{"id":982,"date":"2019-12-21T16:36:37","date_gmt":"2019-12-22T00:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nebulous-oyster.flywheelsites.com\/blog\/?p=982"},"modified":"2022-03-15T08:41:03","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T15:41:03","slug":"plastic-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jennifermargulis.net\/plastic-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic Nation No More: Rid Your Life of Plastic"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Rid your life of plastic. Stop using produce bags! | via Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D.<\/p><\/div>\n

“I hate plastic,” I complained to my friend Sue. “I want to get it out of my life.”<\/p>\n

“But it’s ubiquitous,” Sue answered.<\/p>\n

“So’s crime,” I told her.<\/p>\n

“Good point.”<\/p>\n

Ever since we had that conversation, Sue and I have been trying to pare down the plastic crap that invades both our lives.<\/p>\n

Do you want to rid your life of plastic?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are so many ways to rid your life of plastic, big and small.<\/p>\n

I honestly don’t know how much it helps, in the long run.\u00a0But I do know I have to try to rid my life of plastic<\/a>.\u00a0We can’t keep destroying the reefs, polluting the oceans<\/a>, and clogging the landfills.<\/p>\n

I don’t want humans to end up polluting ourselves out of existence but if we keep destroying the environment the way we have been.<\/p>\n

We need big policy changes from the top down.<\/p>\n

To commit to the end of the plastic nation.<\/p>\n

But we can’t wait for our legislators to fix what we’ve broken. We can start now.<\/p>\n

Even if it feels like spitting in the ocean, you can rid your life of plastic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The plastic nation’s time is up.<\/p>\n

If New York City can greatly reduce its crime rates, can’t we greatly reduce our plastic consumption?<\/p>\n

Here are 5 ways to get started on your journey to rid your life of plastic.<\/strong> Remember everything you do to rid your life of plastic, no matter how small, will help.<\/h2>\n

1. Bring your own spoon<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I have 3 espresso spoons in my purse.<\/p>\n

I use them every day.<\/p>\n

If you carry your own small spoon you’ll never need to use a plastic spoon again.<\/p>\n

\"To

Rid your life of plastic by carrying your own spoons.<\/p><\/div>\n

2. Don’t buy plastic trash bags. You don’t need them!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I thought this was a weird idea too, when my friend Myra first suggested it.\u00a0But our family stopped using plastic kitchen bags and black plastic garbage bags several years ago.<\/p>\n

Turns out you don’t need a plastic trash bag for the trash<\/strong> in your kitchen.<\/p>\n

You don’t need any plastic garbage bags in your life.<\/p>\n

Go commando in the kitchen.<\/p>\n

And then dump the trash from the waste receptacle in your kitchen directly into your curbside garbage bin, if your county permits it (most in Oregon do). Not using plastic garbage bags\u00a0saves you money and saves the environment.<\/p>\n

And, voila!, you\u00a0rid your life of plastic.<\/p>\n

Some municipalities do not allow commando garbage. Check with your city officials to find out. And start a campaign to change the policy if going commando is not allowed.<\/p>\n

\"Never

Never use a trash bag again. Go commando with your trash.<\/p><\/div>\n

3. Buy in bulk<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It’s easy to buy in bulk, once you get in the habit of bringing your own mason jars.<\/p>\n

Nearly every grocery store has a bulk section these days.<\/p>\n

Think of the thousands of tons of plastic packaging saved.<\/p>\n

We do our best to buy the following in bulk:<\/p>\n

Almonds
\nAlmond butter
\nBaking soda
\nBaking powder
\nBrazil nuts
\nChia seeds
\nDates
\nDate sugar
\nFlax seeds
\nFlour of all kinds
\nHoney
\nMaple syrup
\nOlive oil
\nPeanut butter
\nPistachio nuts
\nRice
\nRolled oats
\nSteel-cut oats
\nSesame seeds
\nSoy sauce
\nSpices
\nSunflower seeds
\nVanilla extract
\nVinegar
\nWalnuts<\/p>\n

\"Bring

Bring your own jars to the grocery store and buy in bulk. You’ll be amazed at how much less plastic comes into your life. Buying in bulk will help you rid your life of plastic.<\/p><\/div>\n

4. Forget the plastic produce bags<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Even if you’re not quite ready to commit to bulk buying or bringing your own jars, you don’t need to put bananas in a produce bag.<\/p>\n

Or apples!<\/p>\n

Or vegetables like broccoli and bok choy.<\/p>\n

If I had a dollar for every time someone used a plastic produce bag when they didn’t need it, I would be a rich lady today.<\/p>\n

Granted it’s trickier with mushrooms and kumquats.<\/p>\n

But can we please all agree to never use plastic produce bags when we don’t need them?!<\/p>\n

As I wrote about on social media<\/a>, I was so glad in 2019 when the Ashland Food Co-op\u00a0started charging just .02 cents per plastic produce bag. Overnight consumers changed their habits based on this new negative incentive. You can too!<\/p>\n

\"See

See this bunch of bananas? Just put it in your shopping cart! Don’t get a plastic produce bag for it. You don’t need one.<\/p><\/div>\n

5. Wrap presents in reusable gift bags, old newspaper, or maps<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Did you know that wrapping paper is often made with plastic?<\/p>\n

To say nothing of the single-use plastic film that coats the roll you just bought.<\/p>\n

Gross.<\/p>\n

And unnecessary.<\/p>\n

Never buy wrapping paper again.<\/p>\n

Use old calendars, magazines, and maps to wrap presents.<\/p>\n

Or, best of all, put your gifts in reusable cloth gift bags that are completely plastic free.<\/p>\n

Buy organic cotton gift bags on-line<\/a>\u00a0or, better yet, make them yourself out of old clothing and fabric scraps.<\/p>\n

\"You

You can buy gift bags like these or, better yet, make them yourself.<\/p><\/div>\n

Do you feel like plastic has invaded your life? What are you doing to rid your life of plastic?<\/h3>\n

Related posts:<\/strong>
\n99 Ways to Become More Sustainable in the Next 9 Minutes<\/a>
\nWhat Trying to Eliminate Plastic Taught Me About My Marriage<\/a>
\nYour Mask May Be Making You Sick<\/a><\/p>\n

Published: October 19, 2011
\nUpdated: March 15, 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“I hate plastic,” I complained to my friend Sue. “I want to get it out of my life.” “But it’s ubiquitous,” Sue answered. “So’s crime,” I told her. “Good point.” Ever since we had that conversation, Sue and I have been trying to pare down the plastic crap that invades both our lives. Do you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[8350,548],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nPlastic Nation No More: Rid Your Life of Plastic — Jennifer Margulis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Plastic is ubiquitous," my friend Sue said. "So's crime," I told her. Here are 5 ways to rid your life of plastic. 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