What are your tips for reducing plastics use? Or resources with good info? I've been working on this for a while (most recent change: bar shampoo and conditioner instead of plastic bottles), but I'm always looking for new ideas!
@adamsdesk I have tried those, although mostly I just avoid the bag altogether and do self-checkout. But also in the "get rid of bags" department, Stashers are fantastic (food grade reusable silicone). I also have some pyrex glass containers that I use for leftovers.
@susankayequinn Well I suppose one can do that if you are not getting much or not going far. Oh really, that is pretty cool https://www.stasherbag.com/. Yes, I love my glass containers.
@adamsdesk I should have clarified that I don't use the reusable mesh bags, I just bring my cloth bags and use that. They're contained just not in their own individual bags. (And I don't have to worry about taring with self-checkout.)
Once upon a time, people carried their own tin cups, plates, and silverware when they traveled.
Although health departments won't let us carry those into restaurants or communal dinning rooms anymore, with legitimate cleanliness concerns, it would be wonderful if (one building retirement style) community dinning rooms had tin plates with lids for delivery, or take out, within the community.
Yesterday I used my knife to cut the lettuce holding a spoonful of tuna salad. It didn't take much. How could you cut meat, without cutting the not clean table, if it is laying on lettuce?
Tables here are never really clean, as they are open to the air, and not sure the cleaner they use is safe to consume.
@UnCoveredMyths@susankayequinn They work well in my experience. Though lettuce should only be cut with a lettuce knife or ripped by hand. As for a good quality knife nothing can compare. My suggestion was for portable or every day carry solution.
Interesting. I still don't think I could cut a piece of meat, or a boiled egg, on top of a piece of lettuce without also cutting the lettuce, resulting in a mess to clean up.
I wouldn't want to carry soup in a leaf of lettuce either.
Maybe you mean wooden bowls and plates. Not sure. Not many plants could be used to hold much of a meal, and then only once.
@UnCoveredMyths@susankayequinn I think you are missing what I meaning. I'm not referring to an actual plant leaf for example. I'm referring to the material that is plant based that forms into a solid object.
@adamsdesk@UnCoveredMyths Although I like the idea of plant-based, I'm not sure how durable they are (so then you actually use more?) Certainly plastic isn't great, but longer-lasting has advantages. Even better: reuse. My daughter was saying when she got a place that needed kitchen stuff, she would just go to Goodwill and get everything there. Not sure about portability, but reuse has huge advantages.
@susankayequinn@UnCoveredMyths I can't say for durability. I had a few of them for a little while, but they sold with the camper I had. For now I'm good with ceramic or glass plates. Thrifting is a wonderful way to find good quality at a low cost and reduce waste. I actually wrote a post about it, https://www.adamsdesk.com/posts/thrifting-benefits/.
@adamsdesk@UnCoveredMyths I love of thrifting just keeps growing. My newest discovery is the local buy nothing/Gifting with Integrity group. It's amazing how much a local gift economy can work so well.
@adamsdesk@UnCoveredMyths Oh let me introduce you! Either Buy Nothing (or Gifting with Integrity — there are two groups that do the same thing) are generally run through FB — so search for (your local town) + (buy nothing) on facebook. The group then facilitates free exchange. People either post "I have X to gift" or "I'm in need X". Since it's local, everyone is close by to transact — usually porch dropoff. That's it! I've gifted and received and it's awesome.
@susankayequinn@UnCoveredMyths Oh wow this is a bigger thing that I thought. Dang, there is a lot of groups available within my area. Unfortunately I'm not on Facebook intentionally. Thank you for telling me about it.
@adamsdesk@UnCoveredMyths I have used freecycle in the past! Love the concept but my area was pretty low in participation. I mostly used Craigslist free list until I discovered Buy Nothing. The best part is that you can make requests —the first one I was able to help with was someone who just needed to borrow something for the weekend. It builds community too, the sense that you’re connected to people who can help out if needed.
@susankayequinn@UnCoveredMyths I used it back in the newsgroup days, but yeah I have the same issue here where I live unfortunately. Something like this is more accessible and doesn't require a social network. Nice, unfortunately Craigslist is not ideal here either. I mostly use https://kijiji.ca. That is awesome to help someone out.
And what is the sustainability of plant based, most likely single use items?
We already have too much land locked into farming instead of forests. If we have to use half our grown food for products to eat the food with, that doesn’t help in the long run.
@UnCoveredMyths@susankayequinn No the items are created to be reusable. I would not buy single use items. The ones I use to own were made out of potatoes. Quite durable and easy to clean.
@UnCoveredMyths@adamsdesk It's also important to remember that there's no single answer here — what's a good reduction in plastics use in one spot on the planet (and individual circumstance) is different than another. Pushing for regulations of single-use plastics of all kinds is more important than individual piety. But while we're working on that, explore actions that will work for you and your family to reduce usage and raise awareness.
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