Dispose of Disposables

It’s sad to say, but we have become a disposable culture. Envirowise, an environmental advocacy group, estimates that we throw away nearly 80% of the products we use after a single use.

By now we should all have an internal moral compass directing us to reusable grocery bags and coffee cups? But don’t stop there. Think when you shop. Stay away from pre-packaged snack foods and instead opt for bulk items. My daughter loves applesauce, but instead of buying six small cups in plastic containers, I buy one big glass jar, and pack it in reusable containers for her lunch. Those convenient “snack packs” create as much as four or six times as much waste. When you’re doing your shopping, don’t use plastic produce bags unless absolutely necessary—threes no reason you need a bag for two or three potatoes or a head of celery, so opt out. And if you really need a bag, use a recycled one. I keep a stash of plastic produce bags in my grocery totes, for exactly that reason.

It’s great to use your stainless steel reusable coffee cup in the morning, but use it in the afternoon, too. Next time you order water, juice or soda from a carry out restaurant, have them put it in your reusable mug instead of a throw away Styrofoam or plastic cup. Don’t stop with cups—I keep biodegradable knife, fork and spoon handy in my car. And on a side note…just because it is biodegradable, doesn’t mean it should be so easily disposed of. I reuse the same biodegradable utensils for weeks before adopting a new set.

All I’m saying is, THINK. Everyday, you run into a hundred situations where you have a choice to keep something out of a landfill. THINK. Disposability has become second nature to us, and it’s a hard habit to break. But choose glass over plastic, choose permanence over temporary and choose to keep our planet healthy.