That's right, big jugs make better recycling. I've said before that recycling isn't the answer to the plastic problem in America, however, getting away from plastic takes time and it is a learning process. Slow and steady wins the race.
Making changes is easiest done in small steps. We used to buy Minute Maid juice boxes for school lunches and didn't think anything of it. Once you realize that the juice box, the straw, the plastic wrapper surrounding the straw, and the plastic wrap that holds ten juice boxes together is all going in the trash, it's easier to come to terms with the idea of change. The only part of the juice box ten pack that can be recycled is the thick paper insert that has the logo and UPC bar code on it. Each juice box contains 6.75 ounces of juice, and the ten pack costs $3.49 at Target.
We switched to the 128-ounce jug of apple juice that sells for $3.89 at Target. When you do the math, the juice boxes cost .058 cents per ounce and the jug costs .030 cents per ounce. The perceived convenience of the juice box costs you nearly double and it produces a heap of trash. We bought the boy a stainless steel thermos and we pour his juice in that when he brings a cold lunch. It saves money and the planet.
I realize that juice isn't healthy for kids but I pick my battles and this is one that the kids have won. I also realize that juice boxes make things "easier" but pouring juice into a thermos isn't hard. How freaking easy does life have to be?
A little sneaky peek at my big, beautiful jugs.
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