Over the last month I have begun paying more attention to the amount of plastic coming through our home and the amount of food going into our trash can. What sparked it was the fact that our recycling program just eliminated a bunch of plastics and products from the recycling list. All we can recycle now is cans, corrugated cardboard and plastic/glass bottles.
It has made me feel horrible throwing away so many plastic containers, bags and boxes. It just doesn’t feel right. Especially knowing that all these toxic plastics will end up in landfills, and stay there, for hundreds of years.
Because of this I have slowly been looking at different ways to switch products and habits I have to more waste free and plastic free alternatives. Some things are simple and even easier to use. For example – did you know that if you use a glass baking dish, you don’t need to use foil or parchment paper so you save money and your health, food rarely sticks and it’s easy to clean? Some things though require a little more of an adjustment, like remembering to have my reusable shopping bags available in the car when I need them. I have also had a few incidences already where I have used my bamboo utensils out and forgotten they were mine and almost had them thrown in the trash.
In any case, it’s causing me to be more intentional and think through my actions more, which is a great thing. Do I really need to put this in a plastic ziplock bag, or can I use a glass jar? Do I really need to use 5 paper towels, or can I use a cloth? Can I drive an extra mile down the road and get my groceries free from plastic packaging, or do I have to save that extra 5 minutes?
Switch out plastic for glass
Glass is your new best friend. Anyone that has been to our apartment knows that I am a glass jar collector. My cupboards and fridge are filled with them and I use them for drinks, foods and as storage containers. I also use glass bake ware as it eliminates the need for aluminum foil or parchment paper.
I’ll have to do a separate post about all the reasons why glass is superior to plastic, not only for the health of the environment, but also for you and your food. The two main reasons are 1. Glass is recyclable and 2. Glass doesn’t contain harmful chemicals. Plastic, on the other hand, is made of petrochemicals that are full of toxic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDT’s) that leach into your food. Common habits like running plastic tupperware through a dishwasher or microwave, leads them to leach more chemicals.
So, as much as you can, switch out your plastics for glass. This doesn’t have to be expensive. Thrift stores usually have a TON of old mason jars, etc for 25-50 cents a piece. Purchase food items in glass and wash them out when you’re done. Or ask a friend for their empty food jars.
Get reusable to-go cups and utensils
If you go to a coffee shop on a regular basis, consider purchasing a reusable to-go coffee cup and asking your favourite barista to pour your coffee in that, instead of a disposable cup. There are so many fancy cool to-go coffee cups that it almost makes me want to go out more often and order matcha lattes just so I can use it. FYI, not a good reason to buy one.
Buy a set of bamboo utensils like these from amazon for $11.97 and keep it in your purse. Say “bye” to throwing away a plastic fork after using it for 5 minutes. If you want to make a change for the better but really need to save those few bucks, you could also just keep a regular fork or spoon in your purse wrapped in a cloth napkin or something similar.
Get glass straws like these. Or stainless steel ones. Or just don’t use one. According to market research done by the Freedonia Group, Americans ALONE use about 390 million plastic straws each day! It takes about 200 years for a plastic straw to decompose and many of them end up in the ocean. Those figures are almost too large to fathom the amount and impact that has on our environment and the well being of wildlife in the ocean, but I believe it’s something we should try to comprehend so we begin to understand that even cutting down on something that seems like it won’t make a difference – can make a huge impact.
Rethink take out
This has been a hard one for me because I am not in the habit of thinking about it. However, getting food to-go or ordering take out, or even taking leftover food home is a great way to end up with a bunch of plastic containers, plastic utensils and a bunch of napkins straight into your trash can and then a landfill. Request that they leave out the plastic forks and spoons and use your own silverware at home (or your own reusable utensil set!). If you’re feeling particularly up for a challenge, keep a small glass tupperware container in your car or bag to take any extra food home in, instead of asking for a plastic box.
Shop from local farmers markets and bulk bins
Eliminate some of the wasteful plastic packaging on food and take a glass jar or a cloth bag and fill it up with your rice, grains, beans, seeds and nuts. Just make sure the store is okay with it and have them tare your glass container before you fill it. If you use a cloth bag, once you get home, you can transfer it into your preferred glass container. No plastic involved! This honestly often ends up being a lot cheaper too. It’s weird how much more expensive an amount of rice is for being put in a plastic bag.
Finding a store or local farmers market where produce is sold loose is great too. That way you can pick what you need and put it straight into your reusable grocery bags. Buying produce at a local farmers market is also a plus because you often won’t need to peel off those annoying sticker labels.
Get creative with your food
I am guilty of throwing away a lot of good food because I don’t get around to using it or eating it. We all have that item of food somewhere in our kitchen that every time we look at, we know we should use or get around to eating, but we don’t know how long it’s been there or what to do with it and also feel bad for throwing it out – so it just sits there for months and DARE I SAY years. Eventually we usually end up throwing it out anyway.
I am trying to be more intentional about using what I already have in my cupboards and fridge instead of just going out and buying more. It’s forcing me to think more creatively. How can I start to use these two jars of buckwheat groats I have? How can I incorporate these steel cut oats into my breakfast instead of buying more rolled oats?
The question to take with you is: how can I use what I already have?
Pinterest and google will give you recipes for practically any ingredient.
Think creatively. Reduce waste. Eliminate plastic.
It makes a difference.
What are some ways you reduce waste and the use of plastic in your kitchen or home? Comment below and let me know!
