Reducing Plastic at Home, Work and On the Go

Ontario County recyclers kept 927 tons of plastic from entering landfills in 2017, but we can’t stop there!

It can be sorta overwhelming to think about tackling our community’s reliance on plastic, but there are lots of little things we can all do on our own that will add up to a big impact. Everyone knows that replacing disposable water bottles with a reusable one is a great way to cut back on plastic waste but this great National Geographic article got us thinking about creative ways to cut down at home, at work and on the go.

At home…

• Be thoughtful of packaging and materials when buying household items:
  • Swap your standard plastic toothbrush with bamboo or electric brushes with disposable heads to cut back on plastic going into the bin.
  • Ditch the plastic floss pick for a biodegradable one or go back to traditional floss in ecofriendly containers.
  • Instead of disposable razors why not try one where you just swap out the blades instead?
  • Go back to the bar! Body wash is great, but often comes in very wasteful plastic bottles. A bar of soap can last just as long and leaves you with nothing to throw out when it’s gone.
  • This maybe shocking to hear but babies go through upwards of 10,000 disposable diapers before they are potty trained. That makes them the 3rd largest consumer item in landfills. Imagine the impact switching to cloth diapers can have on non-biodegradable waste!
  • Scan the store shelves for household products that come in cardboard or paper bags rather than the more common plastic packaging.

At work…

• Can you believe 1.6 billion disposable pens end up in the trash every year? A fountain pen is a really simple way to cut back on the amount of pen related waste we crate. And no, you don’t need a powdered wig to fit in. There are lots of exciting styles and once you get used to them they are a ton of fun to write with.
• Disposable flatware and plates are easy but can pile up quick in the office. Next time you upgrade you home collection why not bring the old set to work for office meals?

On the go…

• Carrying around a reusable straw is a great tip but we don’t have to stop there. Camping flatware has evolved so much over the years and there are lots of innovative sets that include everything you need. Why not carry a set in your glovebox or handbag to use wherever disposal silverware is the only option? And take it one step further and pack your own reusable takeout box for your leftovers.

These tips and suggestions oughta be a start but check out this blog for more inspiration to live a plastic free life. We’d love to hear how you cut down on plastic in your own lives, so feel free to contact us with any ideas you have!