Reducing the use of plastics is an important issue in the modern society. It can lead to better health because of minimizing exposure to the chemicals in plastics and it is also better for our Earth because plastic is not biodegradable. Barb from A Life in Balance breaks down what each type of plastic is and how her family is striving to reduce their use of plastics! We hope you enjoy it and will take on the challenge with your kids and family to reduce your impact by learning more about plastics!
For a suburban family of 7, despite our best efforts, we use a lot of plastic in our daily lives. Most of the plastic in our home comes in via the grocery store and the drug store. The next biggest category is toys; we are a Lego family. Our house is probably insulated by Legos!
For Earth Day, I’m challenging my family to reduce our use of plastic. We are fortunate to have a curbside recycling program in our township which accepts lots of plastic: # 1,#2,#4,#5,# 7 . The township doesn’t accept #3 (PVC – shampoo bottles and detergent bottles) or #6 (Polystyrene – take out food containers, etc.) They also don’t accept plastic grocery bags which we can recycle at local grocery stores and Target. Most Curbside Programs Accept: #1, #2, sometimes #5, sometimes #6.
How One Family Is Reducing Their Plastic Use
While we are one family reducing our plastic use, the effects can be long-term. When we reduce our physical contact with plastic, we limit the ability of some types of plastic to disrupt hormones. We protect the animals in our local environment by reducing the amount of plastic they come in contact with in our trash cans and at public facilities.
Plastics — Recycling Symbols Defined
Number 1 Plastics – PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
Number 2 Plastics – HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
Number 3 Plastics – V (Vinyl) or PVC
Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping
Number 4 Plastics – LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Number 5 Plastics – PP (polypropylene)
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles
Number 6 Plastics – PS (polystyrene)
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases
There is evidence of polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. It has always been difficult to recycle.
Number 7 Plastics – Miscellaneous
Found in: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, ‘bullet-proof’ materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon
Polycarbonate studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.
Ways to Reduce the Use of Plastics
General
- Read the recycling symbols on the plastic containers. Stick to the plastics that can be recycled by your town or municipality.
Lunch, On-the-go, & Leftovers
- Use glass and metal containers for packing lunch. Do the same with leftovers.
- When buying coffee at places like Starbucks and Wawa, bring your own refillable coffee cup, preferably aluminum or steel.
- Use refillable metal and steel water bottles.
At The Grocery Store
- Use cloth grocery bags instead of plastic bags.
- Buy foods packaged in paper rather than plastic.
- Buy dry goods in bulk and use your own containers to transport and store them.
- Save glass jars and reuse them at the grocery store. Stores like Whole Foods allow you to refill oil and maple syrup in glass containers in their bulk food section.
Around the Home & Cleaning
- Instead of using air fresheners, open the windows or light a candle.
- Buy detergent and cleaners in boxes rather than plastic bottles.
- Use cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. Cloth diapers will save you at least $1,000 over the time you use them; they’re easy to use, and kids are less likely to get diaper rash when wearing cloth diapers.
- Use bar soap for washing dishes and personal hygiene.
- Use rag towels for cleaning which reduces your trash (and use of trash bags).
In the Kitchen
- Compost kitchen scraps instead of putting them in the trash which reduces your trash (and use of trash bags).
- Use real glasses, plates, napkins, and silverware even for parties. You can find ceramic and glass serving items at thrift shops.
- Make your own foods and convenience items from scratch: bread, yogurt, ketchup, mayonnaise.
How Does Your Family Reduce Its Plastic Use?
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Barb is a mom of 5 kids who spends her day keeping track of socks, stuffed animals, library books, and a 5 year old when she isn’t writing about all the frugality, gardening, cooking, and reading she manages to fit in between the chaotic moments. She can be found at A Life in Balance.
Website: http://www.alifeinbalance.net
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BarbHoyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/A.Life.in.Balance.net
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+BarbaraHoyer/posts/p/pub
Other Posts by Barb on a Life in Balance
(How do your cleaners Rate, Edible Gardening &Landscaping, & Planting a Garden video.)
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Connie at Bird and Seed
Great article. We too really try to limit our plastic use and thankfully our town recycles all plastics. However, using less is always better than recycling. Another option I would add to the list is trying to reuse containers. Plastic is hard to completely avoid, but sometimes you can find re-uses for plastic containers instead of dumping them into the recycle bin. Like I store craft supplies in plastic cookie tubs and an old plastic salad container holds our compost in the kitchen before we take it outside.
Kara
We definitely love re-using and re-purposing before recycling. Emma from P is for Preschooler actually did a fun guest post earlier in this series on some unique ways to re-use plastic bottles. We also use a lot of tubs and the sort in the garage for some awesome storage! Thanks for your wonderful comment! 🙂
Bek @ Just For Daisy
We use canvas bags for our grocery shopping.
And have started taking our soft plastics which can’t go into our street recycling bins to the recycling centre at our local grocery store.. such a great initiative where all plastic bags and soft plastic packaging are recycled and made into outdoor bench seating!!
Now that I’m saving it all instead of putting it straight into our waste bin it’s SO much more apparent how much of it there is. I’m glad it’s being saved but we’re also trying to buy things that are packaged more responsibly too!
Kara
Such a cool idea to turn it into outdoor seating! We have so much technology that recycling is becoming more and more productive. I have seen water bottles get turned into re-usable bags and even pieces of clothing.
It’s shocking how fast recycling bins can fill up. I know when we started recycling when we first got married, it was very apparent we needed to change our habits to buy less… and at that time it was for no other reason than we didn’t want to take it to the recycling center so often!
Jaime @ Slightly Steady
What are some suggestions you’d have for those who find it hard to find paper-packaged foods? I definitely find it most difficult to avoid the packaging in plastic. I *have* started transferring foods to glass containers when we get home, but as for bypassing it altogether, I can’t seem to do that unless I’m shopping a farmer’s market!
Kara
Well it definitely depends on the options that you have in your area. I like in OK and we are very natural UN-friendly and even get offered plastics at the FM. I have found that many places will allow me to buy in bulk and buy meat and the sort while using my own containers. (I have the tare wt. listed on each container). Of course there is always the option to learn to make more from scrath, but I also realize that’s not in the cards for many of us.
Also, I have found that most plastic packaged items are foods that are not as good for us, so we started cutting some of those or at least cutting the ones that were not in the plastic #1 or #2 category. I saw one person advocate opening it and leaving the packaging in store “to send a message to the manufacturer”. Though I agree the store would not like it, if it’s just on person they’re not likely to complain OR recycle.
I will also say that since the process of recycling is still not that great and re-using is better, you might collect them to give to farmers who sell. I know some of ours take old containers and wash/re-label.
I agree though. It’s SO hard. But the concerted effort is what makes a difference. We were taught for years that “plastics make it possible” and now it’s hard to wrap our minds around anything else even when we don’t want to use it!
Kelly Bisciotti
Great post! We are fortunate to live in a town that will take all plastics 1-7, as well as plastic bags, so we really are able to recycle almost all of our plastics. There are a few things like those big plastic shipping bubbles that come from Amazon (which are recyclable at certain locations) that they don’t take. I wish Amazon would switch to the starch based packing peanuts…they dissolve in water and can go right in the compost (although they probably come from GMO corn starch, and are not made in a food safe environment, so I wouldn’t put them in the garden compost).
Kara
Thanks for your comment! Your thought process sounds just like the stream of conscious thoughts I have where I realize that there are no awesome options, just better ones. I wish Oklahoma had better recycling resources. We actually live in a place where we have to take ours in ourselves which is a huge pain. But in the end, it’s worth it. I can be the lady that talks to her grand kids and says “when I was your age, I had to walk up hill both ways to recycle” 😉
'Becca
These are great ideas! Some other things you can do in restaurants/fast food are to refuse drinking straws (just drink from the cup or bottle) and bring washable containers for leftovers so you won’t get stuck with a styrofoam box.
One area you didn’t mention is feminine hygiene. Most pads contain plastic, are individually wrapped in plastic, and have an outer plastic package. Many tampons have plastic applicators and/or are wrapped in plastic. I originally switched to a reusable cup and cloth pads to reduce garbage, but I found out I like these products better in every way!! The reusable cup is plastic (medical grade silicone or natural rubber) but you can use it over and over again for YEARS.
Kara
Absolutely. My guest poster just wanted to share the ways she and her family cut down on plastics! Our family got some stainless steel straws last year and we love them! Such a great alternative to traditional straws. I also have used the diva cup and it is really a great solution to not only plastic usage, but unnecessary waste in general! And definitely healthier than bleached cotton products 😉