Green Organizing

PHOTO GALLERY AT BOTTOM

INTRODUCTION

The goal  of green or eco-friendly organizing is to minimize one's personal  environmental impact and carbon footprint in daily life, and likewise reduce plastic, chemical, petrochemical and toxin use.  As well to reduce trace chemicals in the home, and societal toxic manufacturing waste. 

THE ISSUES 

•   Exposure to multi-1000s of chemicals cumulatively throughout our lives, more so than past generations, and ever more in our youngers generations.
•    Babies can be born with up to 200 chemicals in their bodies with synergistic effects.
•    Most chemicals considered "generally accepted as safe" when introduced. No testing required.
•    Concept of “Use  once, throw away” now worldwide; Next gens know no other.  
•    Going green can proceed gradually; does not require a bunch of immediate changes.   

CLEANING PRODUCTS

•  Eco-friendly cleaning products biodegradable; labels focus on ingredients, not brand name. 
•  Slightly more expensive, but don’t require frequent purchase. 
•  Large companies often "greenwash” with false environmental claims, [see link below]. 
•  A powerful natural cleaner: 1/3 vinegar + 2/3 water cuts through grime, air pollution deposits. Not for porous counters, wood, some plastics; test plastics beforehand.
•  A great homemade air freshener: 1/3 cheapo vodka + 2/3 water in a spray bottle. 

PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS

• Never flush old prescription/over-the-counter drugs in the commode; that former recommendation is obsolete and quite harmful. 
• Drugs end up in the James River/Chesapeake Bay watersheds; deleterious downstream effects on aquatic animals. 
• Mix drugs with coffee grounds or kitty litter and dispose with regular household trash. 
• Empty prescription bottles are not recycled due to small size. Dispose in trash; may want to hide label identifiers. Can be re-purposed to hold small items.

WATER USE

•   Water is a precious resource; our society has been profligate in use.
•   Water shortages, pollution, and contamination are impactful worldwide.
•   Some regions lack potable water; others have rationing of a gallon per day for all uses.
•   Costs for water and  wastewater disposal are rising. 

•  Largest impact on water use achieved at the faucet level. 
•  Lower water pressure and temperature, shorter showers; for hand dish washing, rinse all items at once; can use 2nd sink, bowl or pan filled with water. Spray-rinse multiple dishes at once; turn off faucet between rinses. 
•  Even small faucet leaks lose gallons/day; usually just require gasket to repair. 
•  Dual flush valves for the commode have quick (1/2) and full flush positions; significant water and water bill saving for larger households. Some, but not all toilets, can be retrofit.

GARDENING TOXICITIES

• Gardens and lawns by far the largest pollution source in suburbia. 
• Pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer runoff directly affect property, and drain into the watershed.
• Pesticides heavily present in commercial vegetables, fruit, and in the food chain.
• Pesticides are neurotoxins, kill insects by paralyzing them. 
• In humans, cumulatively stored in fat.
• In utero, cross the placental barrier. Fetal exposure linked to lower IQ, birth defects, developmental delays, and higher risk of autism, ADHD and cancer 
• Associated with adult neuro-degenerative diseases, eg, Parkinson's, MS, ALS,  cognitive function, dementia-like diseases, eg, Alzheimer's.
• Insects become resistant to pesticides. Use judiciously.  
• Let part of your yard go natural; more publicity about this lately. Supports  pollinators, breeding birds. 

HAND SANITIZERS

IMMUNE SYSTEM EFFECTS  

THIS MATERIAL WAS WRITTEN BEFORE COVID-19, BUT IS STILL APPLICABLE. 

•  Most community bacterial infections not spread by hand-to-hand contact. 
• Sanitizers kill “easy” bacteria; create resistant ones. 
• Normal skin bacteria “good germs,” built-in antimicrobial activity; kills harmful “bad germs," eg, Staph. 
• Viruses, eg, covid, flu, spread by aerosols. 
• Soap and water most effective sanitizer, and should be used 1st.
• Bar soap eco-friendly; avoids plastic container waste. 
• Sanitizer ingestion common reason for Poison Control Center calls; 120-proof alcohol can cause seizures, coma, or even death in children.  
• FDA banned 19 chemicals in antibacterial soaps; said to be useless, and might cause harm.  
• Pre-COVID, $178 billion was spent each year on sanitizers.
• DO USE SANITIZERS provided at hospitals, nursing homes, and institutions. 
• Wear clean clothes; lessens chance of bringing in community germs to develop resistance;
• Remove and clean clothes when back home; avoids bringing hospital-acquired bugs into your home or community.  

• IF POSSIBLE, JUNGLE CARE ADVISES AVOIDING FIRST LINE USE OF SANITIZERS TO PREVENT INFECTIONS, 

IMMUNE SYSTEM EFFECTS

• The "cleanliness" or "hygiene" hypothesis
• Over-sanitized environments interfere with critical immune system development in babies and children. 
• The early years are when the immune system is learns to distinguish “self” from “non-self,” and to recognize and fight foreign invaders, 
• Absent foreign invaders, the immune system turns inward instead of outward. 
• Major contributor to increased rates of asthma, allergy, autoimmune disease. 
• Natural exposure to bacteria "trains"  the immune system its many cells types to function. 
• System extremely complex.

• GREEN USE OF CLOTHING
  Textile manufacture and garment production are resource intensive and  toxin-generating; comprise 25% of worldwide industrial pollution. 
• Synthetic fabrics petroleum-based. 
• Release plastic microparticles into water when washed; they concentrate on deepest ocean floors; ingested at bottom of food chain.
• Cheap manufactured clothes worn briefly in a “Buy-Wear-Discard” cycle. 
• Online returns often landfilled; less labor involved; maintains brand exclusitivity.

.

NATURAL FABRIC

• Natural fiber high quality garments breath; cool in summer, warm in winter.  
• Cost more, but can be maintained in good condition for years with proper care. 
• Include cotton, wool, exotic type wools, linens, silk, hemp, ramie, bamboo, nettle, coir (from coconut) fabrics.  (Google them).
• Note: Rayon is not eco-friendly. Flax-based semi-synthetic fiber with large polyester component. Tencel is a flax derived fabric-- and green
• Wear natural fabrics; the natural BoHo look, or unique vintage clothes instead of new trends.  
• Organic fabric clothing easily found online, not so much in stores. 
• Beware of moths; avoid them with pheromone traps for mating adults. 
• Clothing  and accessories have long been “Re-used” through donation,  hand-me-down, or purchases at thrifts or. re-sellers.  
• Unwearable synthetic fabrics can be down-cycled to other products, eg, insulation, carpet; fabrics like denim can be closed-loop recycled. 
• Known as "thread cycling" or fabric recycling.
• Central Virginia Goodwill has a thread-cycling program.

GREEN USE OF FURNITURE

• Cheap furniture is usually easily-damaged particle board; emits formaldehyde; manufactured for “Buy-Use-Discard” cycle. 
• Choose used wood, hand-me-downs, or even antiques for a little personality. 
• Donate unwanted furniture instead of landfilling.  

•  More and more companies manufacture sustainable, eco-friendly furniture.
•  Look for wood with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
•  Bamboo and rattan furniture gaining popularity; rattan not considered sustainable.

REMODELING

• Eco-friendly building  materials available for construction and remodeling. 
•   Re-claimed wood cabinets; eco-friendly bamboo flooring; attractive counter material using scrap porcelain, glass, mirror, embedded in corn-based resin. .
  

PURCHASING A HOME

• The  ultimate Reduce/Re-use action is to buy a pre-existing home; high use of virgin resources in new-builds; more embedded plastic than in past.
• With newer construction materials, the "flashover" time, needed for   residents to escape a home fire, was reduced to as little as 3- 5 min.
• The "Ultimate Reduce/Re-use" also applies to pre-owned vehicles.
  

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

1)  Mosquito spraying:  https://tinyurl.com/y57lreqy 

2)  Textile recycling:  https://tinyurl.com/yyeh44p4  

3)  Landfilling of online returns:  https://tinyurl.com/trabe4f 

4)  Online clothing resellers  https://tinyurl.com/rf9935a
5)  Clothing recyclingling: https://tinyurl.com/y5twfgv5

6)  Hygiene hypotheses:  https://tinyurl.com/yykkv2yq

7) Greenwashing: https://tinyurl.com/4486kw4f

8) Flashover points for house fires: https://tinyurl.com/mhbewbn6