In honor of Earth Day this year, I’m going to begin a series of posts on Things We Don’t Have to Throw Away.

Used to be, people didn’t throw away much. Honestly, Middens (ancient trash heaps) contain small animal bones, tiny bits of broken pottery, and a carbon layer that was originally spoiled food and fire ashes. That’s all that was thrown away! Everything else was used, fixed, reused, fixed again and again, re-purposed, and on and on. Even hundred years ago, people didn’t throw much away. City dumps contained coal ashes, dead horses, and spoiled food.

What do we throw away today? Everything! That couch that we no longer like the fabric, last year’s clothes, newspapers, knick-knacks, broken toys, old appliances. The list goes on and on.
Giving stuff to charity and recycling helps a lot.
But even the most conscientious of us take throwing away thing for granted.

So here’s my “outside the box” list of things we don’t really need to throw away (click on name to read about alternatives!):

Disposable Razors–the item that started the throw away craze!
Paper Towels
Plastic Bags
Home Office Paper
Cotton Swabs
Coffee Filters and Disposable Cups
Facial Tissues
Disposable Toothbrushes
Water Bottles
Feminine Products

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