Single Use Plastic

How do you feel about single use plastic? You know, a straw or a plastic fork or bottle that you only use once before disposing of it?  A very small percentage of that plastic is recycled. The rest is tossed into the trash where it will enter the waste stream.  If it makes it into a landfill, it will take well over 300 years before it decomposes. And then, there's that whole plastic in the ocean thing.  You know, that large patch of plastic garbage that is sitting in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the United States?

I have been working for years now, trying to reduce the amount of single use plastic I use. It's a very slow and sometimes frustrating process. 

I began my journey by working to get rid of plastic water bottles. About 10 years ago, I bought a bright orange water bottle. It has traveled the world with me. I have taken it to work, on vacation, and though multiple airports. I recently picked up an insulated tumbler that I keep on my desk at work.

A couple of years later, I began searching for eating utensils that I could carry in my purse. I found a set of bamboo utensils that comes in its own carrying case. Since I've bought those utensils, I have been carrying them everywhere I go and used them many times. You know how when you order carryout online there's a little knob that asks if you want utensils? I've been turning that function off for years now and using my own eating utensils.

Reusable Grocery Bags?  I have them. I keep them in the back of my car.  True story - 9/10 trips to the store I get into the store, realize I've forgotten them and then head right back out to the car to grab them and then head back inside again.

Laundry Detergent comes in those big plastic containers. There is just so much waste. For a long time, I used powdered detergent because it came in cardboard containers. Recently, I discovered laundry detergent strips.All I have to do is pull off one strip and put it into the washer.  They work really well, and they come in a small, cardboard container. 

But where do I go next? Single use plastic is everywhere, and sometimes I feel like I'm never going to make a difference.  And then, I remember that I am one of many and we are all doing our own unique thing to help reduce the use of Single Use Plastics.  Each individual action makes a huge difference when we add them all up together.

What wonderful things are you doing to reduce plastic use in your house?