My plastics dilemma
This is one of my downfalls. No matter how hard I try, the number of plastic bags only seem to grow in my home. I usually have my groceries delivered and the store boxes them rather than bagging them. Nevertheless, if I pop in to the store to pick something up I inevitably realize that I don’t have a bag with me.
So this is my pledge today. I will carry one or two bags in my purse for moments like this. Done. There they are….somewhere at the bottom of my purse, ready for action. I pledge to have few to no plastic bags in my future. I believe that they are unnecessary and wasteful.
Then there is the question of plastic containers for lunches and keeping food in the fridge or freezer. Alternatives include metal, glass or ceramic. Although, there is no way I would put glass or ceramic in a child’s lunch pack. I already have a number of plastic containers that I have had for years including hand-me-down plastics from the grandparents. I think it would be wasteful to throw them out so I am going to replace them with metal alternatives as time goes on.
What to do about plastic wrap? I try to put my leftovers in those plastics I mentioned but every once in 
a while I really just want to cover something up and stick it in the fridge. I am going to buy some of these Eco-Food Covers and do away with plastic wrap forever.
As for those plastic toys, not interested. The kids rarely play with them and mostly they don’t offer an outlet for creativity. Besides there are so many alternatives to plastic toys that are natural, fun, and creative. I ask friends and relatives to skip the plastics aisle and think about active or creative games and toys. And sometimes they listen.
I am sure that I have missed some plastic in my house, but I will keep working at it. Where does plastic sneak into your life and what ideas have you come up with to stop the tsunami?
Plastic has been so innocuous in our lives, it is sometimes difficult to see where you are using it. But I think it is time to change the tide and finish using up our plastics dispose of them safely and keep them away from the land and oceans. Enough harm has been done.
Tags: eco-food covers, Environment, Plastics
November 5th, 2009 at 11:26 am
This is a great post.. Very informative… I can see that you put a lot of hard work on your every post that’s why I think I’d come here more often. Keep it up! By the way, you can also drop by my blogs. They’re about Vegetable Gardening and Composting. I’m sure you’d find my blogs helpful too.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Thanks Micah, Your vegetable garden blog makes me nostalgic. My father also had a large garden and we had a cold room and large freezer in the basement. We were busy during harvest freezing and canning goods for the winter.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I agree! Down with plastic! I actually just posted on my own blog about
Coca-Cola’s new bottle design. I’d be interested in your thoughts on the new materials they’re using. Doesn’t seem like an improvement to me. Then again…we should all probably just stop drinking the stuff.