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Show vesTpaa&sagedl organic living: by Robert RodaSe WHEN IT comes to Americas growing garbage crisis, the nose doesn't tell the whole stoi y. In the old days most people thought of garbage as dinner leftovers and smelly kitchen scraps But today much of the solid waste that is threatening to overwhelm us is of the modern, odorless variety: the tons of metal cans, cardboard, and plastic cellophane, our in which procpaper essed foods are packaged. Here are just a few examples of the kind of packaging excesses we may end up paying for dearly in the long run. Take a careful look around the supermat next time you shop, and youre sure to find others. Processed cheeses w ith slice each individually k-- et Mbit iobqmUwJ iwMdf yam Unscramble these six Jumbles, ona letter to each square, to form six ordinary words. wrapped to ensure freshness." Small bottles and cans of fruit juices, all selling for considerably more per ounce than if purchased in quart containers. sue PERSONAL pte-filled- " salt and pepper shakers designed to be briefly and then thrown away. Boxes of sugar, cocoa mixes, artificial sweeteners and dozens of o.her items, which open to reveal still further packaging in the furm of individual - serving paper packets. -.- Double packaging for yogurt, puddings and other foods sold in cans or plastic cups bound together m a cardboard pack. If you find your own cart generally shopping of free overpackaged items, its a sign you're more probably eating whole, natural foods than most people. Since its ttie additive-laden- , engineered convenience foods that are generally the worst examples of unecolo-gica- l packaging, by elinu-natui- g these foods you-aleliminate the wrapping waste. u.-e-d figau,Ibag. Glass is better packaging Its and its material. easily production recycled, doesnt depend upon scarce resources the way paper products do. Seventy-threpercent of container ghas e is sand. Yet more and more food packagers are forsaking glass bottles for plastic. A recent trade advertisement listed the following products a3 recent converts to PVC bottles: cooking oil, orange juice, vinegar, salad lemon oil, concentrated juice, honey, capers, fruit punch, olives, peanut butter, liquid chocolate and barbecue sauce. One solution to the packinvolves aging problem direct consumer protest at the supermarket. According to a consulting engineer active in waste management, "Many women have ah ready started taking a firm stand at the checkout counter. Theyre wiping the problem off on the store manager by leaving him all the wrappings. !f enough people do this and say. Look, I don't want this; I dont need this, the packaging material will back up in the store and if theyre using less, theyll order - extra-strengt- rrY'Y'Y sums iewo wt Answers appeal oil page --A 24 th Anniversary Special! 2. Dont Use the rolled plastic wrap bags most stoies provide for fresh fruits and vegetables. 3. Some health food and natural food stores now encourage customers to bring their own containers for things like flour, grains, nuts, and dried fruit. Oth-et- s provide the container (glass jars for freshly-groun- d peanut butter, for instance) but charge a deposit aimed at bringing you back for a refill Shop around. Youre sure to find some stores, dairy farms, and even delicatessens whore you can provide your own containers. 4. Avoid the individually which items packaged extra convenience promise but cost much more per ounce. Wherever possible, try to buy food in built. Youll save money and packaging at the same less. OF COURSE, there are a number of less drastic steps you can take: 1. Carry a basket or a sturdy reusable net bag -- time. 5. LOOK FOR cardboard instead of polystyrene foam egg and produce cartons. EVEN IF a particular food item isnt really overwrapped, it may be packaged in a material more likely to cause solid waste headaches. Plastic containers present a double problem many are not biodegradable. They persist in the environment long after their intended purpose Is served. In addition, those made of polyvinyl chloride cause pollution (PVC) v hen incinerated. They give off hydrogen chtoride gas which can mix with moisture in the incinerator to produce hydrochloric acid, a nasty air pollutant. To find oof more obout container recycling, send 10 cents to Robert Rotate, Organic Lwm9r n care at Ask for the folder, this newspaper Sim Aids You Can Use For 0 Setter Environment." 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