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).

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

ThisInstead of

this

• 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!

ThisInstead of

this

• 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.

This Instead of

this

• 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!!

This

Instead of

this

• 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!

ThisInstead of this

• 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.

ThisInstead of

this

• 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. [email protected]

• Available thru many online sources

• They are very inexpensive.

• Change habits!

ThisInstead of this

• 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!

TheseInstead of

these

• 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/

This

Instead of

this

ThisInstead of

this

• 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!

ThisInstead of this

• 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.

ThisInstead of this

• 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.

ThisInstead of this

• 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.

ThisInstead of this

• 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

This

Instead of this

• 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

TheseInstead of

these

• 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.

TheseInstead of

these

• 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:

ThisInstead of this

• 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!

ThisInstead of this

• 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.

ThisInstead of this

• 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.

ThisInstead of this

• 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!

ThisInstead of this

• 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.

This

Instead of this

• 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 [email protected].