Skip to main content

Environmental Stewardship Team Feed

BACK TO TEAM PAGE

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Pets
    How has the pet shampoo bar worked compared to what you were using before?

    Deb Rodahl's avatar
    Deb Rodahl 2/13/2026 7:16 AM
    Is anyone aware of a "purchase local" option for pet shampoo bars?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?

    Deb Rodahl's avatar
    Deb Rodahl 2/13/2026 7:14 AM
    It feels good to purchase clothes, bed linens, and bath/kitchen towels in sustainable fibers. I have found a lot of towels and bed linens in bamboo and recycled fibers that are soft and work better than non-natural fibers. I still need to work on this for clothing!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    At Home
    What are some of the challenges or benefits you have experienced using reused bags instead of a bag purposely designed to hold trash?

    Deb Rodahl's avatar
    Deb Rodahl 2/13/2026 7:11 AM
    Bags are smaller - so they don't fit my waste basket, but am to partially hold them on the top edge of the basket. I tie them when full and just put another on top which helps hold the 2nd bag in place. I am curious which option is better - reuse bags from the store or avoid getting any bags from the store and using purchased trash bags?

    • Brenda Misukanis's avatar
      Brenda Misukanis 2/13/2026 7:21 AM
      We re-use them as much as possible and the 'hardest part' is then determining when they do finally need to be replaced... Usually we do so only if/when something 'sticky/gunky' has now stuck to the bag itself, or someone in my family has thrown something stinky or sharp in it and has now 'punctured' the bag. (Unfortunately on the last one - it being damaged/punctured) we don't realize it until it is too late and then have to wash out the tras can itself!

  • Carrie M Carroll's avatar
    Carrie M Carroll 2/12/2026 12:55 PM
    I have been trying to reduce plastic over the past few years. This is a helpful way to learn some new ideas and to reinforce some of our efforts.

    • Lily Keire's avatar
      Lily Keire 2/13/2026 3:13 AM
      What did they say about changing an old habit: 9 times is a charm?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Plastics 101
    What did you learn about how to correctly recycle plastics in the Twin Cities and where recycled plastics end up? What did or didn't surprise you?

    Laurie Windisch's avatar
    Laurie Windisch 2/12/2026 11:35 AM
    I think I knew everything presented about recycling in this email, but I liked hearing the specifics about who does the recycling and what the various plastics go into.

  • Deb Wheeler's avatar
    Deb Wheeler 2/09/2026 4:16 PM
    I can't find clarification from my hauler page regarding pill bottles. But I can take them to the Ramsey city hazardous waste. Not as convenient as curbside, but at least I can keep them out of the trash

  • Cynthia Hammel's avatar
    Cynthia Hammel 2/09/2026 8:33 AM
    Deb, what county are you in? Washington County does not say anything about NOT recycling prescription pill bottles.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    On-the-go
    Great job on getting rid of your disposable cup habit! How does it make you feel? Are there any situations where you still struggle to use a reusable mug?

    Deb Rodahl's avatar
    Deb Rodahl 2/09/2026 7:16 AM
    I don't go to the coffee shop every day, but when I do, I plan to have a re-usable cup in my car to be filled by the coffee shop! I find that the coffee shops (generally the same 3 that I might stop at) are happy to do this!

  • Deb Wheeler's avatar
    Deb Wheeler 2/07/2026 2:21 PM
    Any ideas on what to line my kitchen waste basket that isn't a plastic bag?

  • Mark Jackson's avatar
    Mark Jackson 2/07/2026 1:57 PM
    I'm paying more attention to what is recyclable and what isn't and getting them to the right receptacles.