Cailie Hughes

I will read through the three emails each week to learn more about plastic and get ideas on how to use less.

I will reuse existing bags such as pet food bags, grocery bags, or online shopping bags to line my trash bins (or go without plastic liners) and offset using as many new bags as possible.

I will buy secondhand goods to reduce the demand for new plastic products and avoid packaging.

I will avoid 10 plastic bags each shopping trip by not bagging my produce or using reusable produce bags.

I will swap 3 prepackaged snacks for unpackaged fruits or veggies or homemade or bulk items each time we need more.

I will try a new recipe or food preparation method, such as canning, pickling, making yogurt, or baking granola bars or bread.

I will learn about what different descriptions and marketing terms mean when used on plastics.

Contamination makes the recycling process more difficult. I will review which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my county and recycle only those items. 

I will make sure any BPI-certified compostable plastic products I use will be disposed of correctly by putting them in my curbside compost/food scraps bin or taking them to a drop-off location and not placing them in the regular recycling.

The numbers #1-7 on plastics tell us a lot and can help us be better recyclers. I will learn more about what the symbols on plastics mean.