Category: Plastic

Remove makeup without disposable wipes

12/13/2024

A pea-sized dollop of coconut oil will remove eye makeup brilliantly. Beware disposable makeup wipes as they are made from plastic fibers which become microplastics.

Warm a pea-sized dollop of coconut oil in your palms and gently massage it in the eye area with your fingertips. Disposable makeup wipes are one of the leading contributors to landfills and generally made with plastic which breaks down into smaller plastic particles that pollute our waterways.

Read more about this issue at thegoodboutique.com and more skin care recipes at Earth911.com.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Recycle or trash contact lenses

10/25/2024

Billions of contact lenses are thrown into sinks or toilets every year in our country which break down into microplastics and do not degrade. Dispose of contacts in the trash or through recycling programs now available in optometry offices.

The environmental impact of microplastics has been well-documented and its long-term impact on human health is being studied. Contact lenses are not innocuous despite their small size.

Read more here

Decline the plastic straws

9/27/2024

At home and when eating out, decline the plastic straws to help reduce plastic waste in the environment.

Plastic disposable straws are not recyclable and contribute to the mounds of plastic waste created by our disposable culture. They become harmful when they are released into the environment where they can be detrimental to wildlife. Marine mammals and birds ingest discarded plastic straws, bags, bottle caps and other trash. When these plastic items become lodged in the gut, ultimately kills these animals. If you need to use a straw, there are better alternatives to disposable plastic. Reusable straws made of metal, bamboo, or glass often come with a brush to clean the inside. There are a variety of sustainably made disposable straws made from paper, pasta, or even seaweed.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Choose materials that can be repeatedly recycled

8/30/2024

Aluminum, other metals, and glass can be recycled infinite times; paper about five to seven times; and plastic once or twice, if at all.

Recyclable plastic is generally recycled down or “downcycled” so a water bottle may become synthetic fabric, insulation, or plastic lumber but cannot be recycled further. By contrast, metals and glass are infinitely recyclable.

Read more here at Earth911.com

Photo by Ty Nigh, Flickr

Look for less packaging when you buy

8/16/2024

Compare and contrast when you shop—for less packaging!

Many items come in a variety of packaging styles. Consumers are increasingly choosing items with less packaging or none at all--and businesses need to listen.

Read more here at PR Newswire.

Keep plastic utensils out of the recycling

4/26/2024

Recycling mystery revealed: plastic utensils are not recyclable.

Plastic utensils are not recyclable. The majority are made of polystyrene (#6 plastic, same as Styrofoam). Some are made of #1 plastic but are not labeled, so we have no way of knowing. The odd shapes also jam machinery. Replace plastic utensils with compostable or reusable ones.

Read more here.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Sustainable dental floss

2/2/2024

There are now sustainable options for dental floss: recyclable paperboard containers and compostable silk floss.

Dental floss is typically packaged in a one-time use plastic box which may also be covered in additional plastic packaging. Floss itself is made of synthetic material that is hard to recycle and takes decades to break down.* There are now alternatives on the market that are recyclable, reusable, and compostable. Silk is a compostable alternative to synthetic floss. Recyclable paperboard packaging is used by some brands, and there are also refillable options. This Treehugger article** lists a number of brands that offer compostable silk floss and refillable containers. Locally, Martindale’s in Springfield carries Radius dental floss packaged in a paperboard box.

*according to Colgate website
**Starre Vartan, November 18, 2022, "The 9 Best Biodegradable Dental Flosses," Treehugger.com

Swarthmore ordinance: restaurants will ask if you want utensils or condiments

1/12/2024

Swarthmore’s single use regulation ordinance goes into effect on January 8th, 2024. Decline the plastic utensils when asked by a restaurant if you want them.

The new ordinance prohibits merchants from providing single-use plastic bags for purchases or Styrofoam packaging for food or beverages. In addition, disposable foodware accessories, such as plastic utensils, plastic straws, and pre-packaged condiments, will be provided only upon request by the customer or offered as a self-serve option. This provision will prevent unwanted and unused disposable items from ending up in the trash without even being used. To take full advantage of this option, decline plastic utensils when asked and use washable items instead.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Choose a wooden cutting board over plastic

12/8/2023

Wood is a renewable resource and easier on your knife blades.

Choosing a wood or bamboo cutting board over plastic not only cuts down on plastic products but is also easier to keep clean and keep free from bacterial growth.* Disposal is also more sustainable: plastic has to be thrown in the trash, but wood and bamboo are compostable. Even if a board is labeled as #1 or #2, which are recyclable types of plastic, they are manufactured differently from bottles and so are not able to be recycled with them. Plastic boards also cannot be sorted properly by the machinery used to sort curbside mixed recycling.

For more information, see this article:

*https://www.treehugger.com/why-you-should-always-choose-wooden-cutting-board-4858094

photo by Susan O'Donnell

Don't bag thick-skinned produce

6/9/2023

To reduce the need for plastic bags, don’t bother bagging produce with thick skins, such as lemons, bananas, and avocados.

Rethink bagging produce with thick skins before placing them in your grocery cart. The thick, inedible skins of produce such as citrus fruits, bananas, and avocados make plastic produce bags unnecessary when selecting them at the grocery store. Reduce your use of plastic bags by placing these items directly into your shopping cart or into a reusable bag.

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