Biodegradable and Compostable
By Amber
@AmbiePam (93561)
United States
October 28, 2023 12:57pm CST
When Lenore mentioned solar panels, it made me think of these new products I got for free, and how funny it was that I felt I hit the jackpot for something so small. The compressed towel is biodegradable, and all you do is get it damp, and it unfolds into a pretty good size washcloth. The pen is also biodegradable with the outside part, and the inside is recyclable (no plastic anywhere). About 50 pens came in one container, and 20 compressed towels came in one bag. A couple months ago, I shared a picture of the compostable dishcloths that many of you had too.
I like to pass a couple of these on to my two best friends who are far more advanced in knowing how to care for the environment. Nothing tops my friend who took out a perfectly good toilet to install a compostable toilet. I’m happy that she is happy, but I’d never go there, even if I could.
Do you get excited about the small things?
21 people like this
21 responses
@Fleura (30515)
• United Kingdom
28 Oct 23
We did actually install a composting toilet in our old house. We put it downstairs as the second toilet, partly because it was too difficult to install a new 'regular' toilet there (it would have required digging up all the concrete driveway and replacing all the cast iron pipework from the upstairs bathroom as well). It was OK but I don't think I would want it as the only option, unless I lived alone.
There is a push here to replace 'disposable' plastic items with compostable ones. But there is a lot of confusion over how to dispose of those. For example at the theatre, they have switched from disposable plastic 'glasses' to reusable plastic 'glasses' which can be washed and used over and over just like real glass. But they have also switched from disposable plastic cups for hot drinks to some other type which are supposedly compostable, so they can't go in the recycling waste collection and they don't have suitable collection facilities for these type of items, so they just go in the regular bin just the same as the old plastic cups used to. I guess the customers think they are doing the right thing but really the outcome is pretty much the same!
5 people like this
@Fleura (30515)
• United Kingdom
28 Oct 23
@paigea No, as you say, not everyone has the space for home composting even if they have the inclination. And in any case many of these materials are not appropriate for home composting, they need the larger-scale facilities which reach higher temperatures.
4 people like this
@spiderdust (14760)
• San Jose, California
28 Oct 23
A compostable toilet is just more or less an indoor outhouse... right?
4 people like this
@AmbiePam (93561)
• United States
28 Oct 23
Yes. I guess you just have less of a chance for bugs to crawl over your foot. I’m thinking of my dad’s stories about having to use an outhouse until 1972, when he was a senior in high school. If I can have a regular toilet inside, I’m always going to. He said they just never could quite get rid of the smell in the outhouse.
4 people like this
@paigea (36316)
• Canada
29 Oct 23
@spiderdust I've used a composting toilet at a roadside stop. It wasn't in a building, but there wasn't a smell. They really are set up to compost the matter. I did read about how they work, but that was quite a while ago.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14760)
• San Jose, California
28 Oct 23
@AmbiePam That's the part I'd worry about, the smell. 
4 people like this
@AmbiePam (93561)
• United States
28 Oct 23
I admit if they hadn’t been free, I wouldn’t have been able to get them. I think the 50 pens were like $16 though, if I had paid for them. Which isn’t bad, but I don’t know a lot of people who buy 50 pens at once. It will be a good day when they can find a way to make and sell these products for a cheaper price; I think most people want to be more environmentally friendly.
3 people like this
I bought a phone case that is compostable. I thought that was neat. But not a small thing, it was expensive.!
@GardenGerty (160811)
• United States
29 Oct 23
I do if they are free. How do you get all of these free items?
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93561)
• United States
29 Oct 23
Oh, Amazon invited me to join Amazon Vine back in July. You can pick 3 items a day, and they’ll send them to you free in exchange for a review. I always mention they’re free so people won’t think I’m spending money I don’t have. I just have to make sure I don’t select so much stuff it counts as income or I’ll be docked social security disability.
I’m usually practical: toilet brushes, an umbrella, hair products. But then I’ll get earrings or a hat on occasion too. The best things are the ones with no tax consequences like vitamins. Linda said some of her writer friends were members, but I hadn’t heard of it, and thought it was a hoax at first.
@snowy22315 (181566)
• United States
28 Oct 23
That seems very utilitarian. Sometimes I do, it really depends on what it is. I am very excited about the print of The Scream I got at the writer's group at the library.
2 people like this
@allknowing (137329)
• India
29 Oct 23
Good that there is awareness about going the biodegradable way.
My garden and Billu are the two sources that keep me happy with small things (lol)
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90189)
• Arvada, Colorado
28 Oct 23
Oh my she is really into it huh your friend?
I don't get excited about anything except maybe a walk in nature.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137345)
• United States
29 Oct 23
Where did you buy those from? I don't remember seeing anything like that before.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137345)
• United States
29 Oct 23
@AmbiePam Oh, that's why I haven't seen them, then. They aren't something I'd think to look up.
Thank you for the info.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80388)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Oct 23
I just got hand towels from Amazon that came compressed, There were six in one little pack and they are just great soft and once wet dry quickly,
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (180528)
• United States
29 Oct 23
I'd pass on the compostable toilet too. Yes, the small things are fun. Hope you are having a good day.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (180528)
• United States
30 Oct 23
@AmbiePam Thanks. It's OK. The Browns lost yesterday in the final moments of the game. Oh well, there's always next week. Have a good week.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (32620)
• Petaluma, California
30 Oct 23
I like getting little "gifties" on occasion, or finding cute things that I can use for free.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317110)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
31 Oct 23
It's good they are good for the environment.
Yes, I get excited about the small things.
@thislittlepennyearns (62886)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
31 Oct 23
These days I have to get excited about the small things or there wouldnt be anything to be excited about.
