It's Not Easy Being Green

Life's full of contradictions - we all know that.  Still, I've been struck lately with some of the little contradictions going on everyday as I try to do my part and make the right environmental choices.  Here are just a few:

Lightbulbs - I just picked up a nice new CFL spotlight for my kitchen.  I couldn't help but compare the packaging to that of a regular spot - a honkin' big plastic clamshell for the eco-friendly bulb and a simple recyclable cardboard box for the standard bulb.  And the plastic bit isn't recyclable, at least not in my town. 

I suppose the plastic helps minimize breakage - which is especially important with CFL's because they contain mercury.  It's a bit freaky to have an environmentally friendly light bulb filled with a really toxic chemical, huh?

And to add insult to injury, the base of the CFL is made from a big hunk of plastic as well.  EnviroWoman, who is Living Plastic Free in 2007, wrote a witty post about CFL's that is worth a read.

Milk - Paper or plastic?  That question is not just for paper bags.  It's a choice to be made in the dairy aisle as well.  There are pros and cons to each.  Paperboard milk cartons can be recycled in some communities (not in mine however).  But since paperboard is a mixed material (paper injected with a synthetic material to keep it from disintegrating when wet), it is typically downcycled which is a step below recycling.  It's made into a material of a lower quality such as tissue paper. (thank you to Enviromom for providing these details)

Plastic jugs are, well, plastic.  Landfills, hazardous chemical leaching - there's a lot of good reasons to skip the plastic.  BUT - buying milk in the standard plastic jug is cheaper, easier and the plastic can be recycled here...and made into cool things like building materials and furniture. 

I know, I know, don't forget the glass option.  But it's more expensive (at least where I shop) and it's a hassle.  Sorry.  Bottom line is I usually buy plastic but it feels like the wrong choice sometimes.

Grocery Bags - I've been so proud of myself for using reusable bags (and simply re-using paper bags) at the grocery for a long time now.  Problem is, my huge stock of paper bags that I use for my bi-weekly recycling has dwindled down to almost nothing.  Now I've got to start collecting them again.  How ironic!

Does anyone have any other green contradictions to share?