Here at Houstonist we have not been really eating less, we have just been spending less on "going out" and we've taken the brokeass college student approach to eating in. No reviews and no advice as to the 100 best uses for those "many for one dollar" noodle packets or other such "no money cooking". Come to think of it, we should share some cheap, healthy eats. We'll get right on that.
On the odd occasion that we venture out for a meal, we always have to bring half or some of our food home. Stupid weight management program ideas coupled with our "clean plate club" upbringing force us to take what we don't eat, as we're chubby and forced into frugality, home so we can eat it an hour later, when no one's looking and the calories don't count for the next meal or tomorrow's lunch, whichever the case may be. Frustration. Enter stage right. Styrofoam go boxes or metal contraptions are the doggie bag containers du jour at most establishments. We take our meal remnants to work with us, where our owner employer has conveniently provided a microwave for our use. We are apparently inherently lazy and do not also bring along a separate plastic-ware container or dollar store plate to heat up our lunch. Styrofoam, in particular, is the scourge of our existence and offends our sensibilities, in general.
Read more about the evils of takout containers after the jump.
Results tagged “recycling”
We had told you previously that Houston's Solid Waste Management Department is changing yard waste rules and adding some fines, starting April 5th. We wanted to slip you a gentle reminder, beings how the new effective date has been pushed out. We've heard a lot of opposition to the new requirement to use compostable lawn bags when putting yard waste out for pick-up. In fact, we 've heard some "why?" type complaints, as the new bags are more expensive than standard plastic lawn bags. Well, because it sorta makes little or no sense to put items that will decompose, and rather quickly we might add - into a plastic sack that won't, or at least not quickly. It's tantamount to only purchasing fair trade coffee and insisting on using a styrofoam cup. Stryofoam has a half-life, we swear. Plus, we, as a nation, toss more coffee cups, "go boxes" and meat trays into a land fill than you might think (well, just think about it, for a second). Okay, back to the yard waste issue and your options, if you are a homeowner with a lawn and all.
Ah, December - the month of detritus. Scads of paper products laid to waste, trees sacrificed for both decorative purposes and pulp for cardboard shipping boxes, gift boxes, gift wrap, tissue and gift bags. We reuse our gift bags until they get a little on the ratty side, at least. Then, what to do with all that? Well, recycle of course! Here are some tips and some new information (although, you have probably already sacked up all that loose paper, if so, un-sack it and put it in the recycle bin) for the greener consumers out there. The City of Houston picks up recycling bi-weekly (at least in our 'hood) - here is the official schedule and a list of what they will and won't pick up. Also, if you are still going "au naturel" in the Christmas tree department, you best recycle that tree! First, you'll be the laughing stock of the neighborhood, if you jam it into the "rolly bin". Second, after January first, shoving yard waste into the garbage bin may just net you a fine of up to $2,000 (that is not a typographical error, or lame attempt at humor on our part - that's the maximum fine - more on that further down). Here's a list of places to drop off your tree. You may drop off trees any day between December 26, 2009 and January 11, 2010 - here's the rules: no flocking, no plastic, no tinsel, no tree stands, no water receptacles, just a naked tree. Unflocked (who does that anymore?).
Tomorrow, April 22, you can hug every tree you see and no one will judge you, we promise. That's because it's Earth Day, which was founded in 1970 by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as a means to raise awareness about the environment. Today it is celebrated by more than 180 nations and is thought to be the world's most widely observed secular holiday. If you would like to be more eco-conscious but don't know where to begin, Houstonist is here to make it easy for you. In honor of Earth Day tomorrow we've put together a few simple things you can do to show the planet some love. Click through to read more.
Our fair city of Houston is not exactly known for its environmental conscientiousness. According to a recent survey by Nalgene, maker of the popular water bottles, we rank 22 out of 25 on America’s Least Wasteful Cities survey. Yikes! The study ranked the 25 largest cities in the United States on “23 waste-focused habits of urban Americans” including recycling, use of energy efficient light bulbs, and use of public transportation. Houston’s overall score based on the effective points from all 23 categories was an 879.16, a far cry from the least wasteful city of San Francisco with a 1025.45. However, we did manage to edge out a few more wasteful cities; rounding out the bottom of the list is Indianapolis, Dallas, and Atlanta.
As promised, Mayor White and and City Council announced the four winners of the Go Green Houston Recycling Program to promote Houston’s vision of “Making Houston a Model Environmental City.” The program was announced last June in order to promote the mayor's environmental plan and vision to increase recycling initiatives in the areas of participation and tonnage for the neighborhoods that received curbside recycling services. Without further ado, the winners are... Most improved paper recycling...
Local tech news in a compact, digital format. Feel Good Recycling Techs & Trainers is a non-profit organization that recycles old computer equipment, rebuilds systems and then offers them for a nominal fee to those with special needs. You can help by donating your unwanted computers and accessories or volunteering your own specialized assistance. HTC Blood Drive The Houston Technology Center is having a blood drive on April 13 from 7-11am. Get out from...
The latest development in the murder of Texas A&M student Tynesha Stewart: Yesterday, Harris County sheriff's officials announced that they will not search area landfills for her body, saying that finding the body would be "virtually impossible." Meanwhile, sheriff's investigators did finally get a confession from Stewart's ex boyfriend, Timothy Wayne Shepherd, who on Wednesday had led police to a Dumpster where he told activist Quanell X he disposed of Stewart's body after killing her....
Does this cell phone make my backside look big? Rather than tossing it into the garbage, recycle it! Houstonist recently received some environmentally friendly news: That old (circa 1984) brick phone and rechargeable batteries can be conveniently recycled, as can cordless power tool batteries (yeah, we know, that phone cost you nearly $4,000 — but hey, the Commodore 64 used to be all that, too). We like doing our part to save the planet, and thanks to Call2Recycle, recycling some electronics or components thereof is a lot easier. Since 1994, the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. has recycled more than 22 million pounds of rechargeable batteries, meaning they're being kept out of the garbage: