Here are a few posts to help you:
No More Plastic Food Containers, Please!
Clean Out the Plastic Cupboards by Kitchen Stewardship
Life Without Plastic has products and articles
So now you have watched her video and you feel overwhelmed at all the plastic you ARE using. Fret not, if we do this one step at a time, it will not be so difficult.
Yesterday, I took all plastic food storage containers out of my drawers. I already had a pyrex set of glass food containers. I am in the process of switching to stainless steel canteens for water. We have been using Camelback plastic containers that say no BPA, but I do not feel it is enough. I am swtiching my spices to glass containers. Bulk foods to glass containers. No, I did not go and buy a boat load, I am using my old pickle jars, pasta sauce jars and jam jars. Goo gone gets the labels and goo of and I labeled the tops of the lids. Plus if you buy bulk foods you can take your glass jars and/or drawstring bags. Have the clerk weigh them empty and add your goodies and they will deduct and charge you according to your product not your container. I have stopped using the bags at the grocery store but I do use the Trader Joes reusable plastic bags, so I guess after my dutiful dozen I need to make canvas grocery bags.
Here are my spices, I got both of these spice racks for five bucks total at a garage sale.
The spice containers, I have been collecting for awhile.
On the right I have baking soda and powder, and cornstarch all in jam jars and peanut butter jars.
These are my beans and oats in pasta sauce jars.
I still have plastic containers for my rice, noodles and flour.
I still have plastic containers for my rice, noodles and flour.
If I had all the money in the world I would go out and buy new pots and pans, containers, dishes and cups all stainless steel. But I don't, so for now little by little I will get out the plastic. I am going to look on craigslist and Freecycle for free stainless steel and and make a trip or two to Goodwill and thrift stores in the area.
I had no idea how much plastic I had in my house! It is definitely a process and I am excited to see what I can do.
I had no idea how much plastic I had in my house! It is definitely a process and I am excited to see what I can do.
There are a lot of good sources out there and I will try to post what I see too.
How much plastic to you use?
How much plastic to you use?
4 comments:
I have tried sooo hard to drink from stainless steel - I can't handle it! I don't know if it's psychological, but all I taste is metal!
I guess I use a lot of plastic containers, but I do use reusable shopping bags and I have gone from using a roll of paper towels a week to one a month. I have a ways to go :)
Good Job Lena on the paper towels. I went paperless in the kitchen and I love it. I have about fifteen cloth diapers, I use for spills and such.
I have never drank out of stainless steel yet, I love drinking out of the glass bottles and saw a girl carrying one around the other day with the little stopper on top. I might just try that one, maybe?
I am just do my best, there is A LOT of plastic out there. I mean I did not even think about their toys UGH! But I do know anything will help for sure.
BTW talked to Eric about your Mom and daughter weekend and he thought is was a great idea. I am going to try hopefully in September when we are not so busy. thanks agaain for the idea.
I feel the same about drinking from metal - it takes like metal!!LOL ... but I do have glass jars that I keep water in, in the fridge...and my son uses the reusable steel water bottles - he loves them.
So far as getting rid of plastic - I did that years ago, but not because of the environment, LOL, because they took up too much space! I am also cheap, so I began reusing pasta jars to hold almost everything. I also found pretty glass storage containers for spaghetti, etc a couple of years ago at TARGET.
I haven't cut down on the paper towels as much ... but I have started cutting up old t shirts to use (washcloth size) as rags for around the house. I use em' and then throw them in the washer. When they get too worn, I throw them away.
I love using old jars. I am looking on craigslist for any free or super cheap kitchen stuff too. Great idea about the old t-shirts!
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