ECO-WARRIORS

[sofieceliza]

Hello!
I am an eco-warrior. Plastic pollution is taking over the planet, wildlife and eco-systems are suffering and this generation is the one that needs to do something about it.

Have you made any changes to your daily life to benefit the environment? Have you considered removing single-use plastics where you can? If not, would you be open to trying it?
Below are some of the things I've been doing to reduce my plastic impact on this world. Please post your eco-friendly tips and tricks and together we can help our world!

- invest in a reusable water bottle instead of buying a new one every single day.
- take reusable bags to the shops instead of using the single-use plastic carrier bags. In the UK, shops charge 5p for single use bags in an attempt to reduce their impact on the environment.
- buy a reusable cloth sandwich bag (I got one from Etsy!), or use paper bags for your lunch instead of disposable plastic bags!
- swap your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one.
- be mindful of the foods you're buying - are they wrapped in unnecessary plastic?
- don't have a straw in your drink. If you must have a straw, buy some reusable metal straws! I got mine off Amazon.
- carry a reusable coffee cup for your takeaway caffeine fix. Many disposable cups are actually lined with plastic to keep them waterproof, so they're not biodegradable! Plus many places offer a small discount if you use your own cup.

 

[Snowesque]

Nice tips.
I myself recycle, but I haven't got around to totes as I'll need to buy a bunch of big sturdy ones.
I haven't found any cute ones like that though haha.

 

[Shellzilla_515]

Interesting. I'm actually really sensitive on what goes in the garbage and recycling. For example, when I see paper being thrown into the garbage, I'm like, "No! That goes in the recycling!"

I don't have tips sadly other than the ones you mentioned here but it's nice to hear!

- swap your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one.

Wow, I didn't know bamboo toothbrushes exist. XD

 

[Alienfish]

Nice tips. I knew about most but still I think we all can learn from it. Also that metal straw things sound cool, would be neat if you could bring it to fast food places should you need to eat there. I def. need to look into getting bamboo toothbrush though, those plastic ones get kinda gross after a while.

As for plastic bags I have to use them for garbage bags since the trash bags you buy on rolls here are useless, too thin and like everything pour out of it -.- I try to just carry in my large ass messenger bag if I can help it though.

 

[ali.di.magix]

There is a few things that I've employed to reduce some waste. I take my reusable coffee cup to university all the time. The cafes at my university offer 50 cents off if you bring your own cup, plus student discount, which means you get a decent coffee for like a $1.50. Two of the main supermarkets here in the near future, or have already, got rid of single use plastic bags. They also tend to have signs in the carparks to remind customers to bring in their bags so they don't get in the store and forget. When I'm buying food I almost always have a backpack or big bag on me so I hardly ever get single use plastic bags. There's so many stores around that are employing waste-reducing techniques, and it makes me happy to see new, innovative ideas

 

[Yuni]

I feel that while the push for reducing plastic waste is somewhat good, it is also demonizing people with disability who have to use plastic straws as everything else is a choking hazard.

The problem seems to be more that most people seem incapable or unaware of how to dispose of plastics and recyclables, and that there aren't systems in place to recycle or upcycle effectively because it's expensive. I know in Victoria at least, there wasn't any education on disposing different types of plastics, we only have paper recyclables and general trash bins. I've only noticed soft plastic bins this year so....ehh it's progress. Things might be different in other states because they have monetary incentive.

Also considering the amount of energy spent to make an eco bag, you'd have to use it around 200 times to not be wasteful.
That's if the bag lasts that long. It's going to take a lot of time for changes to happen.

Honestly I'm only slightly upset about the switch to eco bags because I've always used them as garbage bags for non compostable items. So ehhh they were useful for me and now I have to buy plastic garbage bags ... which kinda negates the point.

For other things... rather than being eco friendly, my mum has always been paranoid with what could be put in food.

I don't buy bottled water. I don't drink coffee. I don't often buy drinks when outside. There was some flouride added into bottled water incident about a decade ago so I've never touched that stuff lol. The only drink related waste that I would have in my home are milk cartons. Other drinks might have preservative and who knows what in them so it's not something I've been accustomed to.

When it comes to food... we don't have any prepackaged foods. Any waste would be like newspaper or plastic wrap for meats, or egg cartons, bones, and sauce / oil containers. Not only paranoid, we're stingy as so we buy in bulk and refil into smaller bottles etc.

If there's something I could change about my lifestyle, then it'd be getting rid of my hobbies. But Apple hasn't let me into my itunes account from 2010 to get this one digital album I bought so that's not happening.

---
Honestly I'm just really bothered how bad plastics are being perceived these days. There's plenty of use for it medically, with 3d printing etc and items that really help with people who may struggle with daily tasks that most able bodied people would take for granted.

But my experience may be different because Australia already went back on reducing our carbon waste and etc because our politicians don't believe in climate change or scientists.

 

[shunishu]

and you can't choke on plastic straws? there's always paper or metal straws, sippy cups, drink bottles, or other reusable, washable options, if you need the assistance. if you don't need a straw at all and are able to drink it right out of the cup, why not do that. honestly, noone is asking everyone to get rid of everything plastic, just to be aware and reduce the amount of it, where it is possible. that's possible for people with disabilities and their potential caretakers too. let's not use people with disabilities as an excuse for laziness, I don't think they'd appreciate that. if you need certain things to live, that amount plastic waste, noone is gonna blame you for that. in the end it's your decision, how much you want to and can reduce, even if everyone is just making small adjustments it makes a huge difference, even just using a reusable shopping bag instead of a plastic bag everytime you go to a shop. small things like that. it's just that people need to make those small adjustments where possible.
or keeping track when you take out the plastic waste every time, what are the things you regularly use, that amass the most plastic waste, and ask yourself, do i need that much of that particular thing, or is there a way to get this particular thing without plastic wrapping or less thereof.
you can also check packaging to see if the wrapping is bio-degradable and chose that product instead of a plastic wrapped one.
here, we can bring a container to shops with fresh cheese and meat etc and they put all in it and put a sticker with a barcode on it and done, you save several stacks of plastic packaging and in the end get fresher unprocessed probably healthier food too.
there are also shops here, where you can do this for almost anything, bring your container to refill grains, nuts, soap etc. weigh it, pay etc. if you see things like that in your area support those instead of supermarket chains or tell customer support in your supermarket of choice that you want options like that.
can you get veggies and fruit from a farmers market? or are there farmers that will deliver weekly or monthly or one time veggie/fruit boxes to your house? there's options everywhere, if you look and ask around or search on the internet about your area, you just have to become aware of them and that there are many no effort small things you can do and try the things that are possible and share such information with friends and family and talk about it, you might find that they want to do something too, but don't know where to start.

- - - Post Merge - - -

As for plastic bags I have to use them for garbage bags since the trash bags you buy on rolls here are useless, too thin and like everything pour out of it -.- I try to just carry in my large ass messenger bag if I can help it though.

i mean garbage bags is another thing, if you can't change it.. plastic shopping bags is something to avoid tho (which you are doing already where possible). tho just for your information there are bio-degradable garbage bags, check your local places, if they sell those or you can probably find them on amazon or so. they're not toooo much more expensive than regular ones I think. atleast you know then that they don't add to pollution even if it's a euro or so more idk.
we have garbage cans here for regular waste, paper and greens and bags for plastic. (plus composter in the garden, if you have the means and space to get/make one).
and the bio-degradable bags work well!

 

[Alienfish]

Yeah, I think most plastic bags here are already eco-friendly, degradable etc. and the actual option on rolls or just split it up in cartons and recycle etc. is sadly not an option here. (Weak bags on rolls and if you were to walk with all your trash to a recycle station that is way too far away without a car, yes no. The only thing we do with that is glass bottles since you aren't allowed to do those in regular garbage anyway and those are very much not daily things).

And yeah only if I do really heavy stuff I buy plastic bags, and then I use them to put the garbage thing so it's not that I collect them any other way

Also yes re bamboo toothbrushes they exist, I totally need to get one for my next one if I can find it here...

 

[ali.di.magix]

I feel that while the push for reducing plastic waste is somewhat good, it is also demonizing people with disability who have to use plastic straws as everything else is a choking hazard.

Metal straws are still an option for them, or multiple-use plastic sippy cups!

The problem seems to be more that most people seem incapable or unaware of how to dispose of plastics and recyclables, and that there aren't systems in place to recycle or upcycle effectively because it's expensive. I know in Victoria at least, there wasn't any education on disposing different types of plastics, we only have paper recyclables and general trash bins. I've only noticed soft plastic bins this year so....ehh it's progress. Things might be different in other states because they have monetary incentive.

Yeah, that definitely is true that there is a lack of knowledge or miscommunication of what can be recycled. I'm surprised there's only two types of bins. Here in New Zealand, at least in where I live, we have 3 bins. One for general rubbish, recyclables and organics. At my university there's a fourth type, which is special for decomposable paper cups and cutlery. Most of the bins have information pictures indicating what waste goes in each bin. Having said that, that still isn't enough education for people to put stuff in the right bin, there definitely needs to be an emphasis on how important and more efficient it is if you put it in the right bin in the first place.

Honestly I'm only slightly upset about the switch to eco bags because I've always used them as garbage bags for non compostable items. So ehhh they were useful for me and now I have to buy plastic garbage bags ... which kinda negates the point.

Yeah but if your household is anything like mine, you end up with a tonne of plastic bags. The amount of bags used for rubbish is likely less than how many bags you're taking home lol. So it almost becomes unnecessary. The more you use, the more they're going to keep making, so it's best to start right from the root of the problem by reducing. Reduce, reuse and recycle, ordered from most preferred to less preferred, is what is best for the environment.

Honestly I'm just really bothered how bad plastics are being perceived these days. There's plenty of use for it medically, with 3d printing etc and items that really help with people who may struggle with daily tasks that most able bodied people would take for granted.

In that case, the role of plastics is beneficial to human life and is perhaps necessary to improve quality of life. I think the value added by that would far outweigh any problems with waste produced. That is probably a plastic product that is irreducible, as in you can't eliminate it. But I'm certain in every other case there is a way to reduce plastics, and it is necessary.

 

[Soigne]

I’m mindful of my ecological footprint, but even I have things I can improve upon. I’m searching for some portable silverware (and perhaps a metal straw) to bring with me to restaurants and such, but the thing is most restaurants leave a plastic straw on your table regardless if you tell them not to. And once they do that, they have to throw them away. It’s difficult to manage sometimes. I should look into getting a reusable bag, mostly I put items in my backpack that I carry with me but sometimes that’s not practical.

These are some good tips!

 

[Mr. Cat]

I already do most of these. Fortunately, I think younger generations are very aware of these issues and feel the need to do something about it. Older generations, not so much. I think as they start to fade out and we start to fade in and rise up in the ranks, we'll be able to do something about pollution on a larger, corporate level. But for now, I'll take as many small steps as possible.

 

[Alienfish]

I already do most of these. Fortunately, I think younger generations are very aware of these issues and feel the need to do something about it. Older generations, not so much. I think as they start to fade out and we start to fade in and rise up in the ranks, we'll be able to do something about pollution on a larger, corporate level. But for now, I'll take as many small steps as possible.

Eh, I think if you mean like baby boomers post-old hippies, and especially ladies they actually take care in stuff. At least those that come to where I work. I think today's generation that are younger than me take it a bit too seriously and sometimes becomes tumblrinas though sadly.
--

Anyway, eventually found a bamboo toothbrush today so hope it treats me well

 

[shunishu]

@mr cat that's awesome! never be discouraged.

i know some older generation people don't care about it much, but I noticed that they are becoming more and more aware of pollution and climate change in recent years.. I think it helps talking about it often and making them aware of possibilities by practicing them and showing them that way, what can be done.. casually mention things you do or learned about. maybe they get curious and adapt certain things. and help them if they don't do it cause they don't know where to start or how. communication can go a long way and it's worth the try :>

 

[DJStarstryker]

Honestly, a simple thing that would help the environment that doesn't require as much change (for those stubborn people who refuse to do some of the changes mentioned in the OP) is if people properly put stuff in the trash can/recycle bin. Throwing it on the ground means it can get washed into a stream.

 

[Snowesque]

DJStarstryker
It's honestly surreal that people still throw trash on the ground.
When I was a younger there was a group I was in that'd regularly pick up trash by a few highways, then after a while there wasn't a single thing of trash there for years.

 

[Alienfish]

Tried one of those bamboo toothbrushes now, and sadly I have to say they are pretty bad quality for some reason. Like, the brush hair fall off real easy, and idk, the wood seem pretty gross after just a few brushes, plus the wood is pretty harsh on the gum. Good concept and size of the brush.. but they need to rinse and repeat doing it better.

 

[rianne]

I recycle what I can at home and when I'm out. It physically pains me when I go to a friend or family member's house and they just throw all their trash into the bin without separating recyclables. I've participated in beach clean ups for school community service requirements but I really should do that now since I have free time. I also donate clothes and shoes to local charities since I usually keep them in good condition to be reused. I also have way too many reusable totes/bags to count; they've gotten more fashionable as more people have become ecofriendly and aware.

 

[Alienfish]

Yeah, well I work practice currently at a second hand store so I give them stuff regularly. As for not separating when to recycle if they'd actually bother setting up those cans outside the door and not 65 miles down where the subway rolls I could do it but yeah not carrying stuff there, sorry. Other than glass that we carry down since you're not allowed to put it in regular trash cans, and paper they have outside the door so that we do.

 

[Midoriya]

I?ve been recycling for as long as I can remember. These tips are really good though.

Unfortunately, the people at my dorm are terrible when it comes to recycling. The bins had to be removed last year because people kept using them as trash cans. Pretty sure I saw actual food and stuff being thrown in there as well. Like, you don?t have a small trash can with you or trash bags? And there?s dumpsters right next to the dorms too for actual trash. :/

 

[Buttonsy]

A lot of people try making their own things like toothpaste, skin care, shampoo, soap, etc, by themselves, because I think it uses less packaging in the long run if you can buy the ingredients in bulk and then make them at home.

Also wanted to note that while it's definitely good to try to do stuff like using less straws and items in unnecessary disposable packaging if you can, it's important not to shame others who can't do it, as those types of items often benefit people with disabilities- for example, pre-peeled oranges or garlic wrapped in plastic might seem wasteful, but some people with Parkinsons' or other illnesses that effect your ability to use your hands wouldn't be able to peel those types of products themselves. It's important that we make environmentalism accessible to people with disabilities!