See original blog from EcoSalon here: 20 things we throw away
Plastic Shopping Bags
Brianne and I were schooling the Von's lady yesterday on this. We happened to be out and made an unplanned stop for groceries. Shame on us, we had very few reusable bags. We had to take a few plastic with the reusables, fortunately, this is a rare occurrence. Success in this rule is a matter of pre-planning. Grab your bags before you go! Keep them in your car so you always have them on hand. I suggest punishing yourself when you forget. Have the grocery store NOT bag your items. When you get to your car and have to load all your goodies into your trunk one by one, it will be a pain in the butt that will be sure to help you change your habits after a few times. Need and extra bonus? Many stores give you a few cents off your purchase or club points for bringing your own bags. It may not seem like a lot but, every cent adds up. My favorite bags that I keep in my purse for every day shopping are the RuMe - Reusable Bags
bags. They roll up super small and come in a ton of great prints. I have three on hand at all times.
Dryer Sheets
Why even bother? I use liquid softener in the washer. Job done! If you must have a dryer sheet for that stubborn static, try these Static Eliminator Eco Dryer Sheets
which can be used 500 times before they wear out. You can also use a PVC Free Dryer ball
, they keep the static down and are great for keeping your sheets and towels from getting tangled together.Printer Cartridges
When you run out of ink, refill your printer cartridges instead of throwing them away and buying new ones. There are places everywhere, even in the mall, that can refill your ink. If you absolutely cannot reuse your cartridge, at least recycle them.You can drop them off at any Staples or Best Buy. Do it!
Coffee Filters
Replacing disposable coffee filters with one that’s reusable will cut down your amount of daily waste. My dad is super guilty of this one. He will not give up his paper filters. When I asked him why he needs them, his response was, "That's just the way I have always done it". Don't be afraid of changing your habits! Most modern coffee makers come with a filter that will keep your grinds out of your mug, no paper liner needed. If you must use a filter, throw it, along with the coffee grounds, into a composter instead of your regular trash. Your plants will thank you later.
Ziploc Bags
This has been one of my favorite things to eliminate from my life. Oneof my favorite web sites, ReUseit.com, has a ton of fun options for food storage. My personal favorites are the cloth lunch bags, reusable sandwich wrappers, and the cloth snack bags. Need a smart storage option for your leftovers? Go glass! I got my containers from The Container Store but many other stores now carry them too. You can get a whole set on Amazon here: Snapware 18pc Glasslock Storage Containers Set with Lids
OK...that is all for now. Final installment coming soon! If you have any other options you would like to share, I would love to hear about them. Holla at me!
