbed through body tissue…

What I find most scary is the fact that manufacturers are aware that the products contain toxic chemicals. The packaging on many brands include a warning that the product should not be used on children’s sleepwear. Since some of the same brands also have large images of children and toys, however, consumers may miss the small print message.

So what is the alternative?

washing blowing on lineFabrics air dried outside on a line do not develop static cling and are more likely to have a natural pleasant smell. If weather or other factors make natural line drying of your clothes an impractical choice, try using more other natural means to eliminate static cling and impart a fresh smell to your laundry.

If possible, install a water softener. You can also eliminate many clothing odors by thoroughly dissolving a cup of baking soda in the water before putting your clothes in the washing machine.

Unfortunately, most people don’t think of making their own softener.

Use vinegar? It eliminates soap residue and minimizes static reduction. Potassium and sodium soften hard water. That’s pretty much everything you need to know before you make your own softener.

Vinegar is made in the second fermentation of dilute distilled alcohol from grain or starches (rice, barley, corn and potatoes). It has a lower acidity when compared to apple cider vinegar.

You will need some quality vinegar, 30 drops of essential oil and a clean bottle. All you have to do is combine the ingredients in a bottle, and shake.

How to use it?

Always dilute your homemade fabric softener. You need a quarter cup of softener and ¾ cup of water. Add the softener in the final rinse cycle. How easy is that?

For more info https://realfarmacy.com/fabric-softener/

If you are like me it does seem that every which way we turn we have so many health contaminants in our homes. I am sure if I went through every room in my home item for item I would not have very much left…

Last week, Coca-Cola unveiled a PET bottle with 25% ocean plastic, the product of the company’s collaboration with a chemical recycling startup. About 300 sample bottles were produced.

Image by Bruno Glätsch from Pixabay

The marine plastics were recovered from the environment via a couple different avenues: Volunteers collected the material during 84 beach cleanups in Spain and Portugal, and fishermen brought floating plastic back to 12 Mediterranean ports.

Read the full story here:

Climate Change is also in all the news as Extinction Rebellion is carrying out its protests around the globe…This video discusses the groups aims and the video which follows is Question Time…Some of the policies I agree with others I do not… Many are saying how nice the police have been and yet I saw policeman doing their job..standing in line and being goaded by a man old enough to know better and that was not pleasant to watch…In fact I was appalled and incidents like that as discussed on Question Time will lose them valued supporters…

What are your thoughts? All comments valued this blog is open to a civilised discussion.

That is all from me for this week I look forward to your comments…How are you reducing your families carbon footprints?

About Carol Taylor:

Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

The environment is also something I am passionate about and there are now regular columns on my blog this year. It is important that we are mindful of the world we live in…We all need to be aware of our homes carbon footprints…where does our food come from? How far does it travel…Simple to do but if we all did it…Not only would we support local businesses but reduce our carbon footprint…

green foot prints eco system

 

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a creative week ahead xx