Over the past six months I’ve been so aware how much waste we produce! It’s disgusting. Before I could never really be bothered to make the change, but I saw a video of baby turtles eating a plastic shopping bags that were floating in the ocean and it made me sick that that’s how we treat our beautiful earth. Here are just a few things I’ve done to try and make less waste.
-Keep a reusable bag at the back door. I would always, get to the till and think “crap! my bag.” But now I just keep it hanging on the door handle, and sometimes will leave my wallet in it so that I can’t forget.
-Stop buying ziplocks. Use containers and jars instead!
-Stop buying paper towel. I now keep a stack of rags in the kitchen cupboard for spills.
-If you have the option to composte… I keep a big container in my fridge where I put all my organic waste, I empty it once a week and I don’t have to worry about it stinking up the kitchen.
-Skip produce bags. Why do we need to put each individual item in its own plastic bag? (I use trader joe’s Fruit & Vegetable wash to clean off all the places it touches on its way home; the basket, conveyor belt, cashiers hands, reusable bag…)
Have any tips? I’d love to hear them!
I recently started reading your blog and I just wanted to say how much I love it! I so agree with this post, I can't tell you how many reusable totes I have sitting around my house. They always come in handy though!
Grace
http://gracep-photos.blogspot.com
I recently started reading your blog and I just wanted to say how much I love it! I so agree with this post, I can't tell you how many reusable totes I have sitting around my house. They always come in handy though!
Grace
http://gracep-photos.blogspot.com
I use reusable produce bags (made of cheese cloth) for the fruits and veggies that come in groups.
Mine are similar to this:
http://pinterest.com/pin/80501912060139487/
I use reusable produce bags (made of cheese cloth) for the fruits and veggies that come in groups.
Mine are similar to this:
http://pinterest.com/pin/80501912060139487/
Sheena I'm curious if you find the cheese cloth bags work well? I've seen them before & thought about getting them, but they seem like a bit of an "investment", so I wanted to know how well they worked first!
I keep my recycle bin right beside the garbage & compost, so that way I put ALL paper or metal bits in recycling. It's easy to just throw out receipts or whatever, but they can easily be recycled!
Sheena I'm curious if you find the cheese cloth bags work well? I've seen them before & thought about getting them, but they seem like a bit of an "investment", so I wanted to know how well they worked first!
I keep my recycle bin right beside the garbage & compost, so that way I put ALL paper or metal bits in recycling. It's easy to just throw out receipts or whatever, but they can easily be recycled!
I find the bags work just as well as plastic bags. I usually empty my produce out of them when I put my groceries away into the crisper drawers and cupboard, so they are more of a means to get my produce home. I wash them in the sink with dish soap and hang them to dry between uses. The hardest part is remembering them, so I just put them right into my grocery bag when they're dry 🙂
I find the bags work just as well as plastic bags. I usually empty my produce out of them when I put my groceries away into the crisper drawers and cupboard, so they are more of a means to get my produce home. I wash them in the sink with dish soap and hang them to dry between uses. The hardest part is remembering them, so I just put them right into my grocery bag when they're dry 🙂
i just found your blog and i love it! i love the idea of reusable bags…. i need to get a cute one like yours and use it for shopping! xo
I will definitely admit that I struggle with bringing my bags to the store as well. I try to keep at least one bag in my purse, but somehow I seem to still forget most of the time. The result of this is that I often try to squeeze as many items into my large purse as I can. Sometimes I get weird looks, but I think some people are catching on and still appreciate the effort. I also reuse plastic grocery bags to get the most use out of them from those times I do end up forgetting. Bags that I have accumulated from clothing stores are often sturdier and are better for some items because of their flat bottom. I use those mostly when I have to take the bus. Also, if you can find reusable bags at a thrift store, that's twice as much reusing!
I do still use ziploc bags, but I wash them out and resuse them over and over.
Over christmas I found many ways to reuse plastic containers and paper bags for wrapping gifts.
I will definitely admit that I struggle with bringing my bags to the store as well. I try to keep at least one bag in my purse, but somehow I seem to still forget most of the time. The result of this is that I often try to squeeze as many items into my large purse as I can. Sometimes I get weird looks, but I think some people are catching on and still appreciate the effort. I also reuse plastic grocery bags to get the most use out of them from those times I do end up forgetting. Bags that I have accumulated from clothing stores are often sturdier and are better for some items because of their flat bottom. I use those mostly when I have to take the bus. Also, if you can find reusable bags at a thrift store, that's twice as much reusing!
I do still use ziploc bags, but I wash them out and resuse them over and over.
Over christmas I found many ways to reuse plastic containers and paper bags for wrapping gifts.
try putting the composte in the freezer. it helps with the smell.