This challenge should help save money, help improve health (which saves money in the long term) and help the environment out.
Basically you refrain from buying single serving beverages that come in aluminum cans, plastic bottles or glass bottles. For the most part this is soda, beer, energy drinks and water. I'm still going to buy milk which I get in a 1 gallon plastic jug that I recycle (If I could get it in a refillable glass bottle like my Dad did growing up, I would do that). If I want a beer I will go to my local pub and get one from the tap. I can't stand it when bars are more like convenience stores and sell all of their beer in cans and bottles. I won't be drinking any soda or energy drinks and I always carry a refillable bottle for water.
I am planning on doing this for the whole year but I figured a 30 day challenge would encourage some of you to give it a try and see how it goes. I'm doing this mainly for the health benefits and for environmental reasons. The money savings will be an extra bonus!
I came up with this challenge because I was not satisfied with our recycling rates in the U.S. My simple solution is to eliminate as many of these containers from my life as possible in the first place.
2011 U.S. Recycling Rates According to EPA:
Aluminum Cans: 55%
Glass Containers: 34%
PET Bottles and Jars: 29%
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/If 45% of our aluminum cans are ending up in the trash then we are very far away from creating a sustainable system there.
If your still not convinced of the benefits, my whole rant on single serving beverage containers can be read here:
http://www.ghostofthewild.com/2014/02/03/death-to-the-aluminum-can/Good luck to everyone who joins in on this challenge no matter what your main reason is!