The List of Plastic-Free Changes

(Last updated 02/24/2010)

Want to reduce your plastic consumption and plastic waste? Here are some ideas based on what I’ve done. This list is not meant to be overwhelming but simply to give an idea of what is possible.

  1. Carry reusable shopping bags.
      Carry whatever works for you.  Some people like reusable canvas totes.  Others prefer to put their purchases into a backpack or messenger bag.  Do you often forget your reusable bags?  ChicoBags are a great emergency alternative.  While they are made from synthetic materials, they compress into their own attached stuff sack, which makes them very convenient and likely to be used. I carry several of them in my purse so I am never without a bag.  If you have a car, keep your grocery bags in it and remember to bring them into the store with you! And one more thing: reusable bags are not just for groceries!  Carry them for all your purchases, from electronics to clothing.
  2. Give up bottled water.
      Not only does it come in a plastic bottle, but tremendous resources are used to extract, bottle, and ship it. And many brands of bottled water are simply filtered tap water. Get a reusable stainless steel bottle (like Klean Kanteen) or stainless steel travel mug, fill it up with tap water before leaving the house, and refill it wherever you happen to be.  I don’t recommend reusable plastic or aluminum bottles.  Plastic may leach chemicals into the water and aluminum bottles are lined with an epoxy resin, some of which has also found to leach into water depending on the brand.  Why take a chance? Read my posts about bottled water for more information.
  3. Say no to plastic produce bags.
      They are generally unnecessary. What are we worried about? That our apples won’t get along with our broccoli during the trip home? Or is it that the produce will get dirty? Hey, it grew in the dirt, and we’re going to wash it anyway, right?  I put produce directly into my reusable bag, whether I’m at the farmers market or in the grocery store.
      Wondering how to store your produce without plastic once you get it home? The Berkeley Ecology Center has compiled a fantastic list of ideas for plastic-free produce storage. (I never use Evert Fresh green bags, for reasons I’ve explained in this post.)
  4. Return the green plastic tomato baskets to the farmer’s market.
      One reader asked what I do about cherry tomatoes or berries since they can get crushed in reusable bag. I buy them at the farmer’s market in the green plastic basket and then return it to the farmer each week for a refill, so I never have to take new ones. Don’t have a farmers market nearby? Ask your local grocer to take them back. Or empty your berries into your own container before leaving the store and leave the plastic basket behind. If enough of us do this, perhaps merchants will take note.
  5. Carry a stainless steel travel mug at all times for coffee and other drinks while out in the world.
      (I even use mine for water instead of a water bottle.) Besides the plastic lid and plastic straw, paper cups are lined with a plastic coating. When I first began this project, I got in the habit of requesting “no lid and no straw” when ordering a drink in a disposable paper cup. But nowadays, if I’ve forgotten my mug, I simply do without until I can find a water fountain or sit-down cafe or restaurant with durable cups and glasses. This process helps me to remember my reusable mug next time.
  6. Buy from bulk bins as much as possible.
      We have some great bulk food stores here in the Bay Area (Rainbow, Berkeley Bowl, Whole Foods, for example) and I can get almost all dry foods as well as some personal care products from the bulk bins. These foods include rice and other grains, pasta, beans, seeds, nuts, all kinds of flour, baking soda and other dry baking ingredients, cereal and granola, pretzels and chips, some candy, tofu, oils, nut butters, olives, herbs, tea & coffee, and more things than I can think of right now.
      The key is bringing my own reusable bags and containers with me to the store. You can carry the same kind of cotton bags for bulk purchases as for produce (see above.) Glass jars and other containers work great as well. Why shop from bulk bins and take new plastic bags?
      A question I am frequently asked is how to avoid paying for the additional weight of the container. Stores have various methods for deducting the container weight. At Whole Foods, for example, I take my containers to the customer service desk to have them weighed before filling. That weight is then deducted from the total weight of the item at the checkout counter. At Berkeley Bowl, empty containers are weighed at the Bulk Counter and then weighed again at the same counter when full before checking out. At Rainbow Grocery, customers weigh their own containers. And all the cotton bags that I use are printed with the tare weight on their tags.
      Even if you live in an area that does not have bulk food stores, you can still buy non-perishable goods in large size packages, which will decrease the amount of plastic used overall.
  7. Cut out sodas, juices, and all other plastic-bottled beverages.
      I’ve made the decision to eat fresh fruit instead of buying juice.  This eliminates the need for all disposable bottles –  glass as well as plastic.  I don’t drink sugary sodas, but I do like seltzer water.  Especially in the summer.  So I got a Soda Stream Penguin soda maker for those times I crave some fizz.  The soda maker itself is plastic, but the carafes are glass, and the soda maker replaces hundreds of disposable bottles. What’s more, the reusable CO2 cartridges are returned to the manufacturer for refilling.
  8. Buy fresh bread that comes in either paper bags or no bags.
      At the farmers market or natural food stores I can buy bread that comes in only paper. At the bakery down the street, I can have my bread placed in my own cloth bag and avoid all packaging. Bread keeps fresh when stored in the cloth bag inside an airtight tin. I reuse a popcorn tin that was sent to me as a gift several years ago. Often, thrift stores have more of these tins than they know what to do with. Fresh bread is a bit more expensive than its plastic-packaged cousins, but to me, it’s worth it. And since I buy so few new things, I can afford to spend more for quality, plastic-free food.  See my post Fresh Bread: Buy It, Store It, Keep It Fresh Without Plastic.
  9. Bring your own container for meat, prepared foods, take-out, and leftovers.
      I take my own containers with me to the butcher counter at Whole Foods or local butcher shop. (While the humans in our house don’t each much meat, the kitties do.) The butcher can weigh the container and deduct the weight, just as is done with bulk foods. The servers at the deli/prepared foods counter can do the same thing. Just ask.

      I also carry my own containers to restaurants for take-out or for leftovers at the end of a meal. Some examples of convenient containers are To-Go Ware, Life Without Plastic’s stainless steel containers, LunchBots, or stainless steel containers sold at some camping supply stores.

      Think bringing your own containers is too much of a hassle and won’t make a difference? Please check out the post “Carrying Our Own Containers: Powerful Action or Pointless Inconvenience?“

  10. Carry reusable utensils and glass drinking straws.
  11. Bring plate, bowl, glass, and utensils to keep at the office.
      This way, I can avoid all the disposable cups, plates, and cutlery in the lunchroom.
  12. Carry lunches in reusable stainless containers or cloth bags.
  13. Choose glass/stainless steel food storage containers, and reuse what you have.
      We save nearly all glass jars and bottles for purchasing bulk foods and for storing leftovers in the refrigerator or even the freezer. When we run out of jars, we store leftovers in bowls with saucers on top instead of plastic wrap. Bowls with saucers are great for stacking. We also use Anchor glass refrigerator containers to store daily portions of our homemade cat food. More on that below. The key to freezing foods in glass is not to fill the jar too full, since the food will expand inside the container. The other caveat is not to heat the glass too quickly. Let foods thaw at room temperature to avoid glass breakage.
      Another option for the refrigerator or freezer are the flat-topped airtight stainless steel containers from Life Without Plastic. Their flat top makes them easy to stack and the fact that they are airtight means food can be stored longer.
  14. Let go of frozen convenience foods.
      This was a hard one. I agonized for a while over which brands of frozen meals used the best containers, but in the end there was just no sound alternative. They all use plastic. Even frozen food trays that seem to be made of cardboard are lined with plastic. Occasionally, I buy Straus ice cream because it’s organic, local, and uses the least plastic possible and because sometimes ice cream is too hard to resist. Ice cream is my one infrequent plastic vice. But in general, the more we limit our consumption of frozen convenience foods, the less plastic waste we’ll generate and the healthier we’ll be!
  15. Give up chewing gum.
  16. Choose milk in returnable glass bottles.
      Many areas have local dairies that provides milk in returnable glass bottles rather than plastic or plastic-coated cardboard (yes, all cardboard milk containers are coated inside and out with plastic, not wax.) In my area, I buy Straus milk, which is available in natural grocery stores. Unfortunately, the milk bottle does contain an unrecyclable plastic cap. But I would rather buy milk in a glass bottle capped with plastic than milk contained in plastic on all sides.
  17. Make your own yogurt without a yogurt maker!.
      It’s easier than you might think, using only a Thermos, a pot, a thermometer, some milk, and some yogurt from a previous batch. (Your first batch can be store-bought.) See recipe and instructions here.
  18. Make your own soy milk.
      If you regularly drink soy or nut milks, you can learn to make your own, either with a soy milk maker or on the stove. All prepared soy milk cartons contain plastic.
  19. Make your own condiments.
      Most are not difficult. I’ve learned to make my own chocolate syrup, mayonnaise, mustard, and I plan to make my own ketchup once the store-bought ketchup is gone. I squeeze fresh lemon and lime juice and keep it in glass jars in the refrigerator. And we make our own hummus, either from dried chick peas or from the dry mix in the bulk bin at Whole Foods.
      While it’s true that some of these condiments can be purchased in glass containers, the homemade versions often taste better and involve less packaging waste overall.
  20. Try to choose only wine bottled in glass with natural cork stoppers.
      This is kind of a trial and error project since you can’t see the stopper until you open the bottle. I started keeping a list of wines and the types of stoppers they have for future reference, and then I quit updating the list when I stopped drinking! If you haven’t already, please read this post about endangered cork forests and why it’s important to support them by choosing natural cork over plastic stoppers or metal screw caps (which contain BPA in the lining.)
  21. Avoid non-stick cookware.
      Cookware coated with Teflon or other resins give off toxic perfluorochemicals when heated. We’ve donated all of our non-stick cookware and replaced it with stainless steel and cast iron. I did question whether it was better to donate these unhealthy items or to trash them. In the end, I figured that if someone was looking for non-stick, they’d buy it anyway whether I donated or not.
  22. Compost food waste.
      I bought a 100% recycled plastic Urban Compost Tumbler, and started composting. This solves several plastic problems. First, since we no longer put wet stuff in the garbage, we don’t need plastic garbage bags of any kind (bio- or petro-based.) And I can mix the compost with soil from the yard to pot my houseplants and avoid buying potting soil in plastic bags.
      Lately, though, I have not had the time or energy to maintain my compost bin. But here in Oakland (as well as Berkeley and San Francisco) we have city-wide composting. We can put all of our food scraps (including meat) and food-soiled paper, along with yard waste, into our green bins. It’s then picked up with our garbage and taken to a commercial compost facility where our food scraps are converted into rich soil amendments for residents and local farms.
  23. Switch to simple, all natural household cleaning techniques.
    • Baking soda is a fantastic scouring powder.
    • I use a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water as an all-purpose spray cleaner (storing it in a reused spray bottle) and produce wash. I buy Spectrum vinegar which comes in a glass bottle. Only the cap is plastic.
    • Wash dishes with powdered dishwasher detergent (comes in a cardboard box) or hand wash with baking soda or bar soap. Seriously, I’ve been using baking soda to hand wash dishes for several months now, and I think it works better than detergent or soap.
    • Wash laundry with LaundryTree Soapnuts, Borax, or Ecover laundry powder. Here’s my laundry post. The laundry powder and borax come in a cardboard box with a recycled cardboard scoop. The soapnuts now come in plastic-free packaging as well.
    • Treat laundry stains with a borax/water paste or with a handmade laundry stain bar from Picnic Basket Crafts.
    • Switch to natural cleaning cloths and scrubbers instead of plastic scrubbers and synthetic sponges. Compressed natural cellulose sponges are often sold without any plastic packaging because they don’t need to be kept moist; they expand when wet. Coconut coir brushes are great for cleaning water bottles and scrubbing dirty dishes. Skoy cloths are made from cotton and cellulose, work like a cloth, absorb like a sponge, and can take the place of 15 rolls of paper towels. And of course, good old rags made from old clothing and towels are free and probably the greenest option of all.
    • For really tough baked-on messes, I use a Chore Boy copper scrubber, which comes in a cardboard box with no plastic.
    • A reusable Swiffer cloth is great for those of us who already own a Swiffer mop. If you don’t know what a Swiffer is, don’t worry about it. It’s plastic and you don’t need one. But if you already own a Swiffer mop, check out the reusable Swiffer cloths from Picnic Basket Crafts.
    • When I needed a pair of rubber gloves (for some disgusting task — I can’t remember what) I opted for Casabella 100% latex gloves lined with 100% cotton flocking. Yeah, they’re girlie. But at least I didn’t have to buy plastic.
  24. Avoid products sold in liquid form when a solid alternative is available. By doing this, I can reduce the need for plastic bottles and containers. For example,
    • Instead of liquid hand soap, I use bar soap.
    • Instead of liquid shampoo in bottles, I use the no-poo method of baking soda and apple cider vinegar. If that seems too hard-core, there are solid shampoo bars (Brands I’ve tried are Lush shampoo bar, Burt’s Bees Rosemary Mint shampoo bar, and J.R. Liggett’s Old Fashioned shampoo bar)
    • Instead of deodorant in a plastic container, I use baking soda applied to dry underarms with a powder puff. It really works! Another alternative is Lush solid container-free deodorant. But honestly? The baking soda works better than any deodorant I have ever tried in my life. No kidding. I would use it even if I weren’t trying to cut down my plastic consumption.
    • Instead of canned shave gel, I use soap. There are shave soaps especially made for that purpose (Simmons, Williams) but I’ve found that any rich soap bar will do.
  25. Choose lotions and lip balms in plastic-free containers.
      Recently, I discovered a new company called Organic Essence which is packaging its body lotions in compostable cardboard jars and its lip balms in ingenious cardboard tubes that squeeze from the end. There are also lotion bars and lip balms and glosses that come in glass or metal containers. And I’ve also made my own homemade lotion, but now that Organic Essence is using responsible packaging, I’ll leave the lotion-making to them.
  26. Switch from a plastic razor to a second hand safety razor.
  27. Use a Preserve toothbrush & homemade tooth powder or toothpaste in aluminum tube.
      Preserve toothbrushes are made from recycled plastic and are recyclable by sending them back to the company. I tried brushing with baking soda but found it too abrasive, so actually went back to toothpaste in a tube. Right now, I’m choosing Tom’s of Maine toothpaste which comes in an aluminum tube (albeit with plastic cap) and can be recycled. The tube does have its drawbacks. But I try to use a tiny amount each time to make it last. More info on low plastic dental care here.
  28. Olive oil lube!
      Who’d have guessed?
  29. Buy Seventh Generation recycled individually wrapped toilet paper by the case.
  30. Use plastic-free feminine hygiene products.
  31. Pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy rather than having them mailed.
      Unfortunately, the Kaiser Permanente mail order service sends prescriptions out in plastic mailers. While I can’t avoid the plastic prescription bottle (unfortunately, it’s illegal for pharmacies to refill them in CA), I can avoid the mailer by walking to the pharmacy to pick it up.
  32. Look for homemade alternatives to conventional medications.
      I found a recipe for homemade cough syrup to replace OTC cough syrup in a plastic bottle. I’m trying to figure out the best antacid at the moment. (I need to experiment and find out what’s right for me.)
  33. Check labels of personal care products!.
      Did you know some facial scrubs and other personal care products contain tiny plastic beads? Avoid anything with “polyethylene” listed as an ingredient. Read my post Flushing Plastic Down The Drain! for more information.
  34. Choose mainly plastic-free pet products.
    • SwheatScoop cat litter is made from wheat and comes in a paper bag. My cats don’t like it as well as World’s Best Cat Litter, but I am combining the two right now and hoping to switch them over completely to Swheatscoop this year. We also don’t have to deal with putting cat waste into plastic bags because SwheatScoop is certified flushable. We feel okay about flushing our cats’ poop because they’ve tested negative for toxoplasma gondii and they are indoor-only cats.
    • Purrfect Play makes beautiful all-natural toys made from wool and catnip. I’ve also found all natural wool, leather, coconut, and feather cat toys at my local pet shop recently. But the best cat toys of all? Wine corks, hands down. The real ones, of course. I don’t let my cats play with plastic.
    • Instead of buying new plastic litter boxes and plastic cat carrier boxes, I found used ones on Craigslist and from thrift stores.
    • Found a bamboo/sisal scratching post instead of synthetic carpet, cardboard cat scratchers, and a wood/sisal over-door climber.
    • Instead of buying cat climbers that are covered with synthetic carpet, we cleared off most of the flat surfaces in our home (tops of book shelves, etc.) so that our cats could roam and climb to their hearts’ content. It was cheaper that way, too!
    • Learned how to make their cat food from scratch instead of buying BPA-lined cans that come shrink-wrapped in plastic or dry food in bags lined with plastic.
  35. When a plastic item breaks, try to repair it instead of buying a new one.
      I’m trying to conserve as many of the tools and appliances that I already own instead of allowing them to become obsolete or chucking them when they break.
  36. Acquire necessary plastic items from second-hand stores, Freecycle, Craigslist or borrow.
      Car-sharing. Tool-lending. I have no problem acquiring second-hand plastic. I think it’s always good to give things as many uses as possible before sending them to the landfill or recycling center. I also look for items made from recycled plastic, for the same reason. Here’s a partial list of plastic items I’ve acquired second hand since my plastic project began:

    • Plastic cat litter boxes and cat carriers
    • Computer monitor when my old one broke and couldn’t be repaired
    • Crock pot
    • Power strips
  37. Request zero plastic packaging when ordering online.
      I’m trying to buy fewer things in general, but vendors do sometimes send me products to review for this blog. When that happens, I include a message to the seller requesting zero plastic or Styrofoam packaging, including plastic tape. (See my packaging policy here.) When this doesn’t work, I’ve started to send back unwanted plastic packaging with a letter of explanation. And I send back unwanted plastic I receive unsolicited in the mail or on my doorstep.
  38. Get off mailing lists to reduce plastic envelope windows.
      I have switched to online billing, online statements, canceled subscriptions, and called to have my name removed from mailing lists. I want to save paper as well as plastic.
  39. Avoid disposable plastic pens.
      I use pencils as much as possible and for times when a pen is necessary, I have switched to a refillable fountain pen with a cartridge converter that allows me to refill the pen from a bottle of ink rather than buying new plastic cartridges.
  40. Avoid buying CDs and DVDs.
      They are made from plastic, after all. Instead, I download music when I want it and borrow DVDs from Netflix or the library.
  41. Find ways to wrap gifts without plastic tape.
  42. Buy CFL lightbulbs in a cardboard box with no plastic packaging.
      I found GE CFLs at Ace Hardware in a 5-pack box. There isn’t even a plastic window!
  43. Stop buying plastic water filter cartridges unless necessary.
      We had our water tested to find out if we even needed to be filtering it in the first place. Turns out, our Oakland water is fine without a filter. So we can avoid plastic water filter cartridges from now on. For those who do need to filter their water, Brita has teamed up with Preserve to create a way to recycle the plastic cartridges. Here are the details: http://www.brita.com/us/support/filter-recycling/
  44. Avoid the worst plastics: Polyvinyl Chloride (#3 PVC), Polystyrene (#6 PS), & Polycarbonate (#7 Other).
      PVC is found in many, many products and causes a whole host of environmental problems. Read my post about the problems of PVC. PS contains styrene, which is toxic to the brain and nervous system. PC contains BPA. Read more about BPA here. If you must use plastic, make sure it’s not #3, #6, or #7 polycarbonate. (Note: #7 is a catch-all for many types of plastic that doesn’t fit into the first six categories. Biodegradable plastic is also labeled #7. So when in doubt, ask.)

Well, that’s my list to date. Here are a couple of other lists:

Things I’ve given up (in no particular order):

  • Granola bars and energy bars. (I only eat cereal from bulk bins now instead of packaged bars.)
  • Pita bread. I did try making my own, but haven’t in a while and don’t know if I’ll try again.
  • All frozen foods except for the occasional ice cream.
  • Pudding, applesauce, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. that is packaged in a plastic tub or cup.
  • Emergen-C packets.
  • Chewing gum. It’s made from plastic.
  • New plants in plastic containers and potting soil in plastic bags.
  • Garbage bags. We don’t line our cans with anything anymore.
  • Venus razor & disposable cartridges.
  • Crackers, chips, pretzels, cookies, and other snack foods unless they can be found in bulk bins.
  • Most processed foods.
  • Most household cleaners.
  • Hairspray, gel, dye, and other hair products except for this one, which I use very sparingly.
  • Most makeup. I wear makeup very infrequently, so most of the cosmetics I had before starting this project have not yet been used up.
  • Bottled water and all other bottled drinks.
  • Water filter cartridges
  • Prepared soy milk.
  • Canned foods. Almost all food and beverage cans are lined with a plastic that contains BPA.
  • Plastic-wrapped cheese. Several people have suggested that I have it sliced behind the deli counter and wrapped in paper. First, the large blocks of cheese are wrapped in plastic already. But more important, I am unable to find organic cheese that can be sliced and wrapped in paper. The few places that will do it use a paper that is actually lined with plastic. Occasionally I find cheese that is not wrapped in plastic and buy as much of it as I can.
  • Coffee drinks in disposable cups.
  • Take out foods in plastic or Styrofoam containers. If I don’t have my reusable container with me, I don’t buy it.
  • Commercial cat food.  We make our own.

Plastic I can’t, or am not yet willing to, avoid:

  • Prescription bottles (It’s against the law for pharmacies to refill them in CA)
  • Refresh Endura eye drops, which I use for a chronic cornea problem, although I don’t need them as often any more.
  • BART public transit tickets. (Yes, suddenly they’re made from plastic instead of paper.)
  • Credit cards.
  • Caps from various glass bottles and toothpaste tubes.
  • BalanceIT homemade cat food supplement bottles.  (The plastic in this bottle is minimal compared to all the packaging waste we would generate by buying commercial pet food.)
  • Flea treatment vials.  The fleas in this area are terrible, and even though our cats never go outside, they still end up with terrible flea infestations that natural remedies won’t solve.
  • Tyvek race numbers. (If I ever run again, that is!)
  • Plastic envelope windows. While I’ve managed to get off many mailing lists, there are a few that I can’t avoid.
  • Price tags and tag hangers from otherwise plastic-free items.
  • Ice cream cartons — although my goal is to refrain from eating ice cream this year, in part because I think it’s affecting my health.
  • Glass bottle and jar lids that contain an inside plastic lining. Metal lids are often lined with a plastic that contains BPA. However, I am not prepared to give up all foods in glass jars or bottles.

How many of these changes would you be willing to incorporate into your life?

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October 25, 2007 by Beth Terry

Comments

124 Comments on The List of Plastic-Free Changes

  1. Anonymous on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 8:42 am

    2. WHAT ABOUT MY EMAIL ABOUT THE NEW BOTTLED WATER!!

    which i’ve actually found some supposed locations around here that carry them and i’m going to go check them out this weekend.
    *marika

  2. Nita on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 10:03 am

    3. You are very inspiring Beth. In fact the things you do to avoid plastic are awesome. I am going to try…a little a time.

  3. Siel on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 10:43 am

    4. What do you do when you buy berries? I reuse plastic bags for this purpose, but I’m wondering if you’ve found an alternative –

  4. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 10:55 am

    5. Siel, that’s a great question I forgot to answer. Right now, I just keep taking the same green plastic containers back to the farmer’s market and trading them for new ones. Same for cherry tomatoes. The vendors seem to be fine with me bringing back the used ones. In fact, I think I got the idea from Colin Beavan.

  5. Britta on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 11:30 am

    6. Loved this post! New ideas, plus thank you for the composter research. This helps a lot.

  6. earthwoman on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 12:28 pm

    7. I think this post is going to be really useful as I’m embarking on a journey of small changes.

    I’m surprised that you recommended opting for real cork stoppers in wine. I’ve been actively searching out screw tops because I thought there was something (can’t remember quite what) wrong with using real cork.

  7. Rosa on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 1:52 pm

    8. Thank you for this list! I am going to bookmark it.

    I have been wondering about the pill bottles. They seem sturdy – it’s too bad you can’t peel off the labels and give them back to the pharmacy to be washed and reused.

  8. Rejin L on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 2:25 pm

    9. Thanks for this info, Beth.
    I’ve been noticing in all the articles about cities banning plastic bags, peoples’ main objection is they need them for their trash. Only when we to stop generating so much trash, will we stop obsessing about what to put it in.
    I wonder if pharmacists would let people bring their own bottles back for refills. I bet they’d object to the idea of reusing them for someone else, but they are too sturdy for just one use.

  9. Michelle on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 5:51 pm

    10. Beth, thank you for this list!! It really is inspiring, and so full of info!! (I clicked on the toothbrushes, which led me to Stoneyfield farm, and now I can send my yogurt containers back to them!) Next time I have to get a prescription refilled, I’ll bring my bottle back and ask for a true refill.

  10. Kat on Thu, 25th Oct 2007 9:54 pm

    11. A possible alternative to Preserve toothbrushes (haven’t tried this yet): The Source toothbrush, at http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/

    I reuse plastic corks, lids and those lid wrappers as cat toys, when I can’t avoid them. They still end up in the trash after I fish them out from under the furniture for the fifth time, but it does mean no new plastic kitty toys. :)

  11. Athena on Fri, 26th Oct 2007 2:15 pm

    12. What do you use for garbage bags?

    I use canvas totes for my groceries but then stop using them when I need a new stash of garbage bags (the grocery bags work fine as I use a garbage chute in a condo building.)

    I can’t figure out a way around using those.

  12. Cindy on Sat, 27th Oct 2007 6:52 pm

    13. Love the list / your website. I have been trying to lower plastic / all trash. I have been making yogurt in a yogurt maker my mom found at a thrift store. I buy one container to use to make batches and then can use the batch to make more. It couldn’t be easier. The kids love it. The containers are glass with plastic lids. The yogurt doesn’t touch the plastic in the cooking process.
    Also, I bought stainless steel food containers for the kids lunches.
    I am very interested in the penguin soda maker!!!
    Still having a hard time figuring out the best items to use for the pets. Have 3 dogs and 2 cats and always have foster kittens.

    Cindy

  13. MoneyChangesThings on Mon, 29th Oct 2007 11:40 am

    14. I love microwave popcorn, and read you can just pop natural (organic) popcorn in a bag, so now I’ve eliminated the plastics in the single portion pkgs. Don’t know what the store-bought popcorn bag liners are but they look shiny, so maybe they’re plastic too.
    http://moneychangesthings.blogspot.com/2007/10/frugal-city-popcorn.html
    Great list – think of all the fossil fuel you are NOT consuming and all the CO2 emissions you are NOT responsible for. You’re practically an offset program all by yourself!
    what kind of shoes do you fancy? Not flip-flops, I’m guessing!

  14. RecycleCindy on Tue, 30th Oct 2007 10:28 am

    15. Wow what a big list. You’ve done so much here and great ideas for all of us. I’m into making recycled crafts. I crochet with plastic bags, vcr tape, cassette tapes, and other recycled materials into reusable bags, purses, grocery totes, water bottle holders, etc. Every little bit helps to reduce our plastic use and wastes.

  15. Anonymous on Wed, 28th Nov 2007 11:34 pm

    16. Hi Beth-

    I found your blog by accident when searching for environmentally friendly rubber gloves but I can’t seem to find any… Do you have any suggestions?

    Anyway, I am happy that I stumbled upon your blog as I recently bought some canvas shopping bags that say “Anti-Plastic” on them. And since I’m walking around proclaiming that I am “anti-plastic” I thought to myself that I better not be hypocritical and be stuffing my shopping bags full of plastic items so I would say that I am also doing about 85% of the items already listed on your list and I’m happy to find out that there are others as neurotic about eliminating plastic as me! :)

    T.

  16. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank on Thu, 29th Nov 2007 12:00 am

    17. Hi T. Welcome. I actually bought a pair of Casabella 100% natural latex gloves. I haven’t blogged about them yet because I haven’t actually tried them yet. Haven’t had a need to. (I guess they’d keep my hands from getting chapped, but I just don’t like the feeling of having my hands covered up while I’m working.)

    Of course, these would probably not be good for someone with a latex allergy, although they are lined with cotton. And they come in a plastic-free box. I’ll let you know how they work for me when I try them.

  17. Anonymous on Thu, 29th Nov 2007 11:59 pm

    18. Hi Beth-

    Thanks for the tip regarding the rubber gloves. I’ve actually used these gloves before and they work great! Are they biodegradable though? Well, I can’t seem to find any rubber gloves online that state that they are biodegradable and I’ve tried searching on everything I can think of so I guess I will go ahead and go with these! My other gloves have been patched so many times with electrical tape and I need a new pair! :)

    T.

  18. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank on Fri, 30th Nov 2007 12:02 am

    19. I think the gloves are more biodegradable than the electrical tape. Natural latex comes from rubber trees. They are not plastic.

  19. sorrow11 on Sat, 1st Dec 2007 5:00 pm

    20. What an awesome List! Thank you so much for this…what incredible ideas!
    Many many thanks!

  20. George on Mon, 3rd Dec 2007 2:29 pm

    21. Beth – Thanks for your feedback on the Clean Air Gardening blog. I’m impressed by your list of ways to avoid plastic and plan to share it with several of my like-minded friends.

    What do you think is the most effective way to do away with plastic grocery bags? Some local businesses have installed recycling bins for the bags, but I’ve read that plastic bags can only be recycled a few times before they get thrown away. Other stores (such as Ikea and CostCo) have started charging per bag – that puts financial pressure on the consumer to use fewer bags. Do you know of any stores or city programs that offer discounted canvas bags?

  21. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank on Tue, 4th Dec 2007 2:02 am

    22. If you already have plastic grocery bags, you can get the most use out of them by first reusing them as many times as possible. Once they can no longer be used as bags, take them to a store recycling bin. They will most likely be recycled into lawn furniture or some other plastic item.

    Then, switch to reusable bags. If you can’t find inexpensive canvas bags, check Goodwill or your local Freecycle group. There are tons of reusable bags floating around in this world that have been given out as promotions. Many people have more than they can use and would be happy to pass some of them along.

    Don’t feel you have to stick to canvas. Be creative. I usually just use my backpack unless I’m doing a big shop. I’ve heard from people who bring boxes to shop and even one woman who brings a laundry basket. Whatever works for you.

  22. mackenzie on Tue, 4th Dec 2007 3:40 pm

    23. Holy smokes – what a fantastic list! You have things on here that I’m not sure I would have ever even considered, but now everywhere I look I’m swimming in plastic.

    Also love the way you are tracking your reduction over time. I think my footprint curve will look similar: you make the big changes first, and then it gets harder to give up conveniences…

  23. freebagsmadam.nothanks on Wed, 5th Dec 2007 8:16 am

    24. Great Blog!

    Over at http://www.abolishplasticbags.org.uk we’re trying to eliminate the plastic carrier bag, but as part of the process we’re hoping to raise more awareness of the wider plastic problem. So I’m sign posting people here!

    If you have time you might also like to check out http://www.plasticbagfree.com where there are video resources about how plastics are effecting the marine environment and wildlife.

    Good stuff!

  24. Laurie in the garden on Wed, 12th Dec 2007 12:42 pm

    25. I found your site from a link from a financial article in the Wall Street Journal. Good work!

    When I have to buy non-recyclable plastic items, I try to talk to someone; the store manager or the manufacturer (in this case Trader Joe’s muffins from Zen Bakery)about using better plastics that I can recycle.

    It’s hard to do it all at home; I have resistant family members! But we recycle more than we throw away!I also organically garden fruits and veggies, so compost happens around here.

    We all are a work in progress. I still drink from the plastic cups I get at Starbucks from cold drinks. I wash them by hand. They are NOT garbage.

  25. Tanya on Thu, 13th Dec 2007 3:29 pm

    26. Hi Beth-

    Haven’t logged on in a while but thanks for the info. about rubber gloves. And yes, rubber is probably better than the electrical tape but I was just trying to get as much use out of them as possible b4 buying a new pair! :) Also, I wanted to let you know I checked out Rainbow grocery last weekend, and that place is fantastic! :) I also re-read your list and you would be surprised at how easy hummus is to make, much more so than pita bread! :)

    T. (Tanya)

  26. Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank on Thu, 13th Dec 2007 3:50 pm

    27. Hi Tanya. Feel free to email me directly. My email address is in my profile.

    I do know that hummus, in general, is easy to make. I’ve made it. But until you’ve tasted Haig’s Spicy Hummus, you haven’t had the supreme hummus experience. I’ve tried making it, but without a recipe, I just can’t make it taste the same!

  27. Anonymous on Fri, 4th Jan 2008 10:18 am

    28. Thanks Beth for an amazing wealth of information!
    Now I see that recycling, particularly for plastics, really isn’t! So much for my feeling good about 99% of my trash going into the the blue bin every week here in LA for recycling….a detergent bottle does not really get made into another detergent bottle!
    I look around the house, particularly the kitchen, and wonder how we” ever do so many things such as margarine without plastic!
    I’ll do my best to not buy it in the first place from now on!
    Best regards,
    John
    Los Angeles

  28. I love the kids I have... on Sat, 5th Jan 2008 8:56 am

    29. RE: Feminine hygiene products

    I hated everything about having a period. Last year I found out about a medical procedure called Novasure (endometrial ablation). Quick outpatient procedure. Covered by my insurance b/c of anemia caused by heavy bleeding. Still need other birthcontrol just in case but NO MORE PERIODS. Everything else is the same, the only difference is the lack of bleeding. I’m not suggesting that someone should go to this extreme to stop buying feminine products but for me it was a solution for multiple issues.

    While it is still possible to get pregnant it is very unlikely. I happen to be done having babies.

  29. Anonymous on Wed, 23rd Jan 2008 8:10 pm

    30. So much to think about. I have just started reducing plastics in my home. I am so thankful for all your information. I have a lot more to think about. I have bought the kids stainless steel water bottles and bowls for lunches. I will have to take it one step at a time. Thank you!

  30. allisonlindsay on Thu, 24th Jan 2008 2:48 pm

    31. Beth: Thanks for visiting me at Living Small. Inspiring list; keep it up!

  31. lemm on Fri, 25th Jan 2008 8:34 am

    32. thanks beth for your interesting and creative blog.it looks much better than mine but we must think alike as far as the ecology is concerned http://www.lemming5.blogspot.com

  32. nell on Wed, 30th Jan 2008 6:07 am

    33. Just discovered this blog following links from “The Nag”. Great to see all the ideas and makes me realise just how much plastic surrounds me every day. Have long tried to recycle where I can but it’s not always easy – some great ideas here. My gripe is how hard it is to buy decent looking, useful, recycled products at sensible (rather than extortionate) prices. Regularly carry spare bags for shopping – reminds me of the old days when nobody went shopping without their shopping bag and the supermarkets charged for each bag used. Good to see some supermarkets here in the UK returning to this idea, even if it does mean more profit for them in the meantime.

  33. racheblue @ bAd on Wed, 30th Jan 2008 2:30 pm

    34. Wow – this is an awesome list full of great ideas and solutions to problems I’ve been thinking about for a while.
    I am SOOOOO impressed and inspired that you have made all those changes – good on ya!
    I will be joining you o your anti-plastic mission! :D
    Cheers,
    Rache / Ecomonkey

  34. N. & J. on Mon, 11th Feb 2008 10:16 am

    35. Wow, that is a lot of great ideas! I have to admit I was a little leery of embarking on a more eco friendly lifestyle after reading about No Impact Man and others that are going without electricty etc. I admire their resolve and beliefs but I don’t really think I could do that, at least not anytime soon. But your ideas are things that I could and will do. Thanks for the inspiration.

  35. Kiba on Wed, 27th Feb 2008 11:52 am

    36. Furoshiki cloths are a nice alternative to paper/plastic gift wrap. Furoshiki are a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that can be used to wrap gifts, carry groceries, lunches, etc. And since it’s all tied with knots you don’t have to worry about tape or glue.

    I wrapped a Christmas gift for one of my nephews this way. I just used a nice bit of cloth I had laying around and cut it down to size.

  36. Tracey on Thu, 28th Feb 2008 6:51 am

    37. HARDCORE!!!!
    Amazing.
    How do you put your garbage out without plastic bags. I put the permanent plastic inner bin of a waste basket out once instead of bagging the waste, hoping that they’d just toss it in the truck, but they threw the whole thing out instead. Now I use two galvanized garbage cans, but haven’t gotten around bagging our garbage in shopping bags (we don’t get them new at the store, generally, but they drift to us from the world…)

    “I’m using the Bronner’s to wash the dishes, but I think I may have ruined it with too much lemon juice. (Does the lemon juice cancel out the soap?) So next time I’ll just add a few drops of a citrus essential oil and see if it works better.”

    The lemon juice won’t cancel out the soap, but you are better off adding drops of essential oil to soaps and housecleaning mixtures. Citrus essential oils are inexpensive. My favourite, Daisy Organic Essentials, is in CA there. Make sure you buy “cold pressed” citrus essential oils, as otherwise it’s likely to have been solvent extracted! Try 5% dilution of 25 drops to 250 ml (1 cup-ish) for cleaning strengtyh, less if you just want the scent.

    “Switched to compressed natural cellulose sponges for cleaning dishes (instead of synthetic) and other natural scrubbers and brushes.” Natural sea sponges are not environmentally friendly because they are scraped off the bottom of the sea, killing everything. It’s good to see natural cellulose things being made! My sponge alternative is simply to cut up a loofah (the cell structure of the squash plant “marrow”) into cross sections.

    I’m going to do a household assessment based on your changes. Unfortunately, our household emits lots of plastic because our 3 tenants aren’t part of my boycott. And they try to recycle everything, even though I’ve got the recycling calendar/poster everywhere. I guess it just FEELS better if you put your styrofoam in the recycle bin, even if deep down you suspect it’s just going to contaminate the recycling stream…

    Love & RRRevolution, Tracey

  37. Sandra on Thu, 28th Feb 2008 11:32 am

    38. Very impressive, Beth. Your blog has completely re-inspired my quest for being green. I have to admit, I had fallen off of the bandwagon since college and haven’t even been trying to recycle since I got married and had a child. I look at my greener friends with envy and wonder where they find the time! I have made very small changes however and have taught my family to conserve, but deep down, I know that I haven’t been doing enough. Since reading your blog last night, I am determined to adopt this cause and bring more awareness as well! Thank you for waking me up!!!

  38. Rachel on Thu, 28th Feb 2008 10:33 pm

    39. Could you take your prescription bottles with you to the pharmacy and ask them to refill them? Then they could just put a new label over the old one.

  39. gaea on Fri, 29th Feb 2008 6:04 am

    40. I love the ideas you’ve listed! Most of them are so practical that they cut across geographies.

    Looking forward to more inspiring ideas…

  40. CrAzYoNe1 on Fri, 29th Feb 2008 8:47 pm

    41. Oh my goodness, you are insane! (In a good way of course.) I’ve been trying to cut down on my waste lately in attempt to be more “green.” Hopefully I’ll be able to remember some of this and take it to heart. I’ll never be able to do as much as you, but I guess you never know, do you. Oh, and I never realized how many things have plastic in them and how harmful plastic actually is…I don’t quite know how I didn’t realize this.
    Thanks for you’re awesome blog!

  41. Cindy on Fri, 29th Feb 2008 9:59 pm

    42. I just took a quick look here, but you have lots of good information! You have lots of good ideas and links for stuff I could use. I plan to come back later when I have time to really check it out better. Thanks for sharing.

  42. chosenpath on Sun, 2nd Mar 2008 6:45 am

    43. Thanks for the helpful suggestions. They are great and I intend to pass them on to friends and family- a digestible chunk at a time!

    The urban composting is an especially good one. This will be a family project this Spring.

    Sibyl

  43. Rebecca on Sun, 2nd Mar 2008 6:43 pm

    44. This is fantastic. I have learned from this and admire your efforts. I did not know they make shampoo bars, I will look for them at the natural food store. Thanks

  44. IceMel on Fri, 7th Mar 2008 10:33 pm

    45. I’ve given up tupperware for wide-mouth mason jars. They clean easily and use space well in the frig and cabinets

  45. Elizabeth Obsesses on Sat, 8th Mar 2008 9:47 pm

    46. Hi Beth -I’m a Beth too. I’m out here on the East Coast, and have been trying to get my friends to reduce their plastic use, too.

    I’ve converted 3 of my friends in the past year to swear off grocery bags (one completely, two reduce their use).

    I love your website, and will be back often for more suggestions.

  46. ingrid on Tue, 11th Mar 2008 5:25 am

    47. Beth,

    I stopped using shampoo and conditioner from plastic bottles a little while ago and I’m starting to get used to it. I use a bar called ‘Castille’ from a company based out of Canada (Olivier). The stuff works great and it’s all-natural too!

  47. Arun on Wed, 12th Mar 2008 3:26 am

    48. It is great to know that you are trying hard to wipe out this plastic menace. I found your tips on how to avoid plastics has been a useful one. To be frank i am a person who tries to avoid plastics whenever i can.

    regards

    simple way of life

  48. liz on Wed, 12th Mar 2008 7:19 am

    49. This is a really thorough list, and gives me some good ideas. Thanks!

    You might try making your own energy bars if you miss them. I made some last week (recipe here) that I’m living off of at the moment. I just throw them in my own reusable containers if I need some easily transportable food.

  49. TAB Photographic on Wed, 12th Mar 2008 1:08 pm

    50. Beth. Ms. Beth Fakeplaticfish…

    Your blog, should be sent around the world. your thoughts shared and more! You know what Beth, I think you should go on the today show and share with the world… Why? Because Beth, it’s quite obvious that you rock!

    Shine on,
    ~Tim

  50. Allie on Fri, 14th Mar 2008 2:28 pm

    51. Do you have a good plastic-free way of freezing food? I use my CSA veggies to bake and cook up meals to stick in the deep freeze for meals over the winter. I’m not sure of a good way to keep food from getting freezer burn without using plastic. Have you thought of anything?

    Thanks! Your list is wonderful!

  51. Daria on Wed, 19th Mar 2008 10:52 am

    52. BTW, half vinegar and half water works great as deodorant as well…

  52. Anonymous on Mon, 24th Mar 2008 8:27 pm

    53. Nothing to add, just wow and you rock! Thank you so much for your pragmatism, persistence, and passion.

    Best,
    April, Sarasota, FL
    http://www.scopexcel.org

  53. Anonymous on Sun, 30th Mar 2008 10:29 am

    54. I attended your presentation at Wells Fargo on march 28th. I was shocked to say the least. I felt totally cheated by the “recycle” branding/marketing placed around plastics. Plastics appear to be more sinister than anything out there! I found your “what I’ve done” list so helpful. I’m speaking to all friends about plastics, starting to try and influence those closests to me, and spread from there. My lifestyle is changing, so big thanks for the inspiration and sharing the knowledge. John Hester.

  54. The Minimalist on Sun, 6th Apr 2008 8:50 am

    55. Lifelessplastic said on her site that she buys her cheese at the deli counter and asks them to wrap it in butcher paper. My husband and I are going to try to incorporate this as a habit.

  55. Anonymous on Mon, 7th Apr 2008 6:02 am

    56. Hi Beth. I just got organic produce bags from ecobags.com and they’re great. They’re washable, scrunchable and allow me to keep my produce off of the icky (who knows when it was last washed) scales at the store! (p.s., I struggled with signing in and retyped it twice so the anonymous is synonymous with “not enough caffeine yet today!”)

  56. Anonymous on Thu, 10th Apr 2008 7:59 pm

    57. Hi I love all of your awesome tips and Ideas. My husband and I have been slowly making changes in our lives. Going greener and recycling as much as possible. Today I got rid of all of our toxic plastics and I was appalled to learn how many foods (for babies) are packed in toxic plastic. Anyway. Thanks for such a great site. We are going to be using many of your ideas and tips.

    Billena

  57. Cheap Like Me on Wed, 16th Apr 2008 10:19 am

    58. This is awesome! I am thinking about doing a plastic-waste “inquiry” on my blog in May (because I can’t commit to Crunchy Chicken’s 100%-or-nothing May challenge). We usually toss about 5 lbs of trash a week … but I am very curious what makes up that trash. I *love* your chart at the top of your home page.

  58. Emily on Fri, 18th Apr 2008 4:58 am

    59. Hiya Beth so glad to have found your page. I’ve recently gone on the NO plastic band wagon and it’s hard.

    I wanted to share with you a product at Ikea called GEMAK. They’re little steel tins with lids and rubber rings. It’s great for storing dry food like cereal. They’re small so it’s a handy way to carry snacks, especially for children, without the heaviness of glass.
    http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20093456

  59. Tamara on Fri, 18th Apr 2008 6:21 pm

    60. I loved the list. I have two caveats I think, as a health educator, bear clarification:

    1. Olive oil for lube – please remind people that olive oil, and other oil-based lube solutions can break down latex (so not compatible with condoms, dental dams). Avanti makes condoms (that are more expensive) that are compatible with oil, but they are plastic (polyurethane). I hear they break more though (http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/1997/03/connett.html).
    2. I wouldn’t agree that it is ok to reuse plastic containers for food, even if you don’t heat them, from a public health perspective. Phthalates and bispenol-A are making headlines lately, but there are so many chemicals that leach from plastic at room temperature. There aren’t really “safe” plastics for food contact.
    3. I would add #7 polycarbonate to your list of plastics to absolutely avoid. It will probably be phased out but meanwhile best to avoid because of bisphenol-A (hormone disrupting chemical).
    Love your blog! Will suggest it to people at my workshop on plastics for earth day. Tamara

  60. katherine h on Fri, 25th Apr 2008 5:38 pm

    61. Dear Beth – after “Blue Vinyl” I am even more convinced we need to keep working at reducing our use – regarding your prescription delemma – find out if your pharmacy will dispense in a “bubble card” – they use them in nursing homes for the residents.. the bubble is made of plastic but surrounded by a cardboard card- it might be LESS plastic than the bottle and cap route… but state laws are different- let me know what you think

  61. Veronique from Paris on Sat, 26th Apr 2008 1:15 pm

    62. thank you Beth for the great work you did with this list !
    it is SO inspirational that I’ve decided to try news things AT ONCE.
    thanks to the internet I can order practically anything and have it deliverd in Paris, France where I live and work – we do not find exactly the same products here in Europe, but for things such as Brita Filters (they led me to your blog) it is not too bad.
    keep going, what you do is really important.
    cheers
    Véronique

  62. Reenita's Blog on Tue, 29th Apr 2008 12:21 pm

    63. Beth,

    On the subject of plastic bags being replaced by reusable bags, as a mother, I ask, how do I get my kids to do it?

    My kids checked out “Gorilla in the Greenhouse”, a new animated kids’ show about plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean. Since then they have been shouting out against the use of plastic bags because as my son says,

    “It’s all about the Gyre, mom!”

    Parents should check this out:

    http://www.greengorilla.com . It is also on You Tube.

  63. mori on Thu, 1st May 2008 3:50 pm

    64. Dear Beth, I have a nasty disease and immune-system-suppressing medication, so must drink safe water. After giving up plastic bottled water I went to Brita water in a metal bottle. Now I want to do the right thing with the Brita filter. What is the right thing? Also, what about an old and non-functional iron? Thanks, Mori.

  64. klimp11 on Wed, 7th May 2008 1:57 pm

    65. Just stumble on your site. Loved the bit on the safety razor. I switched to a straight razor for the same reason. Keep up the great work, one person can make huge difference

  65. Anonymous on Thu, 29th May 2008 11:15 pm

    66. My comment is simple.
    If you go to a beach take a large bag and rubber gloves to pick up as much plastic as it will fill. Just as a thank you to the ocean for looking after the biodiversity within it (animals starve if they try to ingest plastic). I was at Marros on a little tiny beach and could have filled 50 said bags, but the walk through the fields to get to the beach for one middle aged woman is too much. Please be one of the other 49 bag ladies (even if you are a fella) on any beach as it all ends up somewhere and a lot of it was bottles and lids (probably for drinks). Bless you. Bexy

  66. Anonymous on Sat, 14th Jun 2008 3:57 pm

    67. This is so cool!
    Thought I’d add an idea: we use the ISI seltzer bottles. They have a bit of plastic (a tube and gasket) so don’t know if that’d pass muster for others. Use Torani syrups for flavoring (Cheaper at BevMo; plastic cap). Haven’t decided if the little metal canisters of CO2 are recyclable though.
    Thanks for the list!

  67. OhGoddess on Tue, 29th Jul 2008 2:14 pm

    68. Awesome, thanks for sharing your list! I’m trying, really am, but you have some great ideas on your list that I haven’t seen before. The biggest glaring fact I’ve found? That it’s EASY to make so many of these changes!! They have not inconvenienced me in any way. I’ve not given up much, just traded an old habit for a newer, better one.

    Except for the water pitcher filters. I haven’t given those up yet, and here’s why.

  68. Anonymous on Fri, 1st Aug 2008 2:19 am

    69. Beth,

    I will steal your ideas. Your zeal inspires me. I’ve been on a personal campaign against plastic for the past year. I’m over it!

    Mark

  69. Laura Jean Karr on Sun, 17th Aug 2008 4:34 pm

    70. I am so glad that I found your blog. What you are doing is just fantastic.

    We are starting to get as plastic free as we can in out home and your list was very, very helpful.

    Thank you,
    Laura

  70. Christine in DC on Fri, 5th Sep 2008 10:50 am

    71. WOW, I’m in awe! Way to go! I’m NOwhere near as dedicated as you, clearly, but I’ve in the past year managed to only use reusable grocery bags. At first, it was hard–mainly because I’d forget or got attitude from the checkout people. But, gradually, it got easier. I think what made me stop that bad habit was simply counting how many of those stupid bags I had…and then imagining how many more I’d already recycled or (gulp) thrown away. Thanks for the tips–I’m going to try to start another good habit!

  71. Anonymous on Sun, 28th Sep 2008 8:17 pm

    72. Plastic wrapped cheese? Have it sliced in the deli and paper wrapped.

  72. cathy on Fri, 10th Oct 2008 4:58 pm

    73. Really like your blog. Will definitely use some of your tips. Would you be willing to put me on your blog roll?
    Thanks and please let me know, I will put you on mine. I added your blog to my ‘local resources’ guides.
    http://www.greenecoservices.com/ca-eco-green-sustainable-blogs-and-websites/
    Thanks
    Cathy
    http://www.greenecoservices.com/

  73. Anonymous on Sat, 25th Oct 2008 4:46 pm

    74. i am from Vancouver, Washington…and go to Clark College. Sheesh! I can’t believe that they put everything into a big plastic bag in the bookstore…and the cafeteria is all plastic disposable utensils and styrofoam! help! i joined the Club for Social Action. i wrote to our college president, Bob Knight, and gave him lots of info on Stalk Market, TaterWare, and other replacements that are way better. He sounded amiable, but i got an email asking ME to tell him “How does the cost compare to traditional utensils?”
    How do I know? Please do email me anything to tell him how much it costs…and how much it costs NOT to switch. (tons tossed!)
    keypoland105@hotmail.com

  74. Ya Chun on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 11:59 am

    75. Beth-
    What a wonderful, comprehensive list.

    Last time I knew Tom’s of Maine toothpaste was in an aluminum tube (claimed to be recyclable) after cutting off the plastic tip.

    Also, Aveda is accepting plastic bottle caps. (I know i said in another comment)

    Anita
    greenupchallenge.blogspot.com

  75. jonathan's people on Thu, 13th Nov 2008 3:07 pm

    76. Hey guys!
    If you are searching for a place to drop off your plastic bags (the kind from grocery stores) then please go to this site- It will give you a list of all locations in your area where you can drop them off.
    http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/01.0/
    -Dillon (greenhome.com)

  76. Talia on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 10:03 am

    77. My first time checking out your site. Totally awesome! My partner and I are mostly plastic free… but there’s one thing I can’t seem to work out a non plastic alternative for, and that’s how to keep my produce crisp and fresh in the fridge. I have tried those cloth produce bags that you moisten but have had disappointing results. Perhaps I’m not using them properly? This is one thing I would really like to eliminate from my kitchen so any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much and keep up the amazing work you’re doing! It’s so important!

  77. Anonymous on Mon, 9th Feb 2009 12:35 pm

    78. I read in a packaging industry magazine that (a study showed) chemicals from printing ink permeated some containers. I keep that in mind when purchasing products.

    My husband and I continually to make changes that are environmentally friendly. He likes soda and sparkling water, so I bought a SodaClub soda maker. Their bottles are free of BPA. One carbonate canister in the size we got makes about 110 liters of carbonated beverage. We love it! When you need new canisters, they send you a box with new ones and a return shipping label to send your empty ones back and they reuse them!

    Jill

  78. Anonymous on Sun, 24th May 2009 7:01 am

    79. Great list. I can’t wait to implement your ideas. I wanted to mention an alternative to the brita water filters. I got a Berkey water filter about 6 months ago, and it is awesome. http://www.berkeywater-filter.com
    It has saved me tons of money in filters and the water tastes much better. We have the metal one. It is about the size of one of those big coffee makers you see at gatherings. Please, check it out!

  79. Martin on Wed, 27th May 2009 4:48 am

    80. I have been on mission to reduce my plastic usage at home, but realize at work at the water cooler we go through an amazing amount of plastic cups. I work in a research environment and sometimes difficult as we cannot drink in the lab where we spend most of our time, so many researchers go straight from the lab to grab a drink. The few of us that have our own cups have to go out of their way to our study area/desk and back again once finished to return our cup, for some people this is on a different floor. Many people have complained when there are no cups available and are resistant to the idea of bring their own. Do you have any ideas?

  80. Fake Plastic Fish on Thu, 28th May 2009 9:43 am

    81. Hi Martin. Can you keep a shelf next to the water cooler where you each store a reusable mug with your name on it? I don’t know how your work environment is set up, but it seems like this would be the most convenient choice.

  81. HorseJumper12341 on Fri, 26th Jun 2009 8:42 pm

    82. Thank you for writing this post!! I have been looking for and trying to think of ways to save/cut back on my plastic use for a long time. My mom and I are crazy about not using plastic bags, especially!! Thanks again!! :)

  82. Anonymous on Mon, 29th Jun 2009 12:15 pm

    83. "I'd stopped using most produce bags long before beginning this project because they always seemed unnecessary."

    Me Too, But it drives the crocery clerks crazy sometimes. Why must 2 apples be in a plastic bag? I have no idea either. How about corn on the cob. I had a clerk verbally spank me because the corn got the belt wet.

    Stores need to educate employees!

  83. GreenDigitalist on Sat, 4th Jul 2009 3:45 pm

    84. Thanks for the re-inspiration and the work. I would love to look at your graph in a little more detail: are the spikes at the holidays? no response necc, but maybe a post?

    I am going to start linking to your blog, plus this is posted at: Answerbag – http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7007352

  84. Fake Plastic Fish on Sun, 5th Jul 2009 12:01 pm

    85. Hi GreenDigitalist. I loved your thorough response to the kitty litter question on the Answer Bag. There really is no perfect solution, is there? We flush our cat's biodegradable corn litter because they have tested neg for toxoplasma gondii and are indoor cats. But if you have outdoor cats, you're not supposed to flush. And you're right that flushing is a waste a good clean water. If only we could install a grey water system, but we are renters.

    Anyway, you have inspired me to take a look at the graph (with is just a screen shot of an Excel graph) and figure out a way to allow people to see the details. Maybe there's a way to embed a Google spreadsheet.

    The spikes might be related to holidays but also there were a few unusually heavy items — a broken computer monitor, for instance, and a polar fleece blanket that my kitties chewed (actually ate) up.

  85. Anonymous on Fri, 17th Jul 2009 9:59 pm

    86. You mentioned to buy CFL lightbulbs but it should be known that CFL lightbulds usually contain mercury which is terrible for the factory workers that put together the bulbs and when a CFL breaks it can be a health issue.

    Not sure if these are facts but this is want I have herd.

  86. nerdstar on Sat, 22nd Aug 2009 3:53 pm

    87. Awesome site. Great resources and ideas. Try 41pounds.org for getting rid of junkmail.

  87. Anonymous on Wed, 9th Sep 2009 11:38 am

    88. what about breast implants when you get a MRI,is it the same as a plastic bag in the microwave…there plastic

  88. hbTurner on Mon, 5th Oct 2009 5:00 am

    89. In response to # 36 comment-why do we have to have everything scented. Even using essetial oils I just don’t get it.
    Why isn’t a home just smelling of “air” enough.
    I do wish there would be a better campaign about all the artificial fragrances**they are pertoleum or other noxious chemiclas and are terrible for us not counting the plastic cartridges and little fans.**
    I use lemon juice in laundry and a lot of vinegar but never use anything with even a natural based fragrance if I can find it. I get strage looks trying to find handsoap, why do I want some fragrance, even one Imight like, on my hands while I eat? If I want fragrance I go find a flower.

  89. patricia on Wed, 7th Oct 2009 5:42 pm

    90. Love your list of tips.
    I am hooked up to a county rural water system in California. Due to the Calif. clean water act, I am required to buy bottled drinking water from a local company. (Actually I was given a long list of companies to choose from). If I do not sign up for water delivery, my household water will be turned off. All of the companies on the aforementioned list use big plastic # 7 bottles. They all told me there are no alternatives. I have two crock dispensers which I pour the water into the minute I receive it. My thinking is the less time in the plastic the better. I don’t know what else to do.

  90. admin on Wed, 7th Oct 2009 5:50 pm

    91. Patricia, I wish I had a solution for you. I agree that you need to get the water out of the #7 container as soon as possible. Is your county working on getting your water cleaned up? Is this a temporary situation or will it be ongoing forever? Can you install a whole house filtration system? I know that’s really expensive. But unfortunately, chemicals get into our bodies not just through our mouths but through our skin. Is it safe to shower in your toxic water?

    I would be interested in learning more about what’s going on for you.

  91. Sarajane Snyder on Mon, 12th Oct 2009 11:52 am

    92. Thank you for the comprehensive and well-tended site!

    I found your site while doing a little research for a VERY grassroots campaign to decrease the amount of plastic bags handed out at the NYC greenmarkets. I currently work at an organic farmstand where we charge 5¢ per plastic bag as an “encouragement” for customers to bring their own bags (BYOB!) each time. As of this week, we’ll be the first stand at the Union Square Greenmarket to switch to vegetable-based compostable bags (brand name Biobag) and we’ll be charging customers the price of the bags– 5, 10 or 15¢ for small, med, and large bags. We estimate distributing 1500+ bags each market, and we’re small fry compared to some stands. We would love to get out of the bag-peddling business and have all customers bring their own. It’s amazing to see the wide span of reactions from our customers: some thank us with a touching sincerity, others are irritated but understanding, others are just confused, and still others are enraged and quite reactive.

    I appreciate your list of “how I avoid plastic” because it is gets down to the dirty details of how plastic pervades our lives, and by association, how much of our lives are spent shopping and consuming in a culture that seems to rely completely on plastics. It’s kind of like the ant phenomenon: when you look down and you see an ant on your leg, and then one on your–no, two on your shoe, oh and then there’s a whole bunch on the sidewalk, and then you spy the crack where there’s a river of ants emerging. Plastics (and one-use, throw-away ’stuff’) is right in front of you, and as you widen your vision, you see it everywhere multiplied by the thousands. How many disposable chopsticks does it take to make a forest?

    Having worked and shopped at various farmers markets in baltimore, sanfrancisco, and new york, I see them as a very very important trend in shopping culture. The trend has to do with sustainability, person-to-person interactions, freshness, local economies, community & communication. One of the side-benefits of farmers’ markets is the reduced packaging and marketing of foods. You can buy meat & cheese simply wrapped in paper, you can buy eggs and milk and return the containers to the farmstand each week, you can bring your own bags for everything else. At the greenmarkets in nyc (where there is no city-wide composting as in san fran) there is a growing interest in customers being able to bring their compostables to the market to be used on the farms where the food was grown or used in local composting productions.

    FInally I’ll just give a shout-out to the country of Ireland, who imposed a national plastic bag tax in 2002 and thereby reduced plastic bag use by about 90%. There is much information about this at a great and helpful website: http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id=20

    Thanks thanks thanks!

  92. Serina on Thu, 15th Oct 2009 10:41 am

    93. It seems like the links on this page aren’t working. Keeps coming up with an error page. I’d love to read more if you can fix it! Thanks!!

  93. Beth Terry on Thu, 15th Oct 2009 11:00 am

    94. Hi Serina. I think I fixed the problem. Please try it now. It’s a matter of transferring from Blogger to Wordpress.

  94. Serina on Thu, 15th Oct 2009 11:28 am

    95. Thanks Beth! Works great. FYI, I’m a college teacher in psychology and I’m assigning my classes a paper on the effects of plastic on people’s psychology. All you plastic-free bloggers inspired me! lol

  95. John at Cell Phone Recycling on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 12:57 am

    96. Wow! thanks for sharing this information. I commend you for the things you’ve given up. you serve as our inspiration now. keep up the good work.

  96. Mary on Sat, 7th Nov 2009 7:59 pm

    97. Beth,
    What do you recommend we clean our toilets with?

    I hate cleaning the toilets because I hate using bleach because I don’t know what else to clean them with.

  97. Beth Terry on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 11:50 am

    98. Hi Mary. I use baking soda to clean the toilet. I wrote a whole post about baking soda uses last week. It is here:

    http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/11/baking-soda-so-many-uses-so-little-money-and-plastic/

  98. Karin on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 1:07 pm

    99. Excellent list — very well thought out! We recently made the choice to purchase a Foodsaver vacuum sealer. The upside is that we can purchase more food on sale and purchase in larger quanties during the season (like from farmer’s markets) in order to freeze the food. Plus we will be doing a larger garden next year and preserving food. Vacuum-sealed food lasts longer in the fridge and freezer and you can avoid most freezer burn. The downside is that the storage bags are all plastic of course and are not biodegradable. But they can be reused a number of times. Foodsaver does sell plastic reusable containers for vacuum sealing, but we have not purchased those (plus it’s more plastic). We are trying to make some good decisions about what to freeze and what to can so that we are not using so much plastic. I would like to see Foodsaver develop a storage bag that is biodegradable or at least manufacter them from recycled plastic. Tough choices!

  99. Mary on Wed, 2nd Dec 2009 5:45 pm

    100. I have a vacuum sealer also and I use canning jars. No plastic bag to throw away. Plus the vacuum sealer work better on jars than the plastic bags.

  100. Karin on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 7:54 am

    101. Mary, thank you for your tip!

  101. Hello, Goodbye: Getting Ready for Life After Plastic « Old Recipe for a New World on Fri, 18th Dec 2009 8:06 pm

    102. [...] blogger Fake Plastic Fish has a much more comprehensive list of changes and alternatives here. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Renovation finishedGrowing up isn’t that bad [...]

  102. Patty on Mon, 25th Jan 2010 8:49 am

    103. Saturday morning cartoons this week turned into me watching ‘Addicted to Plastic’ by Ian Connacher on the Sundance channel. Happy to see more and more ways things are being recycled and a little more motivated to reduce my consumption. Hoping to find out more what my city is doing and petition for additional changes.

  103. Let the Battle Begin « A Green Spell on Mon, 25th Jan 2010 5:41 pm

    104. [...] subject, detailing some of the changes I’ve made. You can find FPF’s list of changes here, and it’s quite [...]

  104. Namaste_Heather on Tue, 26th Jan 2010 6:37 am

    105. Thank you so much for such an extensive post. Our family has been working on a lot of these things, but you’ve given some great tips for things we are not yet doing. I plan to come back often for more tips!

  105. Patty on Tue, 26th Jan 2010 12:05 pm

    106. http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/01/14/biodegradable.golf.ball/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn
    Biodegradable golf balls…not perfect but interesting.

  106. Patty on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 1:08 pm

    107. Once you open your eyes…there is so much to see…
    http://reelthing.us/bagit.htm (http://www.vimeo.com/5645718)

  107. Christina on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 4:24 pm

    108. Regarding the SodaStream for carbonated water, did you look at any other options? I’ve seen homemade contraptions for using a big tank of CO2, and I’m wondering if a soda fountain style machine might use the larger tanks as well. This is my big ecological sin, carbonated water, which I choose because it keeps me off soda and juice (I can use a little bit of homemade juice for flavor), so I definitely want to find a way to reduce the bottle consumption. (Though of course I recycle them all.)

  108. Christina on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 4:31 pm

    109. I also wanted to say that dried milk powder is a good alternative, especially if glass bottles are not an option. Straus Creamery is a good glass bottle dairy, but it sounds like you’re in the SF bay area where they’re local. Dried milk is a way better product than I remember growing up, or at least the Organic Valley that I’m using is. It takes energy to turn the milk into powder, but I figure it’s mostly if not totally balanced by the reduced refrigeration and the transportation reduction caused by not shipping water.

  109. 8 Reasons Why Personal Changes Matter | Fake Plastic Fish on Thu, 28th Jan 2010 7:26 pm

    110. [...] How to Give Up Plastic [...]

  110. Eco-Rant» Blog Archive » The Hidden Life of Garbage on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 10:16 am

    111. [...] I saw this video posted on Treehugger and decided to pass it along since it is a good one!  It is three years old but still relevant.  A lot of cool vintage footage, and even an interview with someone using a bucket composting toilet!  It talks about planned obsolescence, consumerism, the reality of landfills.  It goes into detail about plastic and how it  recycling it isn’t the answer.  It can’t be infinitely recycled, and the process uses a lot of energy and can requires virgin plastic added in.  It is better not to buy anything in plastic, even if it has the recyclable symbol on it.  Fake Plastic Fish has a good guide to going plastic free. [...]

  111. No Impact Week: Free to Be Plastic Free on Wed, 10th Feb 2010 12:03 pm

    112. [...] to eliminate plastics from her life, charting her monthly plastic waste reduction. Here is her List of Plastic-Free Changes that includes everything from making your own hand lotion to making your own soy milk. And, of [...]

  112. Postfossiel.nl — Blog — Plastic vrij leven on Thu, 18th Feb 2010 5:39 am

    113. [...] aan te schaffen en te vullen met kraanwater. Ook op de website is de (enigzins ontmoedigende..) lijst met dingen die je kunt doen om minder  plastic te gebruiken. Veel van het plastic is ook niet [...]

  113. Lina on Thu, 18th Feb 2010 9:24 am

    114. Hi – this is a great post, thanks so much. I like your points on the bulk buying and not getting more plastic bags to carry them home in, its something I hadn’t thought about. I wonder if you have any suggestions on storing large quantities of bulk food without plastic? I want to just go ahead and get 25 or 50 lbs of flour for example, but all the options I see for storing that amount of flour are plastic. Any ideas? Thanks again.

  114. Tamara Meske on Sun, 21st Feb 2010 6:30 pm

    115. Lina, I am having the same issue with buying bulk but all the large containers are plastic! After spending several hours researching today, I’ve found some glass containers with metal (or glass) lids up to 5 gallon size. Probably not large enough for a 50lb bag of flour, but two would probably do it. I’m also looking into buying a grain mill so I can store the whole grains instead of the flour, which I think will keep longer and be a little less messy to store in a non-sealed container (I intend to line the tops of the grains with herbs to keep the bugs out.)

  115. tinabeans on Tue, 23rd Feb 2010 10:01 pm

    116. One of the most interesting things I learned recently was that the little exfoliating beads inside many mainstream brands of facial cleanser are actually little beads of plastic. Every time you wash your face with one of these, the tiny beads of plastic go down the drain and eventually into bodies of water. These are especially harmful to aquatic/marine life because small critters like plankton (the foundation of many marine ecosystems) will ingest them and die. They do not biodegrade and they are impossible to clean/remove from the wild. So next time you choose a face wash, go for a biodegradable exfoliant like ground up apricot stone.

    Who knew that sometimes the most insidious forms of harm comes in the tiniest packages!

  116. Beth Terry on Tue, 23rd Feb 2010 10:05 pm

    117. @Tinabeans, yes! In fact, I blogged about the tiny polyethylene beads in personal care products back in 2007! http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/07/flushing-plastic-down-drain/ How could I have forgotten to add this to the list? Thanks. I’ll put it on there.

    Beth

  117. Jaylah on Sun, 28th Feb 2010 5:41 am

    118. About those cat toys. All of your suggestions are excellent, but I used to have three cats (all at once, I’m owned by a dog now) and once I started making this toy for them, they turned up their noses at all other toys.

    Take a sheet of regular paper. (No, don’t grab a couple of fresh sheets out of your printer…use the letters that come in junk mail for this.) Tear each in half. Place them in a sink or basin of water until they’re soaked through. Take each half sheet out and wad it up as tightly as you can. They should end up around an inch in diameter. Place them on a tray or counter and let them *thoroughly* dry. Toss them on the floor and watch your cats chase them. Since you’ve wet the paper and then let them dry, they don’t come uncrumpled, but a cat can easily hook a paw or claw or tooth in them. One of my cats was almost always to be found with one in her mouth.

    We named these toys “Moggy balls.” My middle cat was named “Mogai” but we always called her Moggy. (Which is, perhaps, appropriate as the Brits refer to a cat as a “moggy.”) I usually made a dozen or so of these at a time when the last batch seemed to have all disappeared. Then I’d find them under the couch, under the dresser, under the fridge. Some days, instead of making more, I’d do a “moggy ball hunt” and would usually manage to find a dozen under various furniture.

    If your cats like catnip, you can sprinkle some finely shredded fresh or dried catnip on the papers after wetting but before you crumple them up. The shreds will become embedded in the crumpled up paper.

  118. shaune on Mon, 1st Mar 2010 6:01 am

    119. Yea Beth! I’m so glad to have watched you on the news. I’ve been on an anti-plastic campaign for years and years! As a teacher, I give my students tokens for being plastic free for school snacks. I encourage them to bring their snacks in reusable containers, wax paper, or just “au Natural”. It is really difficult to change habits, but we have our best hope with the youth.

  119. Beth Terry on Mon, 1st Mar 2010 10:07 am

    120. Hi Shaune! If you’re in the Bay Area, you might want to check out a group I belong to: Green Sangha. They have a Rethinking Plastics campaign and give presentations in schools as well as other places. http://greensangha.org/plastics-campaign/ We’ll have a table at the Oakland Earth Expo on April 14 and I might wear my plastic sea monster costume. http://www.oaklandpw.com/Page291.aspx

  120. Isabelle on Mon, 1st Mar 2010 2:06 pm

    121. I just saw you on abc this morning… luckily I happen to glance at the tv being a unusually very busy morning, I stopped in my tracks to hear your words on the plastic problem. I thought it was only me and a few others that thought like you. Every day I throw plastic out (I live with roommates) my stomach turns because I know it’s bad and feel so overwelmed with all the plastic going out to the oceans into mothers natures creatures. I sort it out but many containers are not recycleable. I have a list in my head of things. I use my toothbrush till nothing left to the brush, etc.. I always get on the roommates not buy so much food items with plastic but it seems impossible. I wish it was illegal to use pastic with food items and make comany’s go back to glass jars. I’m going to try harder, never giving up. Thank you and I love you website

  121. Isabelle on Mon, 1st Mar 2010 2:12 pm

    122. Great List of Ideas!!!

    I just saw you on abc this morning… luckily I happen to glance at the tv being a unusually very busy morning, I stopped in my tracks to hear your words on the plastic problem. I thought it was only me and a few others that thought like you. Every day I throw plastic out (I live with roommates) my stomach turns because I know it’s bad and feel so overwhelmed with all the plastic going out to the oceans into mothers natures creatures. I sort it out but many containers are not recyclable. I have a list in my head of things. I use my toothbrush till nothing left to the brush, etc.. I always get on the roommates not buy so much food items with plastic but it seems impossible. I wish it was illegal to use plastic with food items and make company’s go back to glass jars. I’m going to try harder, never giving up. Thank you and I love you website
    please save this one and delete the other,,ty!

  122. Jessie Krebs on Tue, 2nd Mar 2010 1:48 pm

    123. Hi Beth, thank you so much for doing this! I have a recommendation for flea control that has worked faithfully for me for years with my two cats in several different homes around the country. It’s Diatomatious Earth-ground up seashells basically. You can buy it online or at garden stores since people also use it around gardens to control pests. It was also used once-upon-a-time to filter pool water in swimming pools. It works by slicing open hard shelled small insects as they crawl by it, causing them to quickly dehydrate and die. So it is also extremely effective on ants, crimson crawlers, and a host of other hard shelled larvae and “pests”. It’s also ridiculously easy to use though you should take care not to breath it in-like most pest-control products. It is comprised of very sharp shards on a microscopic level so you want to keep it out of your lungs as much as possible. I just sprinkle a very small amount (say a 1/2 cup or so for an entire 1500 square foot home) on the floor of each room that has carpet or any flooring with cracks/holes in it like old wooden floors or anyplace else I have pests like the cupboards or around the exterior wall/foundation of the house. This is where flea larvae and mites and such live when they are in developmental stages. For every adult flea you see there are thousands of larvae that are in it’s vicinity that in a couple weeks will be ready to graduate to adulthood. So sprinkle around the Diatomatious earth and gently rub/brush it into every nook and cranny you can find. Then just wipe/vacuum/sweep (wear a dust mask for extra safety) up the excess and you’re done. Just one dose will last you years if it’s inside since no matter how well you clean there will always be some left deep down. I never even put flea collars on my cats after that since I knew if they brought in a flea it would die soon and any eggs it laid would simply die as well. I never had a problem with fleas or ticks on them again. You can in bad infestations dust the animal and their bedding after a good washing too. I’ve even used food-grade Diatomatious Earth in my food (like bulk apricots, oatmeal or raisins) to make sure it won’t be infested with anything like moths, beetles/whatever, The “Earth” has no taste-just a fine white powder that cleans out your insides too! It’s a great feeling to eliminate pests with such an earth-friendly product that works so well. Happy pest and pesticide-free living! Jessie

  123. Jessie Krebs on Tue, 2nd Mar 2010 2:32 pm

    124. OK, just saw some other things I may be able to help with. First the microwave popcorn dilemma! Find yourself a good size glass/porcelain bowl with a glass/porcelain lid at your local thrift store-pour in a little safflower oil and some organic popcorn and pop it in for a few minutes until the popping slows and you’re done. Add a few sprays of Braggs amino acids/tamari and some Nutritional yeast plus any other herbs/spices you like and enjoy.

    For bulk food storage, I was having the same problem, Flour beetles were in one of my bulk 25 lb bag of oats when I ordered it from the store. Determined not to lose all of it to the infestation I sifted out all the bugs, put the remaining oats in washed pillowcases I got from the thrift store for 25 to 75 cents apiece with liberal amounts of food grade Diatomatious Earth sprinkled in and fed a piece of line/rope through the top of the pillowcase to tie it off. That was last summer and the oats show no sign of infestation and taste fine! As long as you’re storing them in a dry area (I have bought metal trash cans which I then put the bean/rice/oat filled pillowcases in) the pillowcases make great ready-made bags for bulk storage.

    And lastly, more cat toys. Especially if you know someone in catnip growing areas (my relatives in Michigan are my main source) have them cut and dry large quantities and send it/give it to you in a brown paper bag. I had male cats that despite being neutered would still spray on occasion. However they won’t spray “happy places” or places that smell like catnip. Once they find a place they like to spray they will seem to keep targeting it over and over no matter how well you clean. So I would take a small rag, like a 4″ X 4″ section of old t-shirt or jean material, or even an old sock (depending on how animated your cat gets with catnip!), fill the center with a tablespoon or so of dried catnip, then fold up the sides and tie a sliploop around it with a long piece of string and hang it a few inches off the floor in the area they were spraying (or just where ever you want their play area to be). They would never spray there again. So after hanging several around the house as they tried new places, they gave up and only did it outside, and always enjoyed batting the toy around regardless.

    Thanks again for this site-it’[s awesome to connect/hear about fellow plastic-free fighters and learn more we can do!

  124. GREG on Sat, 6th Mar 2010 4:48 pm

    125. It is so nice to find someone who thinks like me. My co-workers think I am crazy, bringing home things to recycle. Anyway I don’t buy plastic trash bags but I take trash home from a local restaurant, recycle what I can then use their used trash bags for what little garbage I have left. I do have three cats and will try your idea of making homemade cat food, I hate the waste their cans and plastic coated bags of dry food and litter make. I won’t buy the scoopalbe kind because the plastic buckets with metal handles are not recylcable. I live on the shore of Lake Ontario and it saddens me how much plastic waste washes up on my little spec of beach. Thanks for all you are doing. greg ps, I wish plastic water bottles could be outlawed.

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