- Use reusable shopping bags. Have a set to keep in each vehicle. Use them everywhere, not just the grocery store.
- Use reusable produce and bulk bags. - Cloth bags for your carrots and apples, dried beans and granola. No more bags of any kind under the sink!
- Buy from bulk bins. Scoop dried goods into your own bags instead buying them prepackaged.
- Use reusable Ziploc bags - have a few sets and throw them in the washer as needed. Easy as that.
- Store your leftovers in reusable containers instead of using plastic wrap and foil.
- Carry your cup. Paper cups are recyclable but those lids are not. Get a thermos or just use a mug, every time!
- Wipe your face with cloth napkins instead of paper, which come wrapped in plastic.
- Dry your hands with cloth towels in the kitchen. Again, paper towels=plastic packaging.
- Wash dishes with washable knit dish towels instead of sponges.
- Say "no-thanks" when someone offers a plastic bag or takeout container. You don't need to feel bad--it's not like they're trying to give you a gift.
- Bring reusable containers to restaurants so you can bring home leftovers. Carry your cup in if you know they use paper/plastic cups.
- Don't use trash bags. Put waste directly into the trash can. If you compost your food scraps there won't be anything slimy to get your cans dirty.
- Compost your food scraps. Get some worms, build/buy a bin, or join a composting co-op.
- Reuse and compost your paper. Make lists and doodle on scrap paper instead of buying new paper.
- Get a Nalgene bottle for the car and stop buying single-serving drinks. Those caps aren't recyclable and we really don't need those bottles to get shipped around the country anyway.
- Pack your eco-friendly lunch to school or work.
- Stop getting junk mail and phone books. You really can get off the credit card offer list! Opt-Out. Call companies you get catalogs from to cancel mail service. Sign up for email sales and use online catalogs.
- Base purchases on packaging. Do you really need to buy apples in a plastic container? Corn on a styrofoam board? Onions in a bag? Seek out options that use no, minimal, or recyclable packaging.
- Bake your own bread. No more plastic bread bags or closures. I've baked all our own loaf bread for 4 years and I wouldn't do it if it wasn't easy. It literally takes 5 minutes per loaf when you use this no-knead method. I substitute whole grains and it all works out. Read the article here or buy the book here. The dough also makes great pizza dough, cinnamon rolls, and bagels.
- Make your own yogurt. It's super easy! You heat up milk, add a little "starter" and hold it at 115 degrees for 3 hours. Voila! It tastes much better than the sugar-laden stuff from the store, and there is no odd# plastic to put in the landfill since milk jugs recycle! Add homemade jam, fresh fruit, honey, or whatever you can imagine!
- Experiment in the kitchen. Think of a food you purchase that comes in a bunch of packaging. Figure out how to make it from scratch at home. I've done this with brownie mixes and salsa among other things.
- Use a handkerchief instead of tissue, whose boxes are wrapped in plastic.
- Don't use dryer sheets. I never have and I don't have static.
- Compost your dryer lint and floor sweepings.
- Compost your hair from a haircut.
- Skip the plastic deodorant stick. Make your own by mixing baking soda and cornstarch.
- Wear your natural skin instead of make-up packaged in plastic.
- Choose cloth diapers for your children. Don't bother with "biodegradable" diapers unless you plan to compost them yourself.
- Wipe your baby's bum with cloth diaper wipes. Simply cut squares of flannel and keep them in a jar of water. (My son never used commercial wipes or diapers and interestingly never had a diaper rash!)
- Assess your needs. Do you need it? If you don't need it then don't buy it.
- Buy second-hand when you can.
- Think long-term. What will you do when you no longer want something? Can you pass it on? Can it be recycled? or will it go to the landfill?
- See a life in something. Make a planter out of an old blender or a collage out of used razors. Donate odd materials to artists and tinkerers on freecycle or at The Canvas.
- Reducing is the biggest R of the three. It's often easier than lugging stuff to the thrift store, recycle center, or landfill!
and more to come...........
