Comments on: Day 361: Clean Bin in the Globe and Mail

By: Jen CleanBin

Jen CleanBin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:38 +0000

Reuse like crafting is great, but I tend to think of it as only a temporary diversion from the landfill (you’re not going to keep that lampshade made out of Popsicle sticks or that skirt made from neckties forever are you?). We included our plates and cups in our bins for the weigh because we thought it was only fair. However, a friend has offered to make a mosaic with them, so they will be diverted for now. Some of them are even quite nice – we broke two bowls that I made in pottery class that had lovely green and black glazing on them. Thanks a lot for your suggestions.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:57:25 +0000

Congrats on your year of so little waste! Its inspiring. One point from the article about the broken dish shards – these are great to use for mosaic tabletops etc. So either a fun crafty project or the broken pieces can be donated to a local crafter to reduce your bucket (for the win?)

By: Jen CleanBin

Jen CleanBin — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:18:11 +0000

Thank you all for your kind and supportive words. That was a great link Monica – definitely crystallized how careful consumption at this end can affect a larger amount of waste upstream.
Shannon- don’t worry, the Clean Bin will still be around. We’re not going to be quite as extreme as we were this year, but we’re going to maintain a lot of the lifestyle we developed along the way. If phase 1 was all about non-consumption, phase 2 will be about conscious consumption.
Thanks Mrs Green and Mrs Almost Average. Watching the way you communication through media has certainly helped us and strengthened our resolve. Many people comment that it would be much harder if we had kids, so I often point our little Miss Green who is at least equally as conscious as we are!

By: Almost Mrs Average

Almost Mrs Average — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:34:29 +0000

What a fabulous article. I am very excited that you guys are coming up to the end of your first year. It’s been a fantastic twelve months and I still remain amazed at how little consumer waste you have. I hope the documentary will be available in the UK, please, please, please send it to one of our big networks. Otherwise, I might have to arrange screening myself x

By: Mrs Green

Mrs Green — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:08:34 +0000

Congrats Jen; that’s really awesome and wonderful that you have hit ‘mainstream news’. I know what you mean about it being ‘outside’ of your regular readers and that can be scary because we open ourselves up to criticism, but there is little point preaching to the converted all the time.

If just one person reads your story and makes a change because of it, then it’s been a huge success and who knows where you have planted seeds with your story that will sprout in a few years time

By: Shannon from Florida

Shannon from Florida — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:18:15 +0000

Congratulations on the article and thanks for the blog of your experiences. I’ve followed you for most of the year, and you have inspired me to be more aware of my ecological impact and to reduce it.
I’ll miss the Clean Bin Project, but I will also look forward to seeing what you’re doing as you proceed with your documentary.