The Green Parent

Meet Kristy Glass. She’s a busy mom living in New York City who was so inspired by the movement behind Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth (even though she has admittedly never seen the film!) that she decided to start “gradually going green.” I think her approach is similar to that of most of us who are trying to go green while raising a family…just do a little bit at a time each day. So I interviewed Kristy to find out more about her and what makes her tick.

Here’s what Green Parent Kristy Glass has to say about recycling in New York City, An Inconvenient Truth, and why her kids think she’s Wonder Woman.

TGP: Why did you decide to start “gradually going green?”

KG: The Green Movement has been fast approaching, by my estimation ever since Al Gore came out with An Inconvenient Truth. (I still haven’t seen this film, but it’s on my Gradually Going Green list of things to do). As the media attention, politicians, celebrities, talk shows etc. started putting a lot of focus on this movement, I started feeling overwhelmed by the vastness of the problem and the wide array of action one could take to be green. Instead of hyperventilating, I decided to Gradually Go Green, instead of Cold Turkey Go Green or move into a tent with my solar-powered flashlight.

TGP: As a parent, what do you think is the biggest challenge to going green?

KG: Diapers, Diapers, Diapers! I was not on the Green Bandwagon when my children were in diapers, but lately when I have considered adding to my family, I have thought long and hard about the carbon footprint a baby makes. Besides diapers there are so many plastic toys, that will NEVER decompose (or at least not in the baby’s lifetime), plastic packaging on every baby item that one buys at the store, plastic bottle liners, wipes made out of paper (read TREES), and the list goes on and on. And among my friends, the best Mom therapy is a nice long trip to Target, which adds about 20 plastic bags to the pile, if you forgot your reusable bags.

TGP: What “green” achievement are you most proud of?

KG: It has taken me about 1 year to switch to using my own reusable bags while shopping. At first I kept forgetting to pack them, but now it’s a bona fide habit. On the rare occasion that I forget to bring them, I feel so bad, I start apologizing to Mother Earth and promising I won’t throw them away, I’ll reuse them! I promise! I also keep a stash of mini-bags in my purse and I pull them out anywhere I shop for non-grocery items. Retailers have even stopped being so weird about seeing me use my own bags. My kids even remind me: “Mom, your SAVE THE WORLD bag!” I think they might have me confused with Wonder Woman.

Check back tomorrow to read Kristy’s “Gradually Going Green” approach to recycling.

And don’t forget…you still have a few more days to enter to win a Waste-Free lunch kit fro ECOBAGS. Enter now: