Groxie

Now that you have the facts about plastics, there’s all sorts of action you can take to reduce the amount of plastic in your home. Of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” mantra, reducing plastic is by far the most effective action. The per capita plastic consumption in North America is 223 pounds, more than any other area of the world.

Reusable shopping bags

One of the first things I did, and one with drastic effects, was to stop taking plastic bags from stores. In the U.S. alone, 90 billion plastic bags are produced every year. I invested in some reusable bags that I use constantly; they’re called Chico bags, and they ball up so small that I always keep a couple in my bag and in the car. There are lots of options out there, with a huge range of prices and styles. If you aren’t up for buying reusable bags quite yet, just start bringing your plastic (or paper) bags back with you. That way at least you aren’t always using new ones.

Buy in bulk

Another great way to cut down on plastic is to buy in bulk. Buying in bulk can save you tons of money, too. You can buy just the amount you need without the excess packaging. Less packaging means less trash altogether. I often bring my own zippy bags to the store to scoop the bulk items into; that way I can avoid more new bags from the store.

Bottle your own water

Empty water bottles are an environmental bane—40 million bottles a day end up as litter or in landfills. Instead of buying high priced bottled water, you can use filtered water from the tap to refill your own container. There are stainless steel water bottles available that are non-reactive and incredibly durable. If you’re looking for a low or no cost solution, try reusing a glass bottle for a while. Spaghetti sauce bottles are a good size.

Trade in Tupperware

I have started saving most of the larger glass bottles that come through our house. As our plastic food containers start to get scratched, lose lids, or become cracked, I have been replacing them with glass. Then the plastic containers become storage for things like thread, q-tips, or pencils. Companies like Anchor Hocking and Crate and Barrel make very nice glass food storage containers, but they’re a little too pricey for me to overhaul my entire kitchen just yet. In the meantime, never microwave your food in plastic—transfer it to glass first.

Do anything at all!

So there’s a few ways to get started; millions of tons of plastics would stay out of the landfill if we took just the first step. Being aware of the plastics you bring home won’t just help the environment; you will reduce your own exposure to harmful chemicals, too!