How to Reduce Plastic Waste

Plastic accounts for a large percentage of waste in garbage dumps, and is harmful to the environment as it is not biodegradable. With increased awareness of the environment and sustainability, many people are beginning to look for new ways to reduce plastic waste. Reducing plastic waste is extremely easy to do, and can also save you money as you help save the environment.

Things You'll Need

• Reusable shopping bag
• Stainless steel water bottle

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Instructions

• 1

  Purchase a stainless-steel water bottle that you can refill from large jugs or with tap water. These water bottles are free of harmful toxins other metals possess, and will help reduce plastic waste you would accumulate purchasing individual smaller plastic water bottles.

• 2

  Purchase reusable shopping bags from your favorite grocer. These bags can be used every time you buy groceries in place of plastic bags.

• 3

  Switch to glass packaging for your condiments. Most popular condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and salad dressing can be purchased in both glass and plastic containers. The glass containers can be recycled almost anywhere, but not all areas provide a means of recycling plastic packaging.

• 4

  Buy loose fruits and vegetables instead of bulk quantities packaged in plastic. Not only will this reduce plastic waste, it will also save food that might go bad before you can finish all of the food in the bulk packaging.

• 5

  Start using oversized paper grocery bags to store your trash instead of plastic garbage bags. Garbage bags account for a large portion of plastic waste, and this is an easy way to reduce your plastic use.

• 6

  Purchase drinks such as milk and juice in glass containers instead of plastic jugs. Farmers markets and organic grocers often carry both in glass packaging.

• 7

  Reuse small plastic bags such as sandwich bags instead of using a new bag every time. Like garbage bags, these account for a large portion of plastic waste. Reusing your bags will cut down on your plastic waste and will also save you money on purchasing new bags for your lunches.