11
votes
Accepted
Is using a menstrual cup better for the environment than using pads or tampons?
Yes, using a menstrual cup (such as DivaCup) is much better for the environment.
I located a thesis paper written by a student at Dalhousie University for her BSc in Environmental Science and Gender ...
- 2,789
10
votes
Are my compost piles adding CO2 to the atmosphere by offgassing?
It is. However, the aerobic process of composting produces CO2, which is better than the anaerobic processes which result from burying compostable materials under layers of sand (preventing access to ...
- 379
9
votes
Accepted
Are used "blister packs" recyclable?
Yes, blister packs are recyclable (for example with machines like this one) but chances are there's no recycling company in your area that will accept and recycle it unless you are able to separate ...
- 14.4k
8
votes
How do I get rid of numerous small pieces of charcoal?
You are talking about black gold that has a value of AU$40 per 25 litre bag in my area. I would suggest either selling it or putting it back into the soil.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar ...
- 2,784
7
votes
Accepted
Reusable alternatives to plastic wrap?
You don't need a perfect seal in the microwave - in fact the reason your plastic wrap doesn't explode is that the seal isn't perfect. So placing a plate or saucer on top of your microwave container (...
- 2,067
5
votes
Accepted
What's the impact of throwing plastic in the bin?
The problem with burying plastic in landfills is that plastic takes ~500 years to decompose, and burying large amounts of waste leads to groundwater pollution in the surrounding areas, which is ...
- 106
5
votes
Using other peoples resources for basic living
It's reasonable to say that a lifestyle can still be sustainable even if not everybody could live that way. It's like filling a niche in an ecosystem. Obviously we can't all eat discarded/excess meals,...
- 8,735
5
votes
Accepted
Why refrigerant cooler is more popular than evaporative cooler?
You have to also consider the climate where each type of cooler will be used and how each type of cooler works.
Refrigeration coolers transfer heat from inside a building to the outside. However, the ...
- 3,417
5
votes
Accepted
Why is composting of food waste "better" than burning it?
Composting has many benefits beyond dealing with waste
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists several benefits of composting:
Compost reduces and in some cases eliminates the need for ...
- 11.7k
4
votes
Reusable alternatives to plastic wrap?
My better half found a set of silicone lids. Three in the set, about 6, 8 and 10 inches across. They are heavy enough to stay put, and make a reasonable seal, an sticky enough that they don't slide. ...
- 7,127
4
votes
Are there any take-out restaurants where you can bring your own dishes?
I know of one independent place that happily refills the containers they use, if you bring them back clean. In this case the container is used as a portion measure so it wouldn't work with arbitrary ...
- 2,067
4
votes
Are used "blister packs" recyclable?
There are blister packs which appear to be made entirely from aluminium and I put these in the recycle bin in their entirety. I have also been recycling the blister packs made from plastic and ...
- 41
4
votes
How should I dispose of scrap lumber from renovating?
You need to sort it.
Dimension lumber can be burned. Can either remove ironware or leave it and separate from ash, or dispose of with ash.
Treated lumber (green or brown) landfill. Note that it may ...
- 7,127
3
votes
What's the impact of throwing plastic in the bin?
In Ireland, plastics are exported for processing. There is a carbon footprint in the transport of these.
It's suspected that the purchasers of these are not always decent firms. Dumping of such ...
- 37
3
votes
Are used "blister packs" recyclable?
Only thermo plastics have a recycle value, thermoset plastics do not. Even the thermo plastics are limited as recyclate - grade 1 recyclate, by grade 2 the polymers strands will no longer bond and the ...
- 33
3
votes
Are used "blister packs" recyclable?
I've experimented with soaking foil-backed blister packs in caustic soda solution, commonly sold as a material to unclog drains. Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide, NaOH) dissolves the aluminium foil. ...
- 31
3
votes
How can I manage my fridge's contents better?
Keep a Professional Fridge: if you how professionals use their fridges is a great way to reduce waste. This system is designed to minimise the likelihood of food contamination. The idea is to arrange ...
3
votes
Are my compost piles adding CO2 to the atmosphere by offgassing?
Short answer: yes they do.
It's completely natural that decomposing organic materials release CO2 and other greenhouse gases like methane and nitrogen oxides in some quantities. Both during ...
- 476
3
votes
Using other peoples resources for basic living
No, it's not sustainable.
As per your comment, you're not doing anything economically productive, but you are consuming goods and services. It doesn't matter that those goods and services are free to ...
- 14.7k
3
votes
How can an architect design a building to reduce landfill usage by occupants?
This question needs to consider waste management for two phases: construction/renovation and occupation.
During the construction phase the design should consider the materials used and how they are ...
- 3,417
3
votes
How to reduce the environmental impact of drinks containers
Have they considered post-mix soda/coke served in a glass? There's a significant up-front investment but in the long term it should pay for itself, but only if they sell a fair bit. I don't know how ...
- 2,067
2
votes
Reusable alternatives to plastic wrap?
For steaming vegetables you can use a container with its own lid which can be used in a microwave. Such containers with lids could me made from glass, pyrex, ceramic or even multiple use plastics (...
- 3,417
2
votes
Reusable alternatives to plastic wrap?
Since one never really knows what kind of plastic you're dealing with, I always take everything out of plastic and put it in a pyrex dish with a lid to go in the microwave oven. It is better to use as ...
- 171
2
votes
Are used "blister packs" recyclable?
In my household unfortunately we must take a number of tablets daily on permanent repeat prescriptions, mainly from plastic/aluminium bubble packs. But some are supplied in totally aluminium packs, ...
- 29
2
votes
Accepted
Is there a recent life cycle analysis for cloth diaper and for disposable diaper?
There are several life cycle analyses, but none of them very recent:
This webpage links to a report on
life cycle analysis done by the UK Environment Agency, originally in 2005 and updated in 2008. ...
- 14.4k
2
votes
Accepted
How could I use egg yolk from boiled eggs?
I assume you are already putting some or all of the egg shell in with your plants.
I looked around and using egg yolk as a fertilizer has several issues. If you have an outdoor compost pile you could ...
- 258
2
votes
Accepted
Refill ink cartridge of ballpoint pen
Ballpoint pens use a paste rather than a liquid ink, so I doubt you'd be able to refill one.
I would suggest using a fountain pen instead, they are easily refillable, and there are loads of different ...
- 773
2
votes
How can an architect design a building to reduce landfill usage by occupants?
These are just simple means:
Place water dispensers that replace the usage of canned and bottled beverages
place recycling bins near the front entrance, nudging occupants into using them
provide ...
- 383
2
votes
Accepted
Meta-campaigns for sustainable building management?
There are several active organizations which provide guidelines, ratings, and certification of sustainable buildings, focusing variously on energy, water, waste, and embodied carbon. Several standards ...
- 11.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible