Post by Gary Riccio on Jul 27, 2020 12:11:33 GMT -5
Nothing in this post is especially illuminating because it is within the daily experience of most people. The list below, off the top of my head, are habits I have changed as an individual consumer (listed from easiest to increasingly more challenging). Although obvious, I have been surprised how easy it has been to drastically reduce my use of plastic. While it is yet other thing to think about at a time when we are overloaded with change and adaptation, I have found that new habits setting in pretty quickly.
* Don't use plastic bags at checkout for bring home purchases from a store. Bring your own bag, or just carry the stuff even if a bit awkward. Grocery stores discourage this during the pandemic, but there are carts on wheels that you can buy and use in such stores, or you can bag your own stuff.
* Avoid buying water and other beverages in plastic bottles. I have found this to be almost trivially easy, and it is even easier if one simply remembers to bring a water bottle (preferably metal) when out and about.
* Avoid buying plastic wrap and baggies. I have found this to be almost trivially easy, but it does require storage of leftovers in a container, and most containers are plastic. Plastic containers are better than plastic wrap, by far, because they can be re-used, but I try to utilize glass containers.
* Avoid using plastic bags in store for fruit and vegetables. This is somewhat easy except for overcoming irrational fear of contamination in shopping basket or cash register conveyor belt. Just wash the stuff when you get home. This eliminates a surprising amount of plastic use.
* Avoid buying food in plastic containers. This is very easy for fruit and vegetables, somewhat easy for fish, and a little more difficult for meat (which we very rarely buy anyway). It is surprisingly difficult for common items, but one can often find options (e.g., cardboard for eggs, glass for peanut butter) even if a bit more expensive.
* Avoid plastic plastic containers for take-out food. This is a tough one. It's not really possible if the food is delivered. During the pandemic, it may not be a good idea to bring your own container and ask proprietor to use it (which I have done successfully), but hopefully that is something to consider in the long term. Encourage proprietors to use cardboard alternatives for take out, or purchase preferentially from such proprietors.
* Avoid buying items over the internet that are likely to use (a lot of) plastic in shipping. This is difficult. I am looking for sources of information that would make these buying decisions easier.
Bottom line: Given the global hegemony of capitalism (even in communist countries), virtually overnight, consumers can change what is produced and ultimately thrown out, thus rendering recycling less necessary and even less counterproductive (e.g., the questionable assumption that recycling reduces the amount of plastic waste).
* Don't use plastic bags at checkout for bring home purchases from a store. Bring your own bag, or just carry the stuff even if a bit awkward. Grocery stores discourage this during the pandemic, but there are carts on wheels that you can buy and use in such stores, or you can bag your own stuff.
* Avoid buying water and other beverages in plastic bottles. I have found this to be almost trivially easy, and it is even easier if one simply remembers to bring a water bottle (preferably metal) when out and about.
* Avoid buying plastic wrap and baggies. I have found this to be almost trivially easy, but it does require storage of leftovers in a container, and most containers are plastic. Plastic containers are better than plastic wrap, by far, because they can be re-used, but I try to utilize glass containers.
* Avoid using plastic bags in store for fruit and vegetables. This is somewhat easy except for overcoming irrational fear of contamination in shopping basket or cash register conveyor belt. Just wash the stuff when you get home. This eliminates a surprising amount of plastic use.
* Avoid buying food in plastic containers. This is very easy for fruit and vegetables, somewhat easy for fish, and a little more difficult for meat (which we very rarely buy anyway). It is surprisingly difficult for common items, but one can often find options (e.g., cardboard for eggs, glass for peanut butter) even if a bit more expensive.
* Avoid plastic plastic containers for take-out food. This is a tough one. It's not really possible if the food is delivered. During the pandemic, it may not be a good idea to bring your own container and ask proprietor to use it (which I have done successfully), but hopefully that is something to consider in the long term. Encourage proprietors to use cardboard alternatives for take out, or purchase preferentially from such proprietors.
* Avoid buying items over the internet that are likely to use (a lot of) plastic in shipping. This is difficult. I am looking for sources of information that would make these buying decisions easier.
Bottom line: Given the global hegemony of capitalism (even in communist countries), virtually overnight, consumers can change what is produced and ultimately thrown out, thus rendering recycling less necessary and even less counterproductive (e.g., the questionable assumption that recycling reduces the amount of plastic waste).