City of North St. Paul

I am thrilled to kick my disposable cup habit every morning when I get coffee! I struggle to fit the cup under the coffee machine and it can be a hassle to hold it tilted while it fills. That is just a minor inconvenience, though.

I purchased a reusable cup/straw for my daily coffee. I am saving not only 1 plastic cup a day, but also 1 plastic straw!

I now use glass Tupperware. I find it to be much easier to store food and keep it fresh!

I make my own powdered laundry detergent with Borax, Super Washing Soda and grated Fels Naptha soap. To clean the bathroom sink and mirror I use vinegar/water mixture in a spray bottle. I use baking soda to clean the toilet, or sometimes I will use vinegar. I'm trying to use cloth towels to clean instead of paper towels.

I try to reuse most of the plastic bags for lining trash cans around the house. Now I ask myself if this is truly necessary? Could I go without doing that task? What do I substitute for plastic liners?

Plastics is a way of life for our culture. It is versatile, protective of the contents it surrounds and is convenient to use. As with recycling, how to deal with plastics will take a specific mindset and practice to become a habit. I think for change to happen it all starts with the consumer.

Welcome to Team North St. Paul! Let the challenge begin!

Plastic Free is the way to be! :)