It is officially Earth Month and April 22nd marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! Even though Earth Day really should be everyday, there are many things you can do on your own to help reduce your waste and help the environment. While it may not feel like you can make a difference on your own, know that every bit helps! If everyone has the same feeling of “I’m only one person and it makes no difference if I use plastic sandwich bags or plastic utensils”, then we have millions of people choosing to not make more conscious decisions and harming the environment, our planet, our home.
While recycling is a better option, we ultimately want to reduce our waste. Millions of items that we think are getting recycled, actually end up not getting recycled because they were not recycled properly or the plastic is made of chemicals that are too complex to breakdown. 9% of plastic is recycled while the rest ends up in landfills and polluting our natural environment.
We’ve become a society focusing only on convenience and have ignored the consequences of creating so much waste and harm to our environment. Let’s go back to reusing things and investing in items that will last. Small changes to our daily life can truly make a difference. Here are 5 items to instantly help reduce your waste at home and save money!
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1. Reusable Produce Bags
Let’s be honest, do you really reuse or recycle those plastic produce bags at the grocery store? Most likely not. They end up being used and trashed. These plastic bags are incredibly wasteful and their are great alternatives available like these fantastic reusable produce bags.
- Machine Washable
- BPA, Lead and Mercury Free Material ( Left is mesh and right is organic cotton)
- Mesh bags are also great for straining if you make your own non-dairy milk
- Can help prolong the life of your produce
- Both bags can also be used for washing delicates and organizing/storing a variety of items around the house
2. Beeswax Wraps
It’s time to say goodbye to plastic wrap and hello to reusable beeswax wrap! Like produce bags, plastic wrap is often discarded in the trash and not recycled and in fact usually cannot be recycled because of the chemicals used to produce the plastic wrap, making it too complex to recycle/breakdown. With that said, plastic wrap typically has harmful chemicals that should be avoided.
- Washable, reusable and compostable
- Antimicrobial, plastic- free and toxic-free
3. Dryer Balls
Dryer sheets are often filled with harmful chemicals that rub onto our clothes and bedding and then onto our skin; Chemicals including acetaldehyde and butane which can cause respiratory issues. They are also another item, used once and thrown away creating more trash than needed. Luckily there are alternatives like these dryer balls.
- Hypoallergenic and fragrance free
- Reduces drying time by 20-40% ultimately saving you money
- Reduces wrinkles and static cling
- Biodegradable and reusable for 1000 + Loads ( 2-3 years)
- Help remove pet hair from clothing
- If you would like to have them scented, simply add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil and let dry. Then pop them in the dryer and enjoy your favorite natural scent!
4. Stasher Bags
While they are convenient, Ziploc bags are another household item that are wasteful and truly not a necessity. Let me introduce you to Stasher bags- an amazing alternative that will have you saying good-bye to disposable plastic bags.
- Made of platinum silicone. PVC, BPA and latex free
- Feature a pinch-lock seal that keeps food fresh
- Dishwasher and microwave safe.
- Safe for freezing and in boiling water ( up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit). You can poach delicious food in these!
- Available in a variety of sizes and fun colors
- Use them to also hold your toiletries, office and art supplies
5. Reusable Traveling Utensils
Instead of using plastic utensils opt for carrying a reusable utensil set. Another easy way to easily reduce your waste!
