Since July 1st was on a Thursday, I’m counting the end of this week as the end of Week 1. Unfortunately, I forgot all about it, and had already purchased food for delivery. Where I live, we are fortunate to be able to recycle most of our plastic waste. For the sake of transparency, I will discuss the items that can be recycled, along with that can only go to landfill. What won’t be included is medical waste and anything that was purchased prior to the start of Plastic-Free July.
Continue Readingless plastic
Plastic-Free July: Day 30, Acceptance 😌
Tomorrow is the last day of our Plastic-Free July journey for 2020. Thank you so much for sticking with me! We explored plastic-free swaps, how to turn kitchen scraps into a mini garden, the impact of the current pandemic, and more. Now it is time to take stock of what we have accumulated and come to terms with the outcome. Given the current state of things, living plastic-free has not be easy by any means. More and more items, aside from the usual packaged products, are coming wrapped in plastic. Reusable bags and containers brought from home are not allowed in stores, which makes sense given these uncertain times, but can be frustrating.
Continue ReadingPlastic-Free July: Days 23-24, Alternatives, Disabilities, & Chronic Illness
I have discussed several alternatives in the form of products. These suggestions and observations are not items. At the beginning of the stay-in, the earth seemed to be healing. We didn’t go out, ordered only when we had to, and went out if it was necessary. I saw clearer skies, better weather than usual, and more hummingbirds than ever before. Since the stay-in was eased, all of that has changed. In a short amount of time, the layer of smog has returned, and the streets are once again crowded with cars and people.
Continue ReadingPlastic-Free July: Day 20, Life Update
I realized that I completely forgot a post for Day 20, so here it is. It’s just a quick update, since life has been kinda crazy. This stay-in has really taught me how much we consume, in terms of product purchases. Did I really need all of the containers I’ve bought over the years? Nope. The same goes for most of my other things like clothes, excess snacks, etc. Awhile back I tried my hand at minimalism. While I will never be a minimalist, I am loving the idea of living with less. For the brief period I tried minimalism, I found that it made cleaning easier and made the search for things less difficult and stressful. Who wouldn’t want that? So while I’m not looking to be a minimalist, I am looking to simplify my life a bit. That’s about it for now.
Peace & Love, always!
Plastic-Free July: Day 19, Glass
A few days ago I discussed the use of silicone, the importance of purchasing quality silicone, and touched on the debate on whether or not it is sustainable. Today is a discussion on glass. While glass is sustainable as it is fully recyclable, there is a point when it isn’t as sustainable as the zero-waste community would like you to think. Purchasing cases of new glass jars can be tempting, especially when you strive to be was plastic-free as possible, but that’s not sustainable. Purchasing more, and throwing away or recycling the glass you currently have, versus simply using what you have. The aesthetic is nice to look at, but it’s not practical and defeats the purpose of being more sustainable.
COntinue ReadingPlastic-Free July: Day 16, Recycling More ♻️+
First off, I want to apologize if things are sounding a bit repetitive. I have yet to make videos, which I do plan on doing at some point. Until then, we are left to a bit of reading. There is a huge focus on refusing more, recycling less, and buying less in general. I understand the concept behind refusing items you do not need, but does that help? Not exactly. When you refuse an item, the manufacturer doesn’t go back and make one less item because you have refused it. If it is a freebie, the company doesn’t provide less because you refused it. Refusal may give you some internal satisfaction, but refusing doesn’t do nearly as much as other actions, such as writing to a company. You can write and discuss why items are unnecessary or provide suggestions on changing their freebies and/or packaging to something more environmentally friendly– whatever the situation calls for.
Continue ReadingPlastic-Free July: Day 15, Regrowth 🌱
If you have a windowsill that gets some sun, you can save on plastic-packed produce by regrowing some items. I have found that celery and green onions are the easiest. A jar with a tiny it of water at the bottom is all you need. Place the veggies in, and you should see that roots have grown in about a week or two. If you are growing celery, you’ll want to cut a small amount off of the end to allow for the roots to grow. Green onions grow in no-time. Ginger, lemongrass, onions, potatoes, etc. can all be grown from scraps if you have a bit of space. The one thing that I’m not a fan of is lettuce. I have successfully grown lettuce, but it is very bitter in comparison to the original leaves. If anyone knows why, let me know in the comments.
Continue ReadingPlastic-Free July: Day 14, Swaps II
The first swaps post for Plastic-Free July 2020 included laundry detergent, gum, and suggestions for plasticware that is considered single-use. There are countless swaps for items we use every day. We can also repurpose those items once their initial purpose has been fulfilled. Here are some suggestions for more plastic-free swaps, some of which are included in the purchase of goods:
Continue ReadingPlastic-Free July: Day 13, Straws
There is one area where I could control the plastic that is brought in, and that is with straws. Does that mean I am making a difference? Not in terms of manufacturing. Companies will still make the same amount, which is something that the zero-waste community doesn’t really discuss. Many people in the zero-waste/low-waste community give the impression that a refusal of products means that the company all of a sudden will make less of it. That’s not quite how it works, but that is for another post. Back to the straws: I have boba straws and regular, glass and metal, plus some bamboo straws (I’m not a fan of the bamboo type). Now, I do know that some people need to use plastic straws for medical reasons, which I have no objection to. If you are one who does, you shouldn’t feel bad about needing them, either.
Continue ReadingPlastic-Free July: Day 12, Unavoidable Plastic
By now I probably sound like a broken record. At the current time, where I live, plastic is pretty much unavoidable. How do you reconcile with the increase in plastic waste? The biggest thing for me is to focus on the future. There will be a time when we won’t have to buy in plastic, but until that happens, we have to make do with what we have. I have bought less snack items and began to make more of my own. I have also looked for compostable packaging, and at the very least, plastic packaging that I can recycle or reuse. Tofu containers make great soap molds or mini planters. Plastic produce bags can be used for holding any trash you accumulate. The saying goes something like, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” Well, the same can be said for plastic.
What are you doing with the unavoidable plastic that has come in? Do you have any creative uses? Let us know!
Peace & Love, always!
Darphynia's Diary 
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