Reducing waste and tidying up is catching fire right now, and rightfully so. It comes at a time when traditional consumerism is being questioned and the downstream effects of our decisions are unknown.
Up until very recently, our recyclables were being exported to China where they turned our trash into a profitable industry. But with China no longer accepting our exports – too much contamination creates an industry that is no longer profitable – the next steps are unknown.
Since more recyclables may end up in the landfill then we are aware, reducing our consumption altogether would be the end-goal.
It’s crucial to understand that out of sight should not mean out of mind. And while behavior change can seem daunting at first, switching to reusable bags and bottles (I promise) is really not that overwhelming.
I think its important to understand how much power we hold in our decision-making. Small shifts in behavior should never be discounted. No step is ever too small. Start where you can, but start now! Our planet is counting on you.
1. REUSABLE BOTTLE
Over 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every single minute around the world. Swapping the plastic water bottle for a reusable one can be a simple habit shift that makes a world of difference. Not only will it save the landfill and the oceans from unnecessary plastic, but it will also save you money. Think of all the money you could save by using a water filter (I currently use a Berkey) and a reusable bottle.
When searching for bottles that worked for my lifestyle, I have found larger sizes to work best. I did find it difficult to travel with at first, but I purchased a carrier for easier transport if hiking or walking long distances.
I’m a huge hyrdoflask fan and love that their bottles are leak proof and offer straw tops. Hyroflasks also come with a lifetime guarantee, so its easy to know that your money and upfront investment is worth it. I have the 40 oz, 64 oz. and a food thermos. The 40 oz. bottle comes with me wherever I go and my Byta cup is my newly beloved cup for my morning tea. I use the 64 oz. for beach trips, long road trips or weekends away. Fill up stations are becoming increasingly available too, so with a reusable bottle in hand, you never have to purchase water bottles on-the-go.
2. REUSABLE BAGS
Many cities and towns are planning to, or have already, initiated a plastic bag ban. But there’s no reason to wait until your favorite store has banned bags to switch over.
Reusable bags come in all shapes, sizes and materials- making them extremely versatile for carrying whatever you need from groceries to toiletries or clothing. By getting some, you can greatly reduce your consumption of single-use plastics.
I have these reusable produce bags by PataBee, which work double duty by also keeping my food fresh in the fridge. They can easily be thrown in the wash when dirty. I also have cotton string bags which work well for larger produce like apples or avocado. There are plenty of brands that offer cloth or string produce bags like these and these. They come in a variety of sizes as well as the tare weight, so it makes bulk shopping a bit easier.
An additional reason I love them- they are beautiful to hang up when not in use. This is especially important when living in a small space (like I am) to reduce visual clutter.
The other option is to always just go bagless. When I am only purchasing one or two items and am without a reusable bag, I will either put them in my purse or simply carry them. Why bring a bag into my house that I immediately need to dispose of?
3. COMPOST
I first became interested in composting when I realized just how much of our household waste was food scraps. This became especially apparent as I tossed pounds of watermelon rind into the trash during the summer months.
It helped to learn that sending our scraps to compost, instead of the landfill, would help reduce methane emissions by food rot and would ensure that the nutrients returned to the soil. All the while reducing the cost of trash removal and trash bags.
It took me a while to come around to the idea of composting because I didn’t think it was something I could or wanted to do on my own. But I was sure that I wanted to find a way to compost- as it reduces the need for agricultural chemicals, supports local food and protects the environment.
Instead, I was able to find City Compost, a composting service that picks up my scraps on a weekly basis for only $5 a week.
4. REPLACING SINGLE-USE DISPOSABLES
Single-use items almost always have better alternatives.
Consider doing without a straw, or opting for a stainless steel or bamboo version, for the many reasons listed here. When dining on-the-go, choose to bring a set of travel utensils with you. Trade your parchment paper for this silicone baking mat. And save (lots of!) money and use kitchen cloths instead of buying paper towels.
In regards to food storage, I almost always pack our lunches and store our leftover in our glass Pyrex containers. If we do use a plastic zip-lock bag though, to say freeze bananas, I just wash and reuse it when I empty its contents. I will probably look to switch ours out soon, but I think it makes a point that you don’t need to upgrade everything you have… try to upcycle glass containers that you may normally just recycle and reuse the things you already have!
I also recently switched out my coffee filters for a reusable stainless steel version– only to give up coffee a few months later.
You may be surprised by the storage, money and waste that you will save when switching from single-use to reusable. Reusable items take up a lot less space and rarely need to be purchased again. It’s a win-win.
5. BUYING LESS AND/OR BETTER QUALITY
I want to take a step away from plastic and food waste, which was the focus above, and talk about consumer habits as a whole.
Growing up, I was super fortunate to have everything I needed, plus a lot. I was an only child, only niece, only grandchild and only great-grandchild on one side of my family, so you can imagine how this impacted the holiday/birthday gift-giving dynamic. I had so much. And while I am incredibly grateful for my upbringing, I do believe it impacted my ability to understand what was a need and what was a want later in life.
I would purchase things to never use them, or wear them or appreciate them. I didn’t truly understand the value they added to my life in the first place.
Long story shortish, we are all viewers of ads and commercials that either, consciously or subconsciously, increase our desire to buy and consume. I have seen wonderful changes in my life since we decided to live with less and be more conscious of our purchases overall. The take-home message is that when you consume less, you will generally have less waste. And when you purchase better quality items that will last a long time and maybe grow with you or serve more than one purpose, it reduces your need to buy multiples over time.
Documentaries like Minimalism and The True Cost helped me begin to understand the impact consumer habits were having on ourselves, others and the world. And we can’t leave out Marie Kondo, who’s new series on Netflix wonderfully displays the relationship between quality of life and things.
If you plan on tidying up, look into donation options before you send the items to the landfill. Donate old sheets, blankets and towels to your local animal shelter. Donate books to your local library. Get rid of old phones by bringing them back to the manufacturer. Donate old school supplies to a local boys and girls club or nearby school.
Consume responsibly friends XO