‘Single-use’ people’s choice for 2018 word

ALDI has committed to removing single-use plastic from all of its own-brand tea bags by the end of this year. The UK’s fifth-largest supermarket will replace the oil-based plastic sealant on the bags with biodegradable materials. It follows a similar move by Sainsbury’s in January. Aldi said the outer plastic wrapping on boxes will also be dropped. The move means 1.4 billion pieces of single-use plastic will be removed. Richard Gorman, of Aldi, said: “The changes we’ve made to our tea range will help us reduce our environmental impact and offer our customers even more environmentally sustainable options.” He added: “By the end of this year, all of our own-brand tea bags will be biodegradable and contain no plastic whatsoever.”

Older hardware consumes much more power than newer technologies. Upgrade when you can and take care in how you recycle your old equipment. Computers often contain dangerous chemicals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic that must be disposed of properly. Here are some ways you can recycle your old gear: UW computers and other electronics hardware can be turned over to UW Surplus Property.  Personal property can be dropped off at businesses participating in the E-Cycle Washington program, which provides recycling of computers, monitors, laptops, and televisions, often at no charge. Information about participating businesses in Washington State is available at the Recycle Hotline site or by calling 1-800-RECYCLE.