How about recycling some plastic at home? (#2 HDPE)

So, have you been looking for a new project to tackle/melt?

[I've not had a lot of time for projects lately, but I have run across something I really want to try, and it's definitely a mesquite huggery thing.]

Recycling, it's been a bummer this year.

The writing has been all over the wall. We've pushed way past peak recycling. The problem? We create garbage far beyond our ability to recycle it. More and more recycling facilities are shutting down or turning away the garbage we send to recycle. In that whole Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle mantra, we've focused way too much on just Recycle.

What's a Mesquite Hugger to do? (Focus on Reducing and Re-using, you dummy!)

Recently, I learned of a way to do some plastic recycling at home: recycle #2 plastic at home! (And use it on some DIY projects I've been wanting to tackle.)

Longer, More Detailed HDPE Recycling with Slingshots!

Shorter, Easier Version with a Blender!

While most recycling is a bigger process than you can (practically) tackle at home, it appears that high density polyethylene is something you can tackle with a toaster oven, a blender, some baking paper, and some shop scraps.

Examples of recycled HDPE lawn furniture

If you've seen recycle-plastic lawn furniture and playground equipment, it's more than likely HDPE, so why not make your own recycled lumber and build whatever you want?

My brain has been swimming (maybe dog-paddling) with things I can build with recycled HDPE stuff. Imagine being able to make your own waterproof building blocks for all kinds of stuff. I've even been eyeing all the #2 recycling around me. Who knew bottle lids and laundry detergent bottles came in such great colors? When I get the cargo bike built, it's gonna need some rear decks...

What are you gonna build?

For the really ambitious among you, this could turn into something big - imagine siding a house (or maybe a solar-powered backyard shed) with HDPE planks/brick you've made. How about building that little white picket fence you always dreamed of? Create your own HDPE samurai armor for special occasions? Panniers? A canoe? Paddles for your canoe? (Yes, I know, my imagination is a little limited today, but I'm hoping your mind is now swimming with some very plastic ideas.)

Maybe we're looking at this whole recycling idea all wrong - maybe it's time to stop relying on others, to get our hands dirty, and to build our own stuff instead of contributing more to the mountains of unrecycled recyclables! (Me, I need to finish this post so I can clean the garage to make some space to practice what I preach.)

Go get 'em, melt 'em, and make 'em into something else!

¡Viva la HDPE revolucíon!

May you be well and joyful. May we all work for better (for all)!

Congratulations, your actions do matter! Plus Simple Green-ness!

[It started (as many things do around here) with an infographic. ]

On the internet it's a go back and forth thing- Here are the steps YOU can take to save the planet vs. There's not a darn thing YOU as an individual can do to save the planet. Most of the time I'm in camp one - let's roll up our sleeves and get to work saving the planet!  Once in a while, I get too immersed in the news and camp 2 sneaks into my thinking.

And then there's my love of infographics- those friendly pics with graphs that tell you in a glance lots of stuff you need to know. So I am happy to share with you an infographic that Grist was happy to share with me.

The Grist Link, Sierra Club link, and the Northwest Earth Institute link

(Eventually, you may see someone post the Mesquite Hugger link, but don't hold your breath.)

I really like the Sierra Club link (above). It describes the creation of this study (and infographic). And it is ultimately practical - when people ask what they can do to stop climate climate change, here are some options you can offer them:

Personal choices to reduce your contribution to climate change

Low Impact
Upgrade light bulbs

Moderate Impact
Hang dry clothes
Recycle
Wash clothes in cold water
Replace typical car with a hybrid

High Impact
Eat a plant based diet
Switch electric-car to car-free
Buy green energy
Avoid one roundtrip transatlantic flight
Live car free
Have one fewer child

Feeling inspired to make any changes? There's a list. It's not an exhaustive list, but the actions are ones that are pretty easily measured and a great place to start.

And while we are on the subject...look at the list and see which ones fall in the live simply category. Are there any on the list that would cost you nothing? Whether you measure that in money or time, which ones just ask you to do something a simpler way?

For me, it all rolls back to that Personal Carbon Reduction thing and Spreading the Word. So I guess it's time to get back to living, writing  and talking about it. (And maybe I should write a little less about shiny things with wheels.) Our actions do, indeed, matter, so let's get out and do something worthwhile.

For me, it's time to hop on the not-so-shiny bike and make something of the day.

May your days be filled with better choices and may we all be richer for it.

It matters, Snagit! (Eco Role Model-ism)

 I've been seeing that one article more often lately. It's that article that says it really doesn't matter what a single individual does at home to save the world. You can't make any impact whatsoever by riding a bike or using a rain barrel or bothering to recycle. The article always says that we have to change laws, governments, economic systems, and the role of business in shaping our environmental survival - that we have to get political in order to make a difference. And snagit, I know it's (mostly) true.

It's pretty easy to walk away from those articles beaten down.

You don't remember a bike in that scene?

But there's another side to it.

While an individual's singular actions really don't make a trackable difference in the environment, an individual's singular actions can make a very trackable difference in social circles. And we are absolutely social.

A Negative Example

[It's about to get ugly here.] If you don't believe it, look at climate change denial. The proof is in. Everywhere that people live (and in several places where people don't live) the proof of man-made climate change is visible to everyday people who just pay attention. We don't even need scientists to tell us that we are doing major damage. (But we definitely need scientists to help us understand it better and to learn how to deal with, adapt to, and confront it.) Yet, a large and powerful social voice in our country has made it socially unacceptable to believe in climate change. It's a case of Social vs. Science, and we are social creatures.

On a More Positive Note

We need to be recycling, composting, riding bikes, driving electric, avoiding plastic, eating local, and everything else that does make a super super tiny impact because we are social creatures, because each of us is a role model. (In the same vein, we should all be kind to others.) By doing positive things, we make it socially acceptable for those around us to do positive things.

I've been at this a little while now, and once in a while I sit back and am a little shocked at the number of people who have watched and listened to my actions and words. While not all of Lubbock has sold their cars and bought electric cargo bikes, two have now bought plug-in cars and several others plan for their next car to have a plug in. Recycling amongst my co-workers is up about 3000% and growing. My gearhead buddies all want a Tesla. My little brother goes around shaming people for driving gas-powered vehicles. (We are really working on that tact thing with him.) And snagit all to Midland - Grizz rides a Sondors now. And the roots just keep spreading.

Is my little social circle saving the world?

Absolutely not. But this little group is paying more attention. And they are starting to notice news articles about the EPA and the climate. And they ask me more and more questions. And they are seeking news from different sources rather than trusting social media for their news. And I've seen a few of them getting politically active.

So, here's my answer to those articles:

It matters. The more we do, the more people notice. So, get out there and recycle proudly. Tell people why you have reusable bags and what is so damn cool about driving a plug-in hybrid. Do the right thing AND talk about it. Be an eco-dork proudly (but not obnoxiously).

I guess it's time for me to quit writing, go home, and start making ECO-DORK t-shirts!

May you live very well and encourage others to do the same.

PS. The CCL lives in Lubbock again! Watch this space for details!

Looking for a Trashy Valentine in Lubbock? Texas Tech can help!

Yep, it's that time again. The good people over at the Texas Tech Climate Science Center are having another Science by the Glass event, and this time it falls on Valentine's Day.

 

More info here: TTUCSC Science by the Glass

 

So, get your eco-friendly and/or alcohol-loving and/or alcohol-friendly-eco-loving friends/dates/co-workers/neighbors/closed-minded-enemies over to the Fox and the Hound at 82nd and Orlando next Tuesday (14 February 2017) to learn about something good happening right here in our own Lubbock.

 

I have seen a few presentations and displays from this group and can tell you that it will be informative and you'll learn some very cool stuff. (Did I mention that there's also a happy hour?)

 

Now, let's talk a little about Texas Tech Recycling.

 

Me, I am a big fan of the Texas Tech Recycle Center. Unlike the City of Lubbock's recycle program, Texas Tech accepts plastics grade 1-7, Styrofoam, and glass. You also don't need to sort everything - but they do appreciate it if you keep the glass separate for everyone's safety. They accept tin, aluminum, paper, packing material, and cardboard that has been broken down. On top of that, if your organization has lots of recycling, you can contact them and make arrangements to have them pick it up.

 

But there is much more to it than just recycling. The center also works to serve students and citizens of Lubbock by offering jobs and scholarships. They turn trash into all kinds of goodness!

 

 

Every other Thursday my family and co-workers pile their recyclables into the back of my truck and I haul them over to Tech.

 

The one and only recipient of the not-so-prestigious MHBTC award

 

But let's say that you don't work with an eco-dork (with a junky truck) like me but absolutely adore the idea of having someone swing by your place, pick up the recycling, and haul it over to Texas Tech for you. There are some really cool people in Lubbock who would love to help you out. Get in touch with Baron and Melissa over at 123 Recycling and they can make your recycling dreams come true!

 

In case you want to learn more but have other plans on Tuesday,

check out Recycle Easy in Lubbock! (TTU Recycling in pics).

 

May you learn all you need to know, have a good time, and help Lubbock to be less trashy!

 

PS. Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

Low-hanging, Eco-Friendly Fruit 3B: Bring Your Own!

In our last post, we covered the Just say no! approach to reducing plastic waste and pollution. Here is the follow-up - the Bring your own! method. The idea is pretty simple. Start looking at the single-use disposable stuff that you encounter all the time and find a way to utilize re-usable stuff instead. Somebody on the Mesquite Hugger staff went a little powerpoint crazy and cooked up a few examples for you:

The Nature Conservancy: Paper or Plastic? Neither!

Livestrong: Facts about Landfill and Styrofoam

The Story of a Spoon

The Last Plastic Straw

When you are looking for easy (and cheap) ways to go green, BYO! is a biggie. Really, you can reduce, reuse, and recycle all in this one step. Just find reusable things to take with you. I am a big fan of Mason jars. (Are you planning to bring home leftovers? Put them in a jar. Wanting a to-go beverage? Put it in a jar. Shopping from the bulk bins for granola? Put it in a jar - but be sure to register your tare weight. Need a way to keep your phone dry when you are biking home in the rain? Put it in a jar!) I also find that thrift stores and garage sales offer up some amazing re-usables at very low prices: cups, plates, bags, silverware. The list goes on and on. And it keeps stuff out of the landfill and uses up fewer natural resources. Win-win!

Get this and a lot more detail here at lessplastic.co.uk

The goal here is to stop promoting single-use plastic. Straws, bags, Styrofoam, lids, and drink cups are just a few items that get trashed by the millions every day. Do you want to see how you're doing on this? Make a trash journal. Pick a time period (a day, a week, a weekend) and take a quick note of everything you throw away (and/or recycle). Prepare to be a bit stunned. After you've made your list, look through it. What could you have said no to? What could you have brought with you?

Life Without Plastic: "No plastic straw, please."

  

Are you up for a more ambitious project? Try the No Impact Project Experiment. Me, I am not that ambitious, but I do find it very helpful to keep track of how much plastic (and paper) waste I am producing. It helps me to find more mindful ways to live and do less harm.

So, which Bring Your Own! items have you thinking? What simple steps can you to take to stop consuming plastic (and other petroleum products)?

May you Just say no! and Bring your own! way to a much healthier world for us all.

A Green Revolution in Lubbock, Texas? Oh Yes! (Updated)

It's a lonely thing - being an eco blogger here in the LBK. (But it's getting better!)

Looking at the Mesquite Hugger blog stats, it's easy to see that the people who read it don't live around here unless they know and (hopefully) love me. It may be that it's a terrible blog and that it's poorly written and horribly unappealing, but I like to think that the subject  matter just doesn't appeal to the majority of Lubbockites. (Yeah, that's it!)

Remember this gem: It looks like we have to move away from Lubbock :-) ?

How about this one: Lubbock makes another green list,  %$#@! ?

Or maybe this one: Protected Bike Lane Infographic - Ah, Lubbock Bike Geek Happiness ?

 

Lubbock is just not a place known for its eco-friendliness.

I do have to admit, however, that there are signs of hope. Here and there you see local people addressing (and acknowledging) the issues surrounding climate change and our role in it. More people are choosing to ride a bike. Our town has also started embracing recycling and water conservation. There are sparks.

This week, I had a chance to see a Green Revolution very close to home. At the Texas Tech Museum, you too can see this Green Revolution on display:



The exhibit is up at the Texas Tech Museum!

For this lonely eco-blogger, it is an upcycled slice of Heaven. An exhibit aimed at helping real-world people find ways to green their everyday lives speaks my language. Really, as I walked around the installations, my smile widened and widened more: alternative energy, energy and water conservation, carbon reduction, recycling, upcycling, and bicycling! And I was seeing all of this here in Lubbock! Plus, there were real, live worms!

Vermicomposting! and Composting!

I love this idea, but I don't seem to be the best of worm farmers. I have, however, turned out to be a very successful composter.

Rain barrels and water conservation

 

Unlike the catastrophic worm composting experiment, I have been very successful in capturing rain water in my home-made rain barrel. (It's amazing how little rain it takes to fill up a 55-gallon barrel!)

Recycling!

You know I love me some recycling!

Neighborhood Beautification

Lubbock, you know we need this!

Personal Carbon Reduction!

You mean you don't view everyday life as a green challenge? I keep hoping my maker friends over at ULabs will create an Eco-Fit-Bitty type thing so we can all track our daily eco-friendly steps.

Neighborhood/Community Gardens (The Curious Garden)

Bicycling (I may have mentioned this topic a few times.)

 

Yep, it was downright amazing to see all of these displays right here in my own backyard. I am now feeling so much less lonely. There are people in the world who speak my eco-language! And they are spreading the word! [Sigh.] It feels good to be the Mesquite Hugger!

If you're still reading, you must be (a.) intrigued (b.) really bored, or (c.) you love me, you really love me! In case you fall in category (a.) or (c.), I have some exciting news for you.

 

 

On Sunday, October 16 from 2pm-4pm, there will be a Green Revolution event at the museum. The coolest part of the event will be a short talk from our own world-famous climate scientist, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe. If you have never had a chance to hear Dr. H speak, you are in for a very educational treat! After the talk, you will be invited to go around to different booths to speak to local experts (and a long-winded blogger) on a number of life-greening topics. You might even have a chance to win a (really tiny) Tesla Model S!

 

May you find local opportunities to learn and grow, and may that be a blessing to everyone.

Scrounging - the Low-Budget DIY Hardware Store

A bit of brainstorming:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Upcycle

Cheapo Mesquite Hugger who wants to improve the world WITHOUT spending any money

Materialism versus Minimalism versus way too much crap versus way too many unfinished projects

So, let's talk construction dumpsters.

Residential - drawers, 2x4's, and a few ceiling fans

 

JG's daughter and some neighborhood kids are wanting to build a clubhouse. They are all around 8-11 and they are full of ambition and ideas. These industrious kids came up with an amount of cash they need to build the clubhouse - $150. We have been discussing the clubhouse at work. It's one of those things where I realize how differently I look at the world around us. One guy said, "A hundred and fifty dollars - they're not going to build much with that." Several heads nodded agreement. I was thinking That sounds like $125 too much to me.

Guess where this one is.

That's one tall shadow! (and lots of good lumber)

Another residential - pallets and paneling

 

Commercial - lots of shelving and display racks

 

The five sites above are all on my bike ride from home to work. I did not have to go looking for them. When you start looking, you will be amazed at how many you find. People trash a lot of stuff, and a lot of it is very useful stuff. It's not rare to find doors, windows, furniture, appliances, bikes, lawnmowers. If you are into the idea of reduce, reuse, recycle, and upcycle, be watching for construction/remodeling/demolition sites. Me, I try to keep projects in mind and scout while I am out. For example, I need to build some garage shelves soon. I have had my eye out for a few solid-core doors for that project. Sunday afternoon I started building a pallet dog bed (similar to one below) for Condo, our senior greyhound. I have it all cut out, sanded, and ready for home-brewed-coffee stain. So far, I have not spent a penny. Nor have I contributed to a tree being cut down. Also, there is less crap headed to the landfill.

 

Find it here

 

 So, let's talk etiquette:

1. ASK first! We are trying to be responsible stewards - not thieves or gunshot victims. (Remember, I live in Lubbock where two men recently shot each other over a ladle.) If you cannot find anyone to ask (or they tell you no), forget about that one and move on to the next.
2. BE SUPER CAREFUL! Wear leather gloves and safety glasses. Be mindful of what type of waste you are dealing with: nails, screws, glass - these can all tear you up. Be just as mindful of other types waste that can also be harmful to your health - things like mold and medical waste. Again, it's better to walk away than to risk personal injury.
3. Leave the place nicer than you found it. Don't scatter stuff around or make a mess. Besides it being the right thing to do, it will also help to make sure that we scroungers stay welcome there.
4. Show off your new creation or brag about your $ savings - that way we can encourage others to make a dent in our overwhelming waste stream. (Please send pics to the Mesquite Hugger. I love this stuff!)

May you find joy in working toward better!

 

(To Bella and the Blondies - can't wait to see the clubhouse!)

Recycling - Dragging Lubbock out of the Dark Ages

JG sent me a happy pic this weekend - someone is offering curbside pickup for recyclables here in Lubbock again! She found this flyer on her door:

Sounds reasonable to me!

 

I am thankful to see this. Here in Lubbock we don't embrace recycling much. It seems like a good idea in theory, but very few people actually want to bother doing it. So, 123recycling.org, thank you!

The City of Lubbock does offer rather limited recycling services, but they are not conveniently located - unless you live on the outskirts of town. They have satellite locations at a few local grocery stores, but those don't accept cardboard. And the city does not recycle glass, Styrofoam, or plastic grades 3-7.

Recently, Texas Tech has stepped in with vastly upgraded recycling services, but they only have one location, and it is definitely not the easiest to get to, even when you live near the campus. (But I don't mean to complain - Tech has stepped in and offered a great service that our city is unwilling to mess with. Thank you, Texas Tech Recycling, for making Lubbock a better place to live!)

Here's what they take at Tech, plus they have cardboard-only dumpsters.

 

I just wanted an excuse to use this pic again - love tiny trucks that encourage recycling!

 

I have been carpooling recyclables to Tech for my family and co-workers, and it is a bit of a pain, so I am very excited to see that someone in Lubbock is choosing to fill a great need that we have in our city. So, 123 Recycling receives the first ever Mesquite Hugger Be The Change Award this week.

 

(It's not much of an award. MH is a low-budget operation.)

 

Thank you to anyone and everyone who is working to make better choices easier to choose! May you live in a less trashy place!

 

Tiny Munching Invaders: Roly Polies in the Garden

It's good to be back in spring!

 

In our front yard, we have a recycled Food is Free planter where we grow food to (theoretically) share with the neighbors. If anyone needs a tomato or a pepper or whatever, they can come by and grab one. But last year, the little patch o' heaven wasn't really productive enough to do much sharing. We are hoping for better this year. 

 

 

However, the sharing has started early this year, and we are trying to figure out what to do about it.

 Nope, it's not Swiss cheese arugula - someone's been munching.

 

We have been invaded by roly-polies! (aka pill bugs, and lots of other names)

 

Over the last few days, we have learned a lot about these rather cool little creatures. First, they are not bugs. They are land-based crustaceans. (I think we should rename them crusty pills or pill crusties.) And, like everything else, they are great in moderation, but they are not so great when there are lots of them. And we have lots and lots and lots of them in the Food is Free planter - we created a little roly-poly Paradise City and they have populated with abandon. They like moisture, wood to munch on, and rotting vegetation. We added lots of water, lots of compost, and lots of wood mulch. Yep, it's Party in the Planter 2016. They usually just munch on the dead stuff, but they go after the live stuff when their numbers get high. And their numbers are high! It's time for a mass exodus.

 

Link here

 

What's a gardener to do? Our first attempt is in place - we made a honeydew list assault by slicing up a melon to work at attracting the roving hordes of crusties. I checked it yesterday morning and found the hordes to be lacking, but I am going for the Patience approach and let the melon get over-ripe. I will keep you posted.

 

Not too hordish yet.

 

May you not need guns to protect your roses, and may the crustaceans be your beneficial friends.

 

Bonus roly poly trivia:

 

There is a Roly Poly Japanese girl-pop band!

 

It's easier...

I struggle with easier.

It's easier for me just to turn on the tap.
It's easier for me just to pay the electric bill.
It's easier for me just to drive a car.
It's easier for me just to pump gas.
It's easier for me just to throw plastic dishes away.
It's easier for me not to save and eat leftovers.
It's easier for me just to ignore the news.
It's easier for me just not to vote.
It's easier for me just to buy a new one.
It's easier for me just to trash it.
It's easier for me just to shop at the big store.

Yes. Those things are all easier.

(Here)

 

It is time to find a new adjective.

It's worthwhile for me capture rainwater.
It's worthwhile for me just to conserve electricity.
It's worthwhile for me to walk, pedal a bike, ride a bus, or carpool.
It's worthwhile for me to choose renewable energy in all forms.
It's worthwhile for me to wash dishes.
It's worthwhile for me to save and eat leftovers.
It's worthwhile for me to follow impactful stories.
It's worthwhile for me to research and vote for my beliefs.
It's worthwhile for me to repair my stuff.
It's worthwhile for me to compost.
It's worthwhile for me have a garden, shop local, or buy used.

(My favorite)

 

May you find life rather than ease. (Thank you for reading!)

Political Signs: Upcycling and Recycling

Some of the elections are over, and the town is filled with the political sign carnage. Whether your candidate won or lost, the biggest loser is the landfill - thousands of signs headed to the dump. But there is good news for those of you who are concerned. First, coroplast is recyclable. Learn more here, and know that the city of Lubbock does not recycle that grade of plastic, but Texas Tech does. Second, those coroplast signs are free gold for you DIY types.

[If you have any of the larger political signs to get rid of in Lubbock, please shoot me an email - I have some projects in mind!]

It's shocking, but I'll start with a bicycle:

Bike Fenders and Panniers

or a pannier support (where was this a month ago?)

You know that the Mesquite Hugger staff is crazy for birds!

 

Make a Birdhouse

 

This one may be a little sexy for my physique, but I am sure you could pull off the look:

 

A Halloween costume

 

These next two are from Paul Elkins, a guy who knows how to rock the coroplast. Be sure to check out his trailers, power boat, and teepees.

 

Make a tiny tiny house

Kayak!

 

The Honeycomb Hideout never had it so upcycled cool!

 

A foldable playhouse

 

Any excuse to squeeze in a velomobile!

 

A Velomobile

 

This next one could be adapted for lots of stuff - laundry basket, toolbox, recycle bin, luggage...

 

A storage box

 

I love EcoModder!

Make your car more aerodynamic (and burn less fuel!)

 

Absolutely bananas!

or a yellowmobile

 

 

May you do better with what you build than what you would have bought! Be well and upcycle, friends!