How to Reduce Plastic Use

Plastic pollution is a worldwide problem that continues to threaten marine life. However, everyone can take small steps to reduce their plastic use and take care of the environment. Start by replacing single-use plastics, such as straws, cups, and bags, with reusable options. When shopping, shop secondhand and buy in bulk to reduce plastic packaging. At home, avoid using products with plastic microbeads and bottles, and instead make your own natural cleaning and personal toiletry products. Each step may seem small, but little steps can add up to significant change!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cutting Down Daily Plastic Use

  1. Straws have become a huge problem in ocean contamination--in fact, they’re one of the most common pieces of trash picked up on beaches. [1] Eliminating straw use is easy and straightforward--if you order a drink that comes with a straw, just tell the waiter, barista, or worker that you don’t need one. You can also invest in reusable straws made of glass or stainless steel. [2]
  2. Instead of ordering coffee in the usual plastic cups and tops, bring your own to-go mug or thermos and ask the cashier to fill it. Insulated tumblers can also keep your beverage hot or cold much longer. [3]
    • Even paper coffee cups are often coated with a plastic resin, so skip these as well in favor of a reusable vessel. [4]
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  3. Rather than using the dry-cleaner’s single-use plastic bags, bring your own fabric garment bag to hold your clothing. You can purchase recycled dry-cleaner bags made of a more durable, longer-lasting plastic online. [5]
    • Bring fewer clothes to the dry-cleaner’s to reduce your bag use as well. [6]
  4. Although gum was originally made from natural materials such as sap and rubber, manufacturers now use a type of plastic instead. So instead of chewing and throwing away plastic, find a natural brand of gum or just use mints instead. [7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using Eco-Friendly Shopping Tips

  1. Every year, billions of plastic bags fill up landfills. To help reduce this number, bring your own tote bags when you go grocery shopping. Reusable bags made of canvas, jute, or recycled plastic are sturdier for carrying groceries and can have a huge impact on the amount of plastic bags you use. [8]
    • You can find reusable tote bags at most grocery stores or online. If you forget to bring your own bag, many stores offer inexpensive reusable bag options near the checkout area.
    • In some states, such as California, stores even charge around 5 cents USD per plastic bag if you don’t bring your own reusable bags. [9]
  2. Buying foods like cereal, flour, pasta, dried fruit, and rice from the bulk section can save you money as well as lots of plastic packaging. Instead of bagging bulk foods up in plastic bags, bring your own reusable bags or containers to store them in. Cotton bags, glass jars, and stainless steel containers are several waste-free storage options. [10]
    • If you’re worried about how your containers will affect the weighing and paying, go to the customer service desk. Most stores have weighing options for personal containers, and cotton bags usually have their weight printed on the bottom to make the process easier. [11]
  3. Bottled water, soda, and juice generate tons of plastic waste. Eliminate your use of plastic bottles by finding alternatives--bring a reusable bottle to fill up with water, make your own soda or seltzer water with a machine like a SodaStream, or buy fresh fruit to make your own juice. [12]
  4. With frozen food products--particularly frozen meals--plastic packaging is practically impossible to avoid. Even the cardboard, “eco-friendly” packaging is usually coated with plastic. Avoiding these highly processed and packaged products will make you and the environment healthier. [13]
  5. When you buy toys or electronics new, they often come in lots of excess plastic packaging. By shopping secondhand, you can eliminate that waste and find good-as-new products for a fraction of the price. Browse thrift stores, online postings, and garage sales to find some good, eco-friendly deals. [14]
    • Look at local Goodwills, Salvation Army stores, and Craigslist.com postings for a bargain.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Reducing Plastic in the Home

  1. Instead of wrapping food up in plastic wrap or using a plastic Ziploc bag, store food in reusable glass containers or jars. You can either purchase glass containers new, or clean and reuse glass jars from other products, such as pasta sauce or jam. [15]
    • For example, instead of packing a sandwich in a Ziploc bag, put it in a reusable container and take it with you to work.
  2. Eating out often involves plastic-coated takeout containers and doggy bags. Plus, making your own food is healthier for you and for the environment. If you do go out to eat, bring your own food storage containers and use those. [16]
  3. Since cleaner usually comes in plastic bottles, making your own and reusing old bottles will help reduce waste. Make your own simple, affordable solution with 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water. Combine the two liquids in a glass or upcycled plastic spray bottle and use it as a disinfectant spray. [17]
    • Add essential oils such as peppermint or lemon to make the scent fresher and more pleasant. [18]
    • You can also use baking soda for scouring and scrubbing. [19]
  4. Many products such as toothpaste, face wash, and body wash may contain small plastic beads for exfoliation. However, because most water treatment plants cannot clean these microbeads out of the water, the plastic collects and causes damage to marine life. Make your own hygiene products or purchase consciously, making sure to only buy microbead-free products. [20]
    • Use products with natural exfoliants instead, such as oatmeal, salt, or sugar. [21]
    • Try making your own face wash with oats, almond meal, and water.
    • You can also make your own eco-friendly toothpaste with baking soda, sea salt, and peppermint extract.
    • Making your own hygiene products like toothpaste and face wash also eliminates any plastic packaging.
  5. If you need to use plastic products, such as plastic cutlery, plates, or packaging, make sure to recycle them instead of throwing them away. You can either sign up for a recycling service and have them picked up at your home or you can take your recyclables to a facility. [22]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Where does most of the plastic end up?
    Carmela Resuma, MPP
    Environmental Advocate
    Carmela is the Executive Director of FLYTE, a non-profit organization headquartered in Georgetown, Texas that empowers students living in underserved communities through transformative travel experiences. Carmela has a Masters in Public Policy Analysis from New York University and is passionate about youth empowerment, social impact, and traveling.
    Carmela Resuma, MPP
    Environmental Advocate
    Expert Answer
    Often, the ocean. I think about every single-use plastic that I purchase now. When you see a polluted beach in a formerly beautiful place, you realize that those straws and those plastic bags are all going to end up somewhere. You gain perspective — there are other people in the world affected by this pollution.
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  • Question
    How to reduce the usage of plastic bags?
    Ruby
    Top Answerer
    You can buy a reusable shopping bag, rather than buying plastic bags. Contact local stores and encourage them to increase the price of plastic bags, or invest in eco-friendly alternatives instead. When doing online shopping, opt out of getting plastic bags. You sometimes get plastic bag dispensers, where you can put any plastic bags in good form, so someone else can use it. Consider going to more ethical stores with recyclable or decomposable bags. Paper bags are recyclable, so try getting them as an alternative. If you do get plastic bags, save them so you can reuse them.
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      Tips

      • If you have to buy a plastic product, check the item’s description for the materials that were used. Avoid any plastics that are not readily recyclable, such as #3 (PVC), #4 (LDPE), #5 (PP), #6 (PS), and #7 (other).
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      References

      1. ↑ https://livegreen.recyclebank.com/because-you-asked-what-s-so-bad-about-plastic-straws
      2. ↑ http://www.greeneducationfoundation.org/nationalgreenweeksub/waste-reduction-tips/tips-to-use-less-plastic.html
      3. ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/reduce-plastic-use/
      4. ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/reduce-plastic-use
      5. ↑ https://recyclenation.com/2014/11/recycle-dry-cleaning-bags/
      6. ↑ https://recyclenation.com/2014/11/recycle-dry-cleaning-bags/
      7. ↑ https://recyclenation.com/2014/11/recycle-dry-cleaning-bags/
      8. ↑ https://www.reefrelief.org/2013/01/51-ways-to-reduce-plastic-use-or-completely-eliminate-it/
      9. ↑ https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/30-breathtaking-reasons-to-switch-to-reusable-bags.php
      1. ↑ http://www.greeneducationfoundation.org/nationalgreenweeksub/waste-reduction-tips/tips-to-use-less-plastic.html
      2. ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/reduce-plastic-use/
      3. ↑ https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/
      4. ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/reduce-plastic-use/
      5. ↑ https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution
      6. ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/reduce-plastic-use/
      7. ↑ https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution
      8. ↑ https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/
      9. ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/reduce-plastic-use/
      10. ↑ https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/
      11. ↑ https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution
      12. ↑ https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution
      13. ↑ https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/35-easy-ways-to-eat-environmentally-friendly.php

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