Join the Challenge to Reduce Single-use Products

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This week’s challenge is to identify single-use products that you can reduce the use or eliminate entirely. Here are a few of the tricks I use daily to limit my contribution of single-use items to land-filling. I will confess that when I read that Q-tips are clogging the sewage system My brain screamed: “not my Q-tips”. If I were stranded on a desert island the one thing I would not want to live without is an endless supply of Q-tips. We all have our weakness. You know what yours is, choose something you are not emotionally connected to, I dare you to just pick one.

Paper Towels

These everyday use paper products are one of the biggest offenders on the single-use products list. Using the earth’s resources to create so much waste, they’re expensive, and not very strong. Instead, I opt for cleaning cloths. Any absorbent material will work, but I love these Norwex microfiber cloths. Norwex Microfiber removes up to 99% of bacteria from a surface with only water. They are made from 50% recycled materials and contains antibacterial agents that inhibit odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth. See how these cloths changed my shopping habits.

Making an effort to reduce paper towels does take some getting used to, but once you do, it will be another item no longer on the shopping list. Wash and reuse for years.

Cloth Bags

Keep a stockpile of various size tote bags to keep grocery items fresh. These cloth handbags are great for carrying fresh produce, herbs, bakery bread and anything else you want to keep separate. Instead of using the plastic bags provided in the produce section use these cloths bags.
Cloths bags may also be used as a lunch bag or for snacks, for storing small items, for organizing small objects, or storing electronics.
These produce bags are all-natural and recyclable organic cotton — guilt-free storage!

Cloth Napkins

Wean yourself from preventable, single-use disposable napkins and switch to cloth. These may seem formal but we use them regularly for my family and for guests. If you are a do it yourself person and want to sew yourself some napkins make sure to choose soft, washable, absorbent material. Ensure you have enough napkins for a wash cycle rotation to keep yourself tidy without trashing the environment. We do laundry once a week with a family of four. I don’t miss paper napkins at all. On speacial occasions we still purchase decorative napkins but have eliminated these from our budget and our everyday use.

Trade in your plastic wrap for Silicone Suction Lids

Try some silicone suction lids they are functional for storing food in the refrigerator, outside as a bug barrier to your casserole, use as a microwave splatter cover, or as a steamer over a microwave-safe container. Skip the tin foil and plastic wrap the silicone lids also keep food and beverages hot. They also stack on top of each other for easy storage. These will fit perfectly in your new zero waste lifestyle.

No more pads or tampons choose a Menstrual Cup

Every month millions of women use feminine products wrapped in plastic.
If you’re interested in producing less waste from conventional products like tampons or pads, a menstrual cup is a great option. Menstruation may not be a topic that many women feel comfortable talking about, but once you try a menstrual cup, you will not stop talking about it. Also, that drawer where all the lady product used to live is now open space.
Marie Kondō, the author of “The magic art of tidying up”, would be so proud. Also, the monthly bill purchasing paper products meant to be trashed, no longer existed — more money for self-care. Everybody wins!

Straws

Straws are getting a bad reputation but for good reason. Like plastic bags, these are hard for recycling plants to sort and therefore get thrown in the trash and become landfill. There are a few alternatives to choose from if you can ‘t give up your straw try: Paper, silicone, or stainless steel.

The reduce waste challenge is not to make you feel guilty or inadequate in any way. We are all doing the best we can. It is merely a challenge to reduce your waste and informing you what worked for my family and me. The goal is to educate many folks to adjust their waste contribution, and millions of small things make a huge difference. Just pick one and stick with it.

If you need more ideas to check out go to 60 Ideas for Living More Sustainably by Kelly, nature and wellness enthusiast, mom, and author of WikeBaby.com.

~Janine

Check out other challenges.