Trash less

I went through my drawers and cupboards looking for ways to trash less. I came to the conclusion that in order to figure out what needed to be recycled, reused or reduced I needed to pay more attention to what I was putting into the trash can. So I looked in my garbage and I found :

food packaging

tissues

junk mail

paper towels

paper plates

plastic slider/zipper bags

food waste

We have already covered paper towels and paper plates so I guess we can talk about the plastic slider/zipper bags. Okay, I’ll admit it. I love them. They aren’t just for food. I use them for traveling, craft storage, organizing random things, rocks and sweat towel storage for the gym. I don’t really throw them away. Probably just the ones I use for lunches. So from now on I will use a reusable container instead.

Junk mail. It’s mostly advertisements for services I am not looking for. It either gets ripped into tiny pieces, shredded or sent back from whence it came. If they send me a postage paid envelope I will send it all back to them with a note to take me off their mailing list. Does this work? I don’t know but it makes me feel better knowing that it’s not going into MY garbage can lol.

Tissues. Yes I use them to blow my nose in the morning. What is the alternative? Good old fashioned handkerchiefs. I am going to try these but no guarantees. Lol. I don’t know if I can do it.

Food waste. Most of my food waste consists of banana peels, coffee grounds, avocado shells, onion skins, lettuce and egg shells. These are things that can be composted so I got one. More on that later this month.

Food packaging. Wow. I didn’t realize how most of the things I purchase are contained in plastic. And it’s not small or recyclable. Orange juice, laundry soap, body wash, apples, condiments, the list goes on. I will be researching alternatives. Wish me luck🤞🏽