Why does it cost almost as much to buy a refill sponge for a mop as to buy the entire mop and handle? This bothers me.
Today I bought a sponge mop (a major brand) and an extra sponge for when I need a refill. Why did I buy the refill today? Because I have found that in future when I need to buy the refill sponge it will no longer be available and none that will fit will be found. I like to be kind to the earth and to use resources wisely.
The sponge mop was a good deal, $9.99. But the refill sponge was $7.99. This doesn't make sense. Is the entire long handle and holder area for the sponge worth only two dollars?
The companies are pushing us to throw away the entire old sponge mop where it will rest for 100 years in the garbage dump. Sad. It might take hundreds of years to decompose, what a waste.
This is just one example of thousands of wasteful habits we are cajoled to engage in. Those nonrecyclable Keurig coffee maker K-cups are another. I know some K-cups are recyclable and bless the people who buy them. Apparently though even the "green" cups are not very recyclable, since the plastic part is made with type 7 plastic which most recyclers can not use, and the cups need to be taken apart by the coffee drinker if they want to recycle. 14 billion K-cups end up in garbage dumps every year. That would look like a Mount Everest of garbage.
There is an article in Atlantic Monthly on k-cups waste at A Brewing Problem
There is a twitter campaign #killthekcup I know lots of you dear readers love your Keurig coffee makers and I hope you don't get mad at me, I just hope Keurig changes over to all recyclable cups!
Does this waste bother you too?
Do you have any tips to share about reducing waste?
And thank you friends for your comments, I am learning some new things and tips when reading them. I suggest you all scroll through the comments to see other bloggers' clever ideas.
