Plastic: it’s ubiquitous. Your dental floss case? Plastic. Kitty’s litter box? Plastic. Bags? Plastic. Trash on the beach? Plastic. It’s not biodegradable and it’s not wildlife-friendly. Here are a few tips for cutting your plastic use:
- Next time you hear, “Paper or plastic?” say “No thanks!” because you brought your own bag.
- Reuse quality Tupperware containers. Instead of tossing out disposable containers, save them and re-use them. Stop using Saran wrap. Use lidded-glassware to store food items.
- Carry your own silverware and avoid the plastic stuff.
- Shop at local bakeries and farmer’s markets where fresh foods are sold plastic-free by people you know.
- Pack your own lunch.
- Opt for no drinking straw in that Slurpy.
- Buy recycled whenever possible. Let those companies know you don’t want new plastic.
- Minimize packaging. Don’t buy bubble-wrap envelopes if you don’t really need them.
- Reuse water bottles (ie: Better or stainless steel)
- Next time you throw out plastic a pen, razor, brush, or cup, replace it with a sustainable version.
- Refuse bags for items you can carry by hand.
- Use everything at least twice.
- We never recommend plastic surgery.
RSS
These are terrific tips. If you have a moment check out ‘to-go ware’. They make sustainable utensils and holders you can keep in your backpack or purse so you’ll never have to use another plastic fork or spoon again.
I’m still looking for creative ideas to dispose of garbarge/trash without re-using plastic grocery bags. I used plastic grocery bags for garbage for years (I now use cloth totes for groceries), but plastic bags are being phased out in my state and I agree in principle that they should be. I live in a condo complex so composting isn’t practical, and our trash removal company prohibits loose garbage in the dumpster for sanitary reasons. So, what to do? Do I start buying NEW plastic bags, which seems to make no sense at all ecologically, or switch to paper, which means cutting down more trees.
I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has a workable solution.
Where do I find the responses for this question? I’m really wanting to find info about the same thing!
Try some of the new non-plastic trash bags like those made by Bio Bags, http://biobagusa.com/.
I did a search for “biodegradable plastic bag” and this site came up, http://www.ecoproducts.com/Home/home_biobags/home_biogrocery_bags.htm
Hi Elizabeth, Rose and Wendy,
The only solutions that I know of are to purchase eco trash bags — Bio Bags are a good option.
Here are a couple of other green possibilities:
UK-based Natural Collection has a small-sized bag made from corn starch: Natural Collection’s, they are quite “thin.” USA-based LetsGoGreen.biz also offers Ecosafe Tall Kitchen bags. They are PVC and plasticizer-free, and pkged in in materials made from recycled paper. I’m currently using the EcoSafe bags and am very pleased with them, they are quite durable.
hi everyone,
we are about to launch our new california based company and website
http://www.flushadoo.com.
i hope you will check us out.
we have a flushable, completely water soluble, eco friendly dissolving doggie doo bag. this will keep plastic out of landfills, oceans and of course “waste” will go where waste was always meant to go…in the toilet.
we need to help keep our beautiful california beaches clean and healthy…as well as all of the worlds bodies of water.
i hope if you have a dog, have friends with dogs…you will pass along the word on http://www.flushadoo.com
we will ready for sales on june 1.
thank you
michelle cherry
Am happy to see anti plastics campaign gaining momentum around the world.
You may want to view and use a presentation made by me on the same topic and which has gained good momentum around the world.
The link to the same is http://ramjeenagarajan.blogspot.com/2008/06/say-no-to-plastics.html
also I’ve uploaded it as video file on you tube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF7LgTL6rGU from where you could get the file linked to or downloaded and uploaded on your site.
If you wish to embed it on your site please do that using the following url code http://www.youtube.com/v/bF7LgTL6rGU&hl=en
Thank you.
With kind regards,
ramjee