5 Impactful Ways I Slash Plastic Waste (That May Surprise You)
Plastic is destroying the planet and our health. If you’ve come across this article, you already know this.
The numbers of just how much plastic we consume absolutely shocked me. According to a 2020 study, the average American uses 287 pounds per year.
Most of the plastic we use isn’t even necessary. It’s everywhere. Today, I want to share what I do to use less plastic that aren’t talked about enough.
Of course, you should bring a reusable bag to the grocery store. I will give no word on straws. And let’s skip the lecture on swapping out plastic water bottles for a reusable one.
When auditing the use of plastic in my life, I thought about the actions that have the most impact. I also thought about action with many benefits beyond the problem of plastic pollution. Let’s get into it.
1) Organize With Neighbors and Locals
Every single list on how to use less plastic focuses on what you can do. But personally reducing your plastic waste can only go so far.
However you aim to reduce plastic, you’ll be more successful in a group. Get a few neighbors together and discuss how you can help your community reduce plastic. The #1 thing you can do to use less plastic is to organize your community.
As a group, you’ll accomplish more.
- Support local legislation: Advocate for policies like plastic bag bans or restrictions on single-use plastics. If you live somewhere that still uses plastic bags at grocery stores, get on it.
- Tell local businesses to go plastic-free: Talk to your favorite coffee shop about using mugs instead of single-use cups. Ask the deli if they can stop giving out single-use plastic bags. Again, this will be more effective with a group.
- Work with local businesses: Pushing them to be better is great, but it may help if you work with them too. For example, share success stories of businesses making the transition to reduce plastic and other waste. Now they have a business incentive too.
- Expand recycling and composting programs: Work with your local government or waste management facilities to improve recycling and composting infrastructure. This could include everything from recycling education initiatives to starting composting programs.
- Lobby against the fossil fuel industry: If you want to go bigger, remember that plastics are made by the oil and gas industry. It’s just one more way they’ve damaged all living things on the planet. Help climate groups working to fight back.
Join Those Already Doing This
If the task of starting a local movement is daunting, then look for those already doing it. When I helped start a compost program at my community garden, I was lucky to have the support from the other garden stewards as well as the Bronx Botanical Garden, which gave us the bin as well as countertop bins.
Whatever form this takes, keep in mind that the fight against plastic isn’t just about individual choices. We have to fight against systems that make living sustainably very hard. That requires a collective effort.
If you can succeed in this, it will do far more than any single action you could take.
2) Live Without a Car (Or At Least Drive Less)
Wait, what does driving have to do with plastic? According to one report vehicle tires account for 28% of all microplastics.
Every time you drive, your tires wear down and release tiny plastic particles into the air, water, and soil.
One of the best things you can do to reduce the amount of plastic you’re causing to go out into the environment is to get rid of your car (whether it’s electric or not.)
“But David, I need a car.” I’m not disputing this.
One of the biggest mistakes in U.S. history was building everything around the car and cutting our cities apart with highways. Today, most Americans rely on a car to fulfill every basic need.
However, it’s possible to live without a car in the U.S., and not just in ultra-expensive cities like New York and San Francisco. I’ve done so for many years. So if you’re curious about living without a car, check out my comprehensive article on the topic.
Even if ditching your car isn’t realistic, you can try to live “car-light.”
Move somewhere that cuts your driving commute in half. Carpool, combine errands together, use transit when it’s available.
Every mile you don’t drive means fewer microplastics in the environment.
Of course, cars have lots of other problems too. The plastic that tires bleed are just one of many.
Those who drive less also tend to move more, be less stressed, and have more free time.
3) Go to the Farmer’s Market
Farmer’s markets are a win for so many reasons—healthier food, supporting small businesses, reducing your “food miles,” and yes, cutting down on plastic waste.
These benefits are well-documented. Doing as much of my grocery shopping at the farmer’s market as I can has also cut down on most of my plastic use. I just bring a few reusable shopping bags with me.
- Bread: Many vendors are happy to hand over your loaf in a reusable bag you bring with you. If they do use a bag, it’s usually paper, which you can recycle or compost.
- Vegetables: Skip the plastic-wrapped produce. You’ll cut out all the unnecessary plastic packaging you’d find at the store. I use reusable grocery bags.
- Eggs: Many farmers are happy to take back egg cartons for reuse. While it’s not plastic, it’s still a great way to reduce overall waste and keep materials in circulation.
- Meat: I end up buying higher-quality meat in smaller quantities, which not only reduces packaging waste but encourages more intentional eating.
Farmer’s markets are more common than you think. I live in New York City, and there are dozens of markets to choose from, even in the winter.
4) Dine In
The typical advice to reduce waste is to eat your own meals. Of course, that’s true too. But as someone who lives in one of the world’s great culinary cities (New York), I’m going to enjoy the numerous restaurants.
But when I do, I dine in. If I’m going to get a nice meal, I want to eat in and enjoy it.
Takeout comes with a mountain of waste: styrofoam containers, plastic silverware, and plastic bags often wrapped in other plastic bags. By opting to dine in, you eliminate much of this unnecessary packaging.
Plus, eating that delicious meal on a plate in the restaurant environment I prefer over eating out of a takeout container.
Even small habits, like enjoying your coffee at a café in a real mug instead of a disposable cup, can add up. When I visit coffee shops, I always ask if they can serve my drink in a mug. If they don’t have mugs (like Starbucks), I’m less likely to go back.
Dining in reduces waste, but I also find it helps me embrace a slower, more intentional pace of life.
So, next time you’re tempted to grab takeout, ask yourself: could this meal be just as enjoyable—if not more so—at home or served on real plates? Chances are, the answer is yes.
5) Get Plastic-Free Cleaning Products
Okay, this is sort of “basic” plastic-free advice. But when it comes to household waste, I think clean products are often overlooked—but they’re a major contributor to plastic pollution. This is the sexy stuff with the up-and-coming sustainable brands.
In general, I’m skeptical of more consumption, even if it’s for the sake of anti-consumption. But it’s true there are more sustainable alternatives to plastic-filled classics. My other hesitancy is I know many people who will buy all the “sustainable” products, make themselves feel good about their actions, then continue to buy lots of other unsustainable things and in general live a very unsustainable life. The point I’m making here, is don’t let this distract you from bigger changes, especially point number one.
With that said from sponges to single-use plastic bottles for cleaners, the amount of plastic tied to keeping your home clean can really add up.
The hardcore way to do this is to DIY. I haven’t gotten to that level.
Many companies offer plastic-free alternatives with reusable containers. I use a combo of Blueland and Who Gives a Crap products. (I have no affiliation with either brand.) Here are some boxes to check.
- Sponges: Look for reusable or compostable options instead of traditional plastic sponges. They work just as well without contributing to landfill waste.
- Dishwasher Pods: Many companies now offer plastic-free or water-soluble pods that clean dishes effectively without extra packaging. I like Blueland’s dishwasher pods.
- Refillable Cleaners: Brands like Blueland sell refillable cleaner systems where you reuse the same bottle and just add a dissolvable tablet with water. It’s a simple and sustainable swap.
- Laundry Tablets: Skip the giant plastic jugs of detergent and opt for laundry tablets. I use the ones from Blueland where they send me a “refill” pack for a metal container — plastic-free. Many people recommend strips that come in cardboard packaging. They’re lightweight, effective, and easy to store. I have a few for when I travel.
- Toilet Paper: Bamboo toilet paper. Who Gives a Crap’s bamboo toilet paper is my choice. It’s plastic-free.
- Trash Bags: Trash bags are tough. Don’t use compostable bags for trash, because in the landfill it will degrade to produce a ton of methane. The best solution is to compost and recycle as much as you can, so your trash fills up slowly. Next, look for trash bags from recycled bags if you want to take it further.
- Bar Soap: Liquid body wash is just not necessary. Bar soap supremacy. It’s less common and more of a hassle, but you can also get shampoo and conditioning bars. I also like the brand Everist for traveling. They have “concentrated” body wash, shampoo, and conditioner that comes in small metal tins.
Nobody is Perfect. You Don’t Need to Be Either.
Do I worry about getting the occasional takeout? Forgetting my reusable bag? Renting a car when I need one?
No, I don’t.
Nobody is perfect. If you live in the modern world living “zero waste” is impossible. Trying to eliminate all your plastic will lead to stress and burnout. It’s okay to slip up or make compromises when needed. The point is to remain intentional and keep moving toward a more sustainable way of living, even if it’s not flawless.
The plastic crisis wasn’t created by individuals alone, and it’s not something we’ll solve by obsessing over every tiny decision.
Personal Action vs. Systemic Change
Every time I talk about ways to live a more sustainable life, I’m met with some version of “Well this is all just a distraction from the big companies who are destroying the earth.”
As I’ve written about before, this debate often creates a false dichotomy. Personal action and systemic change aren’t at odds. They complement each other.
Think of it as a cycle: your choices inspire larger change, and those systemic changes empower more individuals to make better choices. Both are necessary to tackle a problem as vast as plastic pollution.
2 Comments