With Earth Day right around the corner, I wanted to share some of the easiest changes I’ve made in my life to reduce my waste, especially my single-use plastic waste. These are some of the ways that I’ve done so in my own life over the last 2 years or so. Feel free to try a couple of these ways out! You’ll be surprised at how much less waste you’re producing.
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Dryer Balls
Use dryer balls in the dryer with your clothes! Rather than using a dryer sheet (or 2 or 3 in your bigger loads), opt for the dryer ball, which keeps your clean laundry static free, and keeps a lot of dryer sheets out of the landfill! There are a lot of different kinds, including some infused with fragrance, but I prefer these basic wool ones from Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/6-Pack-Laundry-ball-Wash-ball-Reusable-Wool-Dryer-Balls-Eco-Friendly-Reusable-Laundry-Essentials/489303729?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13531&adid=22222222227310929319&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=391689981356&wl4=pla-830623406280&wl5=9014895&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117874119&wl11=online&wl12=489303729&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7aTjvuvM6AIV7v_jBx3sAQl7EAQYBSABEgKo9PD_BwE
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Reusable silverware
You don’t have to go all out on reusable silverware if you don’t want to. Even keeping a fork and spoon from home in your backpack helps keep single-use plastics out of the landfill! You could also use plastic silverware, but wash and reuse them for more than one use! This obviously isn’t zero waste, but it does reduce the amount of plastic that you’re throwing away. If you do want to go all out, though, these have been on my wishlist for a while now: https://shellandturtle.com/products/sunhanny%C2%AE-travel-utensils?variant=30193700929570
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Paper cotton swabs instead of plastic
You’d be surprised at how much plastic you can save by switching from cotton swabs with the plastic sticks to ones with the paper sticks. This doesn’t keep them out of the landfill, but it does mean that they will biodegrade and it will reduce your single-use plastics!
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Reusable Water Cup
Again, you don’t have to go all out on a reusable water bottle if you don’t want to. Personally, I’m a big fan of the Starbucks basic reusable iced coffee cup, but you can also opt for a Nalgene bottle, or a Bubba bottle (works just as well as a Hydroflask for a fraction of the price! Available at Walmart.). Here’s the Bubba bottle: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bubba-40-Ounce-Licorice-Trailblazer-Vacuum-Insulated-Stainless-Steel-Water-Bottle/869265852?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227136745979&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=245571238261&wl4=pla-402245734006&wl5=9014895&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=869265852&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxOidpezM6AIVBI3ICh1C9AtiEAQYBCABEgIP__D_BwE
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Makeup Eraser
Instead of spending money every time you run out of makeup wipes (which, if you’re like me, is often), and invest in a Makeup Eraser! The Makeup Eraser is a super soft microfiber cloth that will remove all of your makeup just with water, and you can throw it right into the washing machine on laundry day to keep it clean! I got my Makeup Eraser at CVS, but here’s a link to their website: https://makeuperaser.com/?rfsn=2883682.70faae&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=2883682.70faae
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Reusable tote for groceries
By now, pretty much everyone is doing this, but if you’re not, get a reusable shopping bag or, opt for paper over plastic when possible! This is a really, really easy way to cut down on your plastic waste on shopping days. If you can’t avoid getting a plastic bag, try to reuse it for something (in my house we use them for small trash can liners) instead of just throwing them away to reduce plastic waste!
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Reusable bags or containers for leftover food
Use reusable bags or containers for leftovers! This doesn’t just apply at home, either. Keep a reusable snack bag or a collapsible cup or container in your bag when you go out to eat. If you can’t finish your food, you can use your own container to take leftovers, rather than using the plastic or Styrofoam containers that the restaurant provides. Here are some reusable storage bags that you can use: https://www.stasherbag.com/products/reusable-silicone-bag-bundle?variant=19694090420310&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3fbqyOzM6AIVpf_jBx108gbEEAQYASABEgKiEPD_BwE
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Opt for an email or text receipt whenever possible
Not many people know this, but many of the receipts you get for your purchases cannot be recycled! Unless you really need a paper receipt or there is no other alternative, opt for an email or text receipt whenever possible!
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Reusable K-Cups
We all love our Keurigs, but if you stop and think about how much single-use plastic waste it makes, you’ll be shocked! To avoid this, try a reusable K-Cup that you can put your favorite ground coffee in and wash out when you’re finished. Not only will this reduce your plastic waste, it’ll also save you money! Here’s a reusable K-Cup from the Keurig website: https://www.keurig.com/Accessories/My-K-Cup%C2%AE-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/p/MY-K-CUP:Default_color?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shoppingfeed-ecomm&utm_campaign=shopping_google_nb_accessories&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj8-H7uzM6AIV9P_jBx3AsgnlEAQYBSABEgLhYfD_BwE
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Diva Cup
Pads and tampons, while they’re convenient, create a lot of waste. From their packaging to the applicators to the actual product itself, there’s not a whole lot there that can (or, frankly, should) be salvaged there. Instead, try out a Diva Cup if you’re comfortable! Although it is pretty pricey compared to a pack of tampons, for example, it’s an investment that will save you money and reduce your waste in the long run! Here’s a link to the Diva Cup website for more information: https://divacup.com/