When we consider the health of our planet, we can hardly look away from the increased consumption. Not just consumption of disposable diapers, which we talk about a lot here, but over-consumption of anything.
Do you choose to eat at night on paper plates because the idea of washing dishes is unnerving after a long day at work? Do you order more food than you can eat and then take it home in a styrofoam box to toss at a later time into the already styrofoam encroached landfills? Do you purchase your shampoo, cleaners, etc… in bulk so you can refill plastic containers you already have?
There are so many ways to reduce consumption in just about every area of our life, and yet, in general - we don’t.
That is why I was so completely thrilled to read about Jesse Hill, owner of the Ithaca, NY based diaper service, Diaper Duty. Not only is he a MALE cloth diapering advocate (we don’t seem to get as many of those), BUT he’s extended his desire towards sustainability one-step further…his delivery truck runs on vegetable oil.
Yep, you read right… vegetable oil.
“Hill wants his whole business to be sustainable, not just the diapers, so last year he bought a retired Philadelphia Ford E-350 diesel police van and had Ithaca mechanic Lucas McDonald equip it to run on vegetable oil.”
There are many ways that we can make investments toward sustainability. Hill’s investment cost him $2000.00. Switching from disposable diapers to cloth diapers costs even less. We can even make investments that don’t “cost” anything. That’s right, just modifying a few attitudes and actions here and there in your lifestyle can protect this planet. We’ve written about it here a bit:
- Stop buying useless, but costly nursery items when getting ready for a new baby
- Consider not diapering your baby at all.
- Grow a Greener Family
And there is always the steadfast favorites like recycling plastic shopping bags, recycling plastic of any sort, re-using plastic bags (after rinsing and drying), turn off lights in rooms you aren’t using, switch out your light bulbs in your home for energy saving lightbulbs, put your air conditioner or heater on timed cycles.
The list goes on and on…
Or, y’know, turn your car into a vegetable oil driven, sustainable machine.
Each of us can do something. It is so fun to read about it when we do.