How can using plastic products actually lessen my plastic waste?
It is not common sense to think that buying plastic could help you reduce your carbon footprint. We all know the adage that “you can not fight fire with fire”. But what if you could? There are now plastic products on the market that are actually helping with reducing plastic use. Purchasing reusable plastic products can help lessen the amount of “throw-away” plastic we use. Also, companies are now using recycled plastic to make new products. Finding new uses for old items is one of the best ways we can help Mother Earth. Try your best to help take a load off of plastic that goes into the landfill every.
Reusable Water Bottles
So many are guilty of going to the store every week to buy a case of their favorite brand of bottled water. Although this is easy and convenient to grab as you walk out the door, this contributes millions of pounds to the landfill every day. A great alternative is a plastic reusable bottle. They are inexpensive and last a lifetime. You can put them in the dishwasher as much as you would like and they also do not leak the harsh chemicals that the disposable water bottles do.
Reusable Plastic Containers
When making your lunch or your kid’s lunch, how many plastic baggies do you use? Now, after those bags are used one time, for maybe a couple of hours, they are thrown away. And then the same thing the next day. Investing in plastic containers can be your way of reducing the plastic waste you generate on a daily basis. Plastic containers can serve as storage, transportation, and be your plate when eating a meal. They even make plastic containers that are microwave-safe nowadays too.
Reusable Plastic Straws
We all know that disposable plastic straws are killing turtles, as well as affecting the lives of many other sea creatures. The use of disposable plastic straws is becoming more and more taboo. Go ahead and keep using plastic straws, just invest in the ones that you can reuse. Stores carry many different types of reusable plastic straws; from silicone flexible ones to your standard clear, hard polypropylene straws. You can run them through the dishwasher as many times as you please. Another plus is that cleaning them by hand has never been easier. Every store that carries reusable straws will also sell skinny cleaning brushes specific to straws.
Reusable Grocery Bags
The plastic bags that we get from the grocery store are one of the number one culprits of plastic waste. Millions are handed out every day at stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. One of the smartest investments you can make is reusable grocery bags. They are large and can be used for more than just shopping. You can use them to pack stuff for a picnic or simply keep them in the back of your car for the next time you go grocery shopping.
