I read an article over the weekend that had caught my attention because the title asked, “Why Give Up Chocolate for Lent When You Can Give Up Plastic?” Why indeed I thought to myself. As UU’s, we don’t tend to have a Lenten practice. And those who do might chose not what to give up necessarily but what to do.

Last year someone turned me on to a Facebook page in Duvall called “A Month Without Plastic.” I learned a lot from the page about ways to switch over from plastic to other materials. I find it a full-time job to give up plastic. So I made the decision not to throw away all the plastic I already have but to whenever possible, avoid buying new plastic. That means that even though I happen to love arugula, at this time of year, it only comes in the clamshell plastic containers. Containers that are not recyclable. I will not die if I wait to eat arugula when it is in season here and available at farmer’s markets.

The truth is, it is cheaper for the industry to produce new plastic products than to recycle plastic. So recycling when it comes to plastic is not always the most ecological choice. Not using it at all is almost impossible given that it seems to be in everything. And call me paranoid but I am not convinced that the recycling of plastic doesn’t release fluorocarbons into our air.

So this year, I am not going to give up chocolate for Lent. I will however, continue to reduce the buying of plastic anything. How about you? You game for a season of chocolate and less plastic? Maybe we should start a Facebook group…

 

Peace,

 

Rev.Lo