Helpful hints to reduce plastic consumption and reduce ... · Helpful hints to reduce plastic consumption and reduce your stuff - Inspired by The Story of Stuff (storyofstuff.org).
Post on 03-Jul-2020
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Helpful hints to
reduce plastic consumption and
reduce your stuff -
Inspired by The Story of Stuff (storyofstuff.org).
By Teresa Vela-HayesAlbert Wisner Public Library – Library Assistant
Sustainable Warwick Member
• Statistics are hard to find, Americans use a lot of
plastic straws each year. Some estimates say
we use 500 million plastic straws a day!
• Plastic straws do not biodegrade like other
organic waste.
• Plastic straws breakdown into smaller pieces
which harm animals and pollute our water.
• Support the Straws on Demand movement.
• REFUSE!
• I have extra cups
• I store some extras in my car for those times that I
wasn’t planning on stopping for a drink
• I bring an extra cup for when I’m with a friend who
didn’t bring his/her reusable cup.
• I include more than 1 sets of utensils.
• I include a metal straw, some aluminum foil, a
cloth napkin….
• Change habits…. REFUSE
• Remember to leave this in your car when you
board a plane or enter a federal building!!
• I collect these at yard sales, flea markets, thrift
stores.
• Share your collection with friends.
• Renewable plant starch cutlery,100%
compostable, wood or recycled content
utensils are better than plastic but they are still
single use.
• Reduce single use stuff!
• I put out a water dispenser at work functions
and home parties instead of offering plastic
bottles.
• I lend this to friends.
• Tap water is often healthier than bottled water.
• Labeling can be misleading – glacier water
might come from municipal sources.
• I buy these at yard sales, flea markets, thrift
stores.
• I make my own with fabric scraps, old sheets or
pillowcases…
• Put them on the table for everyone to use, if they
are there, they will take them.
ThisInstead of this
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC
BY-SA
• I use these washable, reusable produce bags.
• These are available locally at ShopRite and
Newhardt’s.
• Sustainable Warwick might be selling them,
email me if you want some. tvelahayes@gmail.com
• Available thru many online sources
• They are very inexpensive.
• Change habits!
• When I get take-out I try to remember to ask
them to package my meal in paper or
aluminum foil instead of plastic or Styrofoam.
• Chinese restaurants have paper boxes even
though they send home many plastic
containers.
• Delis have foil even though they send things out
in Styrofoam. Ask for them.
• Change habits!
• I use loose leaf tea and a tea ball.
• This cuts down on plastic waste and it is better
for your health.
• Many tea bags are made with, or packaged in,
plastic.
• Locally, Caffe A La Mode sells loose leaf tea.
• 1 Million Women’s guide to plastic free tea -
https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/tea-
bag-or-not-tea-bag-guide-plastic-free-tea/
• I try to be creative.
• I use waxed paper or aluminum foil when I must.
• I like If You Care products
https://www.ifyoucare.com/our-products/
• If You Care analyzes the entire life cycle chain in
developing products, from raw materials sourcing,
to production process, to packaging, to disposal. Every step is considered in assessing environmental
and social impacts.
• Ball jars are inexpensive.
• Reusable plastic containers – better but not best!
• Reuse plastic containers, zip lock bags and other
containers from bought items.
• Turn single use items into multi-use.
• Change habits!
• I reuse bags, boxes, papers, whatever I can, for
a second, third…. use.
• I use these to store leftovers, a sandwich for my
lunch, emptying the litter box….
• Turn single use items into multi-use items.
• Change your habits.
• Truth be told, I do not use this yet!
• Metal instead of plastic.
• Plastic holds odors, stains, needs to be replaced
more often.
• I do wrap waste in newspaper or reused chip
bags.
• Natural product litter and flushable litter is
available.
• I often line my kitchen garbage can with old
newspapers, paper bags, pet food bags.
• I have a separate can for dry waste, anything
that can’t be recycled but doesn’t need to be
in a plastic/sturdier bag.
• This will reduce # of plastic bags used.
• I used to compost but now I live in a
development that doesn’t allow outdoor
composting so I’m looking for alternatives.
• Food scraps & yard waste make up greater than
28 percent of what we throw away.
• Composting reduces methane emissions from
landfills and lowers your carbon footprint.
• Composting reduces the need for chemical
fertilizers.
• Composting Basics:
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-
home#basics
• My favorite places to donate items:
• Veterans of America – scheduleapickup.com
– short notice, leave out while you are not
home, a tax receipt is left for you.
• Too Good To Toss -
https://www.sustainablewarwick.org/too-
good-to-toss
• Christ Church Thrift Shop• Shopping: 9:30 – 12:00 Saturdays
5:00 – 7:00 Tuesdays
• Donations accepted: 9:30 – 12:00 Wed. & Sat.
• Salvation Army Store Middletown
• I’ve found that this is a hard place to make a
change.
• There aren’t many readily available
environmentally friendly personal hygiene
products.
• I switched to bar soaps and bar shampoo.
• I order from A Drop In The Ocean -
https://adropintheoceanshop.com
• They plant trees for every purchase,
• They use recycled cardboard for packaging,
• They reuse bottles.
• I use bamboo toothbrushes.
• They are available through A Drop In The Ocean
and many retailers on Amazon.com.
• They vary in price.
• I have not tried to make my own toothpaste but
here’s a recipe from
another SW
member:
• I use a metal razor and razor blades.
• They are available from A Drop In The Ocean.
• You can get a bamboo and metal razor in the
men’s toiletry section of ShopRite.
• Turn single use into multi use!
• I use wool dryer balls.
• Dryer sheets contain chemicals.
• Dryer balls reduce drying time.
• Dryer balls are not single use.
• Wool balls are biodegradable.
• I add essential oils to make my laundry smell
good.
• I try to use solar energy whenever possible.
• I hang my laundry out to dry on a sunny day.
• I make iced tea from the sun’s power instead of
using my stove.
• I try to buy clothes made of natural fibers like
wool and cotton.
• Natural fibers degrade unlike synthetics which
break up and end up in our food and water
supplies.
• I donate unwanted clothing also to keep it out
of landfills and keep it from polluting.
• I try to buy less too, a message from The Story of
Stuff that made an impact!
• I used to plant a garden but now I live where I
can’t have one.
• Now I’ll plant a garden at work.
• I’ll join Warwick’s Community Garden.
• I’ll join a CSA - Community Supported
Agriculture.
• I’ll order from Field Goods.
• https://www.field-goods.com
• This saves on packaging.
• This gives you a place to use your compost.
• I shop locally whenever possible.
• I shop at Farmers’ Markets instead of big box
stores and supermarkets.
• Warwick has lots of places to shop for local
meats, cheeses, eggs, produce…
• This lowers your carbon footprint.
• This lessens amount of fuel needed to get
products to the market.
• This reduces packaging.
• Change your habits.
In Summary:
• Refuse.
• Change your habits.
• Lots of individual, small changes will combine
and result in BIG change.
• This presentation is a work in progress. Please share your own
hints, things you are doing to make a positive impact, so that
we can add your hints to this presentation.
Now let’s have a group discussion about these hints and about
the movie, The Story of Stuff.
If you have questions or comments about this presentation,
please email Teresa at tvelahayes@rcls.org.
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