Episode 1 – Easy Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste

The Home with Willow Podcast

Episode 1 - Easy Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste

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I am pleased to announce the first episode of the Home with Willow Podcast! In October, I toyed around with the idea of starting a weekly Instagram live, or a weekly Podcast. After a lot of deliberation, I decided to bite the bullet and do it – creating this first episode as an instaLIVE show.

For this first episode, I wanted to talk a bit about easy ways that we can reduce plastic waste and our plastic consumption. As it turns out, there are so many free & low-cost ways to reduce your plastic use (a majority of them are under $40)!

Listen to the entire episode for free here to learn about dozens of ways that you can easily reduce your plastic waste and consumption.

Check out this list below for some of my favorite ways to reduce plastic waste (and for some of my favorite non-plastic products to try)

Free Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste:

• Refusing plastic bags when shopping.
• Avoid using plastic produce bags.
• Opting for things that come in paper or glass instead of plastic.
• Saving packing materials to reuse.
• Saving glass bottles & jars to reuse as Tupperware.
• Reusing plastic bottles to store your own cleaning products, etc.
• Stop buying single use plastic water bottles and switch to one reusable water bottle that can be used indefinitely.
• Recycling your plastic bags at the grocery store.
• Remind your server or bartender that you don’t want a straw.
• Bring your own containers for take out.
• Bring your own mug/to go cup if you are the type of person who gets coffee every day.
• If you buy meat or cheese, or your bread from a bakery, get it from the deli and have it wrapped in paper, or bring your own container.
• If you eat eggs, get them in a compostable container.
• Get toilet paper wrapped in paper, not plastic.

Low Cost Ways to Reduce plastic waste:

• Switching from plastic bottles to a water filter.
• Other options instead of single use plastic bags – mesh produce/bulk foods bags, grocery bags, compostable trash bags, compostable poop bags for pets.
• Food Storage: Avoid buying Ziplock bags & plastic Tupperware and instead opt for silicone reusable snack bags, pyrex/glass Tupperware.
  
• Use Bees wrap – beeswax wrap for foods instead of plastic wrap.
• Switch to mason jars for food storage/travel mugs etc.
• Opting to purchase items that don’t come in plastic – bar shampoo & conditioner, bar soap, dishwasher tabs that come in a cardboard box. Making your own laundry detergent.
• Opting to purchase bulk items which will cut down on plastic slightly like a larger bottle vs three small bottles, or getting bulk foods from bulk bins.
  
• Making the choice to buy things made out of recycled, compostable, or natural materials vs plastic. For ex: bamboo comb vs plastic hair brush, bamboo bottle brush, bamboo cutting board, wooden shower caddy, coconut bowls, bamboo fork and spoon, etc.
• Choosing quality items that will last longer vs items that are cheaper, wont last as long, and will end up in the landfill eventually.
• Bamboo/metal/silicone reusable straws
• Try a Tawashi or dish cloth instead of sponges.
• Switching to a menstrual cup or cloth washable pads.
  
• If you smoke, or use lighters often, switch to matches or get a zippo refillable lighter.
• If you have children, you can choose to use cloth diapers instead of disposable ones.
• Use a razor that has replaceable blades instead of full disposable razors.
• Try a bamboo toothbrush, or use an electric tooth brush where only the head is replaced.
• Choose non-plastic toys for your pets & children.