If you grew up in the 90's you know plastic Tupperware was a huge part of any household. If you grew up in a budgeted family like mine you also knew that any food item that was finished and held in a plastic or glass container would now be washed and reused to store something new! Growing up I never understood why my elders did this until now at my ripe age of 25 years. First they didn't want to spend any money on Tupperwares if they didn't need to and secondly they knew creating more waste was wasteful.
With all the crazy buzz on how if we don't change our ways global warming will wipe us out, you can imagine why someone young like me would want to do their part in avoiding that. Not to mention the countless articles and wildlife rehabilitation centers that tell us the flora and fauna are being extremely affected (most of the outcomes is death). So with these things in mind I began my transition into learning how to produce less plastic waste.
After typing countless plastic free living hashtags, reading, and following other eco-conscious friends on Instagram & Facebook I gathered my starting point. Everyone emphasized that you shouldn't begin throwing out all your plastic ware, instead KEEP IT and use it until you HAVE to throw it out. Why create more trash if it still works right? In the long run you will save money and time from having to buy things you already have but that is labeled decomposable.
1. I started by eliminating MY BIGGEST plastic waste consumption ... PLASTIC BAGS. I live in the crazy city of San Antonio, Texas, where my local market is HEB. They're a pretty good big chain store, they have fair prices and an abundance of far and local products to choose from. Well a couple years ago they began selling reusable bags and recently they've become more budget friendly as well as higher quality. The outside is a sturdy red fabric texture and the inside is insulated with a flexible durable foil that insulates for cool and hot food items.
I got 3 because I like to have extra in case I get a lot from the store and to be prepared if something happens to one of them. I also have one labeled specifically for meat to avoid any cross contamination with the produce because I do not wrap them anymore in the plastic produce bags. The amount of plastic I don't use from bringing my bags overall makes me feel like its worth it and none of my groceries overheat or get mushed if you organize it right. The beast method is heavy stuff at the bottom and your lighter stuff on top!
For retail shopping I know it can be a bit awkward to ask for no plastic bags but not to worry just be friendly and ask politely that you would like to not use the plastic bags. Instead you would like to buy one of their totes or have one of your own ready on hand. Either way just remember to be friendly and patient with others during your shopping. 😊
2. Another thing that's helped me create less waste is looking for items of good lasting quality and that are wrapped in as little plastic or paper as possible. Sometimes that means you might have to save for a little longer but in the long run your money goes farther. Who doesn't love saving money, right?
3. So I know the mason jar has had a big comeback especially in the DIY forefront but they're really great for storing food as well as preserving it! But don't just settle for the mason jar because literally any Pyrex container with a top is great quality for longevity. Not to mention they don't hold any smells from what your stored in them. This doesn't mean start throwing out your plastic containers. Instead use them until they can no longer be of any use. The goal is not to create more waste.🙌
If you would like to invest in some new glass/pyrex containers, I suggest you visit your local 99 cent sores because they have a wide and affordable selection!
4. I reuse old shirts and old bath towels to make new cleaning and drying cloths and use less paper towels. Anytime I can make something I no longer wear or want to use as something else, I do so. Old T-shirts are perfect for dusting, wiping a spills, and old bath towels cut into 4 pieces make great dish drying towels. Of course if you want to use boujee decorative towels for your restroom that's perfectly fine just make sure you take care of them so they last queen!💖
If you would like to invest in some new glass/pyrex containers, I suggest you visit your local 99 cent sores because they have a wide and affordable selection!
4. I reuse old shirts and old bath towels to make new cleaning and drying cloths and use less paper towels. Anytime I can make something I no longer wear or want to use as something else, I do so. Old T-shirts are perfect for dusting, wiping a spills, and old bath towels cut into 4 pieces make great dish drying towels. Of course if you want to use boujee decorative towels for your restroom that's perfectly fine just make sure you take care of them so they last queen!💖
5. Starting to use a pour-over coffee pot with a reusable filter. So for my fellow coffee fans, if you love coffee like I do this is a game changer! No longer will you have to buy paper filters, with already ground up coffee ( unless you like it but fresh un-ground coffee taste is so fresh I recommend you try it). Instead all you need is a Krups coffee grinder to finish your set and a small bag of your local HEB coffee beans that you get in a cute paper bag. It's pretty cool to watch and gets easy and faster to use after your first couple of tries.😊
Overall I hope these tips helped you and I have faith in you being able to find new ways you can make less waste. All it takes is making the first effort and choice, then the rest comes easy. Feel free to leave comments on what else you would like to learn about in the eco-friendly journey of ours. Till then be nice to your fellow humans,
Love Aurora 😃💖
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