7 Easy Ways To Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Home

March 18 is Global Recycling Day. I’d love to celebrate but we’ve reached a point of no return. Not only should we reduce plastic waste and use, we simply have to. This is no time to celebrate with statistics like this:

• The equivalent of one garbage truck of trash enters the ocean every minute
• The North Pacific Gyre (aka Great Pacific Garbage Patch) is twice the size of Texas
• 1 Million single-use plastic bottles are sold every minute.
• Americans use 50 Billion water bottles per year. Only 3 out of 10 are recycled.

Studies show that 93% of bottled water contains microplastics in the water itself. Also, plastic is now in our food supply. By 2050, the ocean will have more plastic than fish by weight.

I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of these statistics and saddened for our world. Something has to change. 

But How?

Start small. Just start! Like decluttering, start with your own stuff. Make a few simple changes and set the example for others to follow. The best way we can preserve our planet is to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – in that order.

Reduce – Consume Less

Bottled water became mainstream in the early 1990s. Past generations simply consumed less plastic. They reused glass containers and had less to throw away. Additionally, they mended clothing and conserved water and electricity. But most of all, they bought less stuff. The invention of television and TV advertising changed all of that.

Reuse – Borrow or Re-Purpose

What if instead of running to the store or ordering online, we made purchases intentionally and thoughtfully? What if buying was not our first instinct?

How can we be good stewards of our time, money and space? Can we substitute an ingredient? Borrow a cup of sugar from our neighbor? Re-repurpose a box, bin or widget instead of buying something new?

Recycle – The Right Way

When I suggest curtailing plastic purchases, the response I receive is, “But I recycle.” Recycling is not enough. The market for plastic recycling is dwindling due to volume and contamination from sloppy recycling practices.

“The sooner we accept the economic impracticality of recycling, the sooner we can make serious progress on addressing the plastic pollution problem,” said Jan Dell, an engineer who leads Last Beach Cleanup. It’s an advocacy group that works with investors and nonprofits to reduce plastic pollution.

So, if you recycle, do it right. Modern-day society is the planet’s worst enemy; routinely purchasing cheap plastic solutions to throw away and replace at will. 

Since plastic became incorporated into many consumer products in the 1950s, only about 21 percent has been recycled or incinerated. What makes plastic appealing — that it’s not only cheap and versatile but also virtually indestructible — makes it a nightmare to dispose of.

Are you inspired to make a difference?

Try these 7 habits to reduce plastic waste in your home today!

1. Stop Buying Bottled Water – Find a reusable water bottle you love and carry it everywhere. (Just one is enough. Owning 5 Stanleys is not helping the problem. It’s just more clutter in your home and money wasted. I love this Hydrapeak. Metal canteens are best. I also love my Yeti.
2. Decline Straws – When ordering drinks at a restaurant ask for no straw. Go without a lid too!
3. Avoid Doggie Bags – Be conservative about ordering food in restaurants. Share a meal to eliminate leftovers and take out containers. Save money and reduce waste!
4. Use Reusable Shopping Bags Everywhere – If you forget, ask for paper in the grocery store. If you’re only buying one or two items, decline the bag altogether.
5. Swap Bar Soap for Liquid Soap – Place a bar of soap at sinks for handwashing. Eliminate plastic soap pumps and plastic refills. Need a soap dish? Check your cabinets for excess plates and bowls. Repurpose as a soap dish and improve organization.
6. Purchase Because Of Packaging – I shop at a grocery store where the produce is in minimal packaging. The fruits and vegetables are loose or bound with a rubber band. Here are other products I like because of the sustainable packaging:
   1. Lush Bar Shampoo and Conditioner – One bar equals 80 washes!
   2. Paper Snack Bags for lunches
   3. Bamboo Toothbrushes 
7. Skip the Tchotchke – Our homes and especially our children’s lives are filled with plastic crap. Skip the birthday goodie bags of trinkets. Be thoughtful about toy purchases, not just the volume but the quality. This article says it all. 

How do you reduce plastic waste in your home?