I haven’t taken out my garbage in a month.
That’s because all the waste I have produced can be either recycled or composted. I feel pretty good.
I have always been conscious of the waste that I produce and I try to limit it as much as I can. After I binged on “no waste” articles and YouTube videos a couple months ago I came away with the feeling that I can do A LOT more.
I admit there are times when I was too lazy to go back to my car to grab my reusable coffee mug or I took a plastic bag at the store.
So in 2019 I want to step up my game in reducing my footprint – particularly plastic.
Little steps
Saying no single-use plastic is the easiest thing that I can do in my journey. Ninety-nine per cent of the time I bring my cloths bags to the grocery store. But it is on those unexpected, unplanned stops to the shops that throws my batting average out the window.
So what have I done to improve my success rate?
I have stashed cloth bags and reusable mugs/bottles in my gym bag and at my desk at work. This has been going really well because sometimes I will walk into Walmart or Shoppers Drugmart through the mall after the gym to grab something or get a coffee without going to my car first.
But the most exciting change I made recently is purchasing reusable produce bags! You know what I mean … those annoying plastic bags that you use for fresh lettuce or loose veg at the grocery store? I love them. I received an Amazon giftcard recently so I splurged in buying the bags. I purchased two different sets.
Both sets are pretty solid. I haven’t had any issues with them – washing or at the cashier. You can wash them so they don’t get all grimy. Now if I could sew, I could make my own bags because they are pretty basic.
Food packaging
I’m excited to see more and more people bringing their own bags to the grocery shops. Recently a cashier at Superstore told me there are people who leave the packaging at the checkout because they don’t want to take home the boxes/plastic. At the time, I thought that’s silly. But the more I thought about it, the more it makes sense. Send a message to the supermarket chain – reduce your packaging.
It was a life changer when Bulk Barn decided to allow customers to bring their own containers a few years ago. I always feel so much lighter when I come home without any plastic or ties that I have to toss out. I usually bring the mason jar or another glass container that I use to store the beans or whatever. Then when I get home, I just put it away in the cupboard or the pantry. No need to remove from bags etc. I always feel lighter and less “cluttered” after a trip to Bulk Barn!
What are you doing to reduce your footprint? Please let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear learn your tips. I’m super pumped up about writing about my journey this year to decrease the impact I have on the earth. It’s something I really care about and I want to inspire you too.
(Tonight CBC’s Marketplace is all about grocery stores and plastic waste. I know I will be setting the PVR.)