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no disposable cups

1/22/2018

6 Comments

 
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"Moving from New Mexico to London in 2008 changed a lot of things for this tribe. (Weather!) Seeing that I would be charged money for each + every disposable bag at the grocery store changed one habit in a single trip. I grabbed three reusable grocery bags that were sold right there at the till + never forgot them.

Saving money was one incentive to quit plastic grocery bags, but the other was the normality of everyone else using reusable bags. I'd endured lots of weird looks when bringing my own bags back in New Mexico, so this new normal felt especially validating. Many of us would like something to become normal around us in order to feel comfortable doing the thing. This is understandable, but not very helpful...especially in this time of rapid environmental degradation. This is not a fight we can afford to win slowly.

The UK just might change another habit in one fell swoop. A proposal to charge for disposable coffee cups is currently being considered. It's really just the reverse of receiving a discount for bringing a reusable cup...but somehow it feels a bit different...especially when the "latte levy" proposed is 25 pence ($0.34). I'm 100% for it. Disposables cost the earth, + therefore us. We need to be reminded.

But what about the place where I live? We have no plastic bag ban or charge...let alone a charge for disposable cups. I still have yet to see another customer bring a reusable cup to a coffee shop in my city. I can't wait for using reusables to become normal in order to start. I can use them with confidence + answer the weird looks with a smile and an openness to explain my choices. What really matters is getting myself used to bringing my own bags to the grocery store + my own cup to the coffee shop. Courage begets courage...and now it doesn't feel weird (to me) at all anymore. Honest. Maybe...just maybe...that courage will rub off.

Love,
Jane

P.S. The best thing I've done for my bring-my-own-cup habit lately.

P.P.S. Even if we forget our reusable cups, we can ask for our drinks in a cup to stay...even Starbucks has them (+ reusable plates too)!  :)
6 Comments
Priscilla Bettis link
1/22/2018 09:35:53 am

We are in the habit of bringing reusable grocery bags to the grocery store, but I am not in the habit of taking reusable cups to a coffee shop. First of all, I rarely go (it's kinda expensive), and second, the one time I did remember to put a cup in my purse, I FORGOT to give it to the barista! I definitely need to keep working on the cup thing no matter how often I go to the coffee shop.

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Jane link
1/24/2018 11:50:01 am

I can relate- when we go to the coffee shop, it is a real treat! Two of those drinks were freebies (Mr. Tribe gives me his full punch cards from work meetings) + the other was a Christmas break outing with the girls. I do think that it can be harder to remember when it is not a regular habit...but that's when the to stay cup can come in handy. :)

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Celia link
1/22/2018 12:28:06 pm

I nodded at having separate thermoses for water and coffee. That coffee smell just seeps right in otherwise! Oof!

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Jane link
1/24/2018 11:51:21 am

My minimalist ways held me back for so long...but I am SO happy that I decided to invest in a second one! :)

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Gunn
1/23/2018 09:57:04 am

I can really relate to this. I haven’t seen anyone else use cottonbags for fruit and such here in my small town yet, but I’m thinking that in everyone I notice looking twice at my bags there is now a small seed of thought that will grow from «huh, so strange» to «that’s great, I will make the change too». At least that’s what I tell myself and are hoping for, not that just everyone is thinking about the crazy baglady ;-)

On another note, I’m nearly giddy when thinking of going to Oslo in februar and finally getting some good usage of my Klean Kanteen’s. I struggle with my patience because there is so many changes I want to make at home but it seems every drawer and shelf is full of stuff I need to use up first. So it will be fun to finally feel that I’m actually changing something and not just planning to. And again thanks to your blog I have so many tips about making better choices!

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Jane link
1/24/2018 11:55:21 am

I know that I would have been encouraged to give reusables a try sooner, if I'd seen someone else doing it! :) Yay- your trip sounds like something to look forward to! Have fun in Oslo + with something warm in your Kleen Kanteen! :)

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