How I help save Mother Earth (part 1)

What do you think of when you hear the words pollution, climate change, flood, wildfires and global warming?

When I was a kid, I remember there was a Filipino TV program show for kids that teaches its viewers on how we can recycle some things. I even did one but it did not look the way how it was on TV. LOL. Growing up, I was already aware that I should do my part to take care of our environment. In school we were also taught about the segregation of our trashes. Then we were also asked to pick up trash and help sweep our surroundings when we were in elementary.

Until now I can say that I still have that love and care for our environment. One of the habits that I carry up to this day is putting my candy wrappers or any thing that I would throw in my pocket if there are not any trash bins nearby. And here's the catch, usually those piece of trash stays on my pocket for months or even years. LOL. That only means that I do not empty my pockets when I arrive home and our helper does not empty my pockets as well when she does her laundry. LOL. It is not only my pockets that hold some trash because sometimes I also place those wrappers or even receipts inside my bag. That is why I feel like having a designer bag does not suit me. Little things like keeping those wrappers in our bags and pockets has a big positive effect on our environment. In your own little way, how do you care for our environment?

When I was working in one company, I implemented the segregation of trash. Sad to say but this practice is not implemented in all food service establishments especially in those restaurants that have little space. Honestly, I implemented the trash segregation not only because of my love and care for the environment but also because we can turn those trash into cash. We collected soda cans and bottles so we can exchange it for cash. Half of the cash that we got from those recyclables were used to buy some things needed for the store and the other half I divided it to us employees. I even brought that practice here in our house and we would sell it to some junk shops. I do not know what happens to the soda cans and bottles after being used but I am hoping that it did not end up in our oceans.

Reusable bags. I remember one of @ARTicLEE's article before when he mentioned about the eco bags being sold in Baguio market as those bags are flimsy. Actually, I was planning to buy a small and medium sized of those eco bags before so that I can use it as packaging for my business. Good thing I did not have money that time so I was not able to do buy it. I just need to think of another alternative and @Firenze suggested a canvas bag though I have not yet checked how much those bags are. I was eyeing the buri and abaca bags even before however, it was a little expensive and I would need to incease my price for my products if I were to have that packaging. Going back with the reusable bags, for years now we have been bringing those bags when going to the supermarket and malls. Even if we do not have anything to buy, we still have our reusable bags with us. If you also bring your reusable bags with you, give yourself a pat on the back. Good job, fellow environmentalist.

However, even if I have my reusable bags with me, most of the items that I bought were packed in plastic packaging. Are plastics unavoidable? Are you willing not to buy that pack of chips or those chocolate bars? How about those loaves of bread or that pack of your favorite coffee? I am guilty of buying those items and some of it even in sachets. More sachets, more trash. I did the eco brick before wherein you are to fill a 2L of soda bottle with cut up pieces of plastic packaging. We were able to make ten 2L bottles of eco bricks and we were able to reduced our waste. However, I have realized that yes it can be use as bricks in building walls for buildings or garden spaces but what if you needed to demolish those walls? Will those eco bricks be still intact like no damage at all? It would still turn into trash if it were to get damage. Can you get what I mean? That is just what I think about those eco bricks that is why I stopped making it. I might do it again if I would be able to find out that those cut up pieces of plastic packaging would not turn into more trash in the future.

I have decided to publish this article on how I help save our Mother Earth in my own little way after I saw someone in news last night where she said that she wants to recycle used face masks and stuff it inside a plastic bottle to make eco bricks and my eyes went big and I was like "WHAAAAAT?" Seriously?". Imagine if those plastic bottles of softdrinks made of face masks would break. The risks and dangers of putting those used face masks on each plastic bottle. Ugh! I cannot!

Coincidentally when I was drafting this late last night, there was also a news about global warming. Though I was not able to publish it as I have a lot of things to say. I believe that if we can only let people see that we are doing the right thing, they might also do the same.

I think I have written long enough and I will continue this on my next article.

P.S. if you are a GCash user, you would know my lead image. For those who are not aware, it was a screenshot from the GForest, a feature in GCash, Philippine mobile wallet, where we get to grow and plant real trees.