How to Cut Out and Reduce Plastic Waste in 2020 for Homes and Businesses

Do you want to reduce plastic consumption in your household or place of business – the opportunities to recycle plastic and buy alternatives are readily available. In 2020, for some businesses and homes, they could potentially be seeing their very first plastic-free year. Here’s some different approaches to reducing plastic waste others have taken.

Can I actually not buy plastic this year?

In all likelihood, you’re going to need to buy some new plastics at some point. Everyone uses plastics, some daily. It’s a part of living in the twenty-first century. Even the most dedicated recyclers may still encounter a decision where plastic is the answer. That said, don’t feel bad. Alternatives exist in most cases and it’s very possible you may be able to avoid buying plastics most of the time.

Why do they use plastic in my coffee cup?

When you buy a cup of coffee, you’re receiving a disposable coffee cup with a plastic lining inside. If you’re a big fan of Tim’s or Starbucks, and even a lot of independent coffee shops, disposable cups are packed with plastic. A natural alternative is to bring your own reusable to purchase coffee with. A lot of coffee shops will accept reusable non-disposable coffee mugs, filling them without hassle.

Why is it important to avoid single-use grocery store plastic bags?

Single-use plastic bags in grocery stores and retail clog recycling machines and are largely unrecyclable. This is why there’s been so much effort to ban this harmful, chemical plastic. Alternatively, you don’t need plastic bags when you go grocery shopping if you bring a cloth-derived bag. You can purchase reusable bags from local grocery stores and retail outlets, or create your own from materials at home.

Can I use glass instead of plastic to store foods – yes you can!

A lot of where plastic comes in handy is in food storage. When we have leftovers, something to freeze, or when we have to store flour, rice, nuts, and similar foods, we go for standard Tupperware-style plastics. Make a change in 2020 by switching to glass or ceramic containers. Numerous options exist out there, in glass and ceramic. As an added bonus, you can even container certain foods like rice at the grocery store – avoiding the plastic it normally takes to transport them home.

How do I avoid plastic packaging?

It’s true. At grocery stores and in retail, there’s a lot of plastic packaging. If you ask, you’ll find something surprising though. A lot of stores will let you bring your own containers to fill up on essentials like produce, meats, and baking supplies. If you ask ahead of time, a lot of stores – independents and corporate chains – will work with you to try to limit your plastic consumption. Although walking the aisles of certain food categories you will see plastics on the shelf, when it comes to meats and produce and fresher products, it’s very possible you can avoid plastics entirely by using your own containers for transport and packing.

Should I stop buying plastic bottles?

There’s a lot of eco-friendly alternatives to buying new Cokes or new bottled water. One example’s Soda Stream which gives anyone the chance to carbonate water at home while adding select syrups. You also don’t need constant replenishment of bottled water, as long as you’re using a filter at home and a reusable water bottle. Save buying 2L bottles of sodas for special occasions. All these efforts can greatly cut down on plastic use in households and businesses alike.

How can I create my own non-plastics at home?

Some things you can’t avoid – like yogurt – which would normally come in plastic. Fortunately, foods like this can be made at home. Yogurt, ice cream, cereal, granola bars, and others are easily recreated at home. You can also come up with a lot of homemade DIY cleaners that circumvent you having to buy chemical-based brands from the store. An added bonus to reducing plastic waste by making foods and cleaners DIY is that the foods are often more nutritious, and the cleaners are less toxic to the environment.

What if I don’t want to give up plastics?

The #1 rule of how to reduce plastic waste is to make sure you’re still comfortable. There are alternatives and choices but making the switch all at once can be very tough. Take it slow, experiment with alternatives to find what works for you, and keep comfortable. Some plastic purchasing you may see as absolutely necessary and that’s ok! This is about reducing consumption, not eliminating plastic altogether. Even if you chop plastic waste down by 40 percent or more, that’s still a big accomplishment. So do remember to go slow and give some time to the process of moving to an increasingly plastic-free lifestyle.

Can you stop eating what comes in plastic packaging?

Here’s the hard part. If you want to go plastic-free in 2020 and reduce waste, you may be pressured to give up certain foods. Chips, snacks, chocolate bars, frozen berries, and frozen veggies all come in plastic packaging. There are sometimes alternatives you can buy in bulk, utilizing your own containers to do the carrying. If you can’t go without, ask yourself what exceptions you’ll make to your no-plastic rule. Like we said earlier, you still want to be comfortable.

What can I do with the plastics you already have?

Don’t throw them out! If you have old plastic bottles or packaging around the house, there are several ways to repurpose them. When you have to buy new plastics, ensure you reuse or repurpose them again. Plastics – for all the flack they get – are very reusable if you’re ready to make a commitment to doing so. Plastic bags and containers you already have can still be purposed going forward. It’s just a case of not buying new ones. The more plastic we buy, the more that’s produced. The weakening of the plastics industry in favor of more recyclable packaging and products is going to happen inevitably. A plastics-free household or business is simply going to aid this process occur faster.

Core Mini Bins is a powerful waste disposal service in Toronto. Having helped households and businesses handle their waste and recycling for over a decade, don’t hesitate to give us a call when you need waste picked up.