Reducing Packaging Waste...Some Ideas (by Danette Harris)

On the one hand, the packaging of the products we use has become better at protecting products while they are shipped and when they are used. (Just think about how many broken bottles there must have been before plastic bottles!) On the other hand, this protective packaging is affecting our environment since probably very little of it actually gets reused or recycled…..and much of this packaging waste is sitting in landfills, entering the environment as litter and affecting marine environments or being incinerated causing pollution as well as adding carbon to the atmosphere. The US EPA states that “packaging accounts for nearly one third of municipal solid waste in the United States.”  And that is about 70 million tons per year! The process of producing the new packaging itself also has an enormous environmental cost on the manufacturing end, using large amounts of water, oil and the energy used to produce it. With all of that in mind, it seems like it is a really good time to take a look at how packaging waste can be reduced. 

 

The basic rule of thumb is: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

 

Here are some ideas on how each of us can reduce our packaging waste:

 

1.       Whenever possible, avoid purchasing items wrapped in plastic and anything in a “single use” container, such as water, soda and laundry detergent. When you must buy pre-packaged items, recycle the packaging! The Strafford Recycling Center accepts bottles, aluminum, mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, metal including cans, plastics with the numbers 1,2 and 5, fluorescent light bulbs, CFLs and all batteries under 9 pounds. They also collect plastic produce and shopping bags (bags that are “non-crinkly”) which get turned into Trex decking.

 

2.       Carry your own reusable water bottle, coffee cup, straw, eating utensils, bowl, plate and cloth napkin.

 

3.       Buy in bulk using your own reusable containers.

 

4.       Use your own reusable cloth bags to “package” loose produce and groceries.

 

5.       When comparing similar items from two brands, choose the item that has less packaging. Seek out companies that use planet friendly packaging. (The most planet friendly packaging is compostable or bio-degradable and is made by companies such as Green Paper Products or Planet Friendly Packaging.) Also, note that most compostable plastic bags are not actually compostable, but may be reused.

 

6.       Let companies know when excessive packaging is used and also let them know that                   you intend not to purchase from them again unless less packaging is used.

 

7.       Reuse packaging products like paper and plastic bags, boxes, tins and wrapping                          paper whenever possible. (Speaking of wrapping paper, many people are making cloth sacks to use over and over again instead of using wrapping paper.)

 

8.       Re-purpose materials like newspaper (the comics!), using it for wrapping gifts or to mulch the garden.

 

9.       Find alternative ways to purchase products. Consider buying used items and shop at thrift stores and other places where no packaging or shipping is used. Both the environmental impact of producing new items and disposing of used items is reduced when we purchase used items.

 

10.   Look for re-usable plastic bags (such as sandwich bags) and food wraps (such as bees wax cloth wraps), or consider using a plate to cover a bowl in the refrigerator, instead of using plastic wrap.

 

11.   When shopping, bring your reusable shopping bags or, if you must have a bag, choose paper. Go without a bag whenever possible.

 

12.   Look for products that are packaged using only paper such as laundry detergent sheets.

 

 

When it comes to reducing packaging, no one can do everything and all of us can do something….and all of those little ways of reducing packaging waste add up!

Thanks for reading and considering.

 

 

Here are Some Additional Resources:

 

“Plastics Education Meeting” webinar

This is on the Strafford Town website, under Strafford Energy & Climate Committee:

November 11, 2021

Click the link to view the recording.

SECC Recording Passcode: X.jt6Vz#

 

Blog on the Strafford Climate Action blogspot:

https://straffordclimateaction.blogspot.com/2021/06/links-for-many-plastic-free-household.html   

 

https://greenthatlife.com/ has many good articles, a number of them about plastics, such as:

“6 Myths About Plastic Debunked” https://greenthatlife.com/myths-about-plastic/  

“7 Ways to Make it a Plastic Free July 2021! https://greenthatlife.com/plastic-free-july/   

 

Also:

https://greenthatlife.com/virtual-earth-day/  

“Even if you’re stuck at home you can help the planet by making a concerted effort to reduce the waste you and your family generate. This accumulation of waste not only pollutes the environment but also poses health problems, from contaminated water to increasing carbon emissions.”

·         Reduce. Begin your campaign to reduce waste in the home by reducing your use of single-use disposable items. Pick one to eliminate and then try to add a few more to your waste-reduction plan.

·         Reuse. Check out Green That Life’s Spring Cleaning post to learn how to re-purpose old items and donate responsibly.

·         Recycle what’s left, but recycle right. Learn how to avoid wish-cycling and recycle responsibly.

·         Recycle your Food. Food waste is a huge waste.  For more on why, and to learn how to whittle your food waste, see Green That Life‘s post on the topic. Then, try your hand at backyard composting. Learn how to with Green That Life’s composting guide.

·         Learn more about the impact of waste — particularly, plastic waste – on the environment. A film worth watching is The Clean Bin Project about a Canadian couple’s attempt to live a waste-free life.

AND:

 

https://www.beyondplastics.org/   -- has many very informative articles