Anne Scheible

My goal was to decrease individually wrapped snacks for myself and my grandson. I baked two different homemade snacks and I also bought snacks from the bulk aisle. It turns out baking snacks doesn’t take all that long.

I did a waste audit last week. I only recorded plastic because we are pretty good about reducing, reusing and recycling other types of waste.
Thoughts:
1. Meat trays and plastic wrap: only two that week. I can reduce this a little by buying more meat at the coop because there are more cardboard trays and less plastic wrap.
2. 3 Individual snack wraps. Make my own snacks and store in reusable containers.
3. 5-6 plastic food bags. Some I use for wet garbage. I try to use each plastic bag at least twice. Best solution is to shop bulk at the coop.
4. 4 Milk jug, yogurt, cottage cheese containers. I reuse these sometimes to shop in the bulk dept. But you can’t reuse all of them. Solution: buy milk in glass containers and make own yogurt.

I finally got to the Tare Store today. I bought the foaming hand soap and pump. I almost bought the jar that went with the pump but remembered that I had a recycled mayo jar at home. Double win! Plus l bought lotion, conditioner and dishwasher pods.

I had a goal of buying used clothing. I just bought a fleece. It was not used but it was made from recycled materials.

I’ve started my waste audit. I’m four days in. I’m just focusing on plastic waste. We handle other types of waste pretty well.

I’m pretty good about taking my reusable bags to do my weekly grocery shop but I don’t often use my reusable bags for quick runs to pick up items. For example, today I had to get a few items at the store and got stuck with a plastic bag. I’m going to put a reusable bag in my car for unexpected purchases.