5 Small Ways I’m Trying to Save the World

Author’s note: My post today is not about writing. My urgency about our environmental crisis spurs me on to write the following article instead.

In the 1967 movie, The Graduate, Mr. McGuire gives Dustin Hoffman’s character Ben advice: “I just want to say one word to you … plastics … There’s a great future in plastics.”

Mr. McGuire was correct. In 1967, there was a great future in plastics, but today, plastics may be destroying our future.

When I heard about the island of plastic floating in the ocean and began to see pictures of wildlife killed or maimed by plastic trash, I knew I had to make some changes.

Rich and I decided to eliminate the use of plastics as much as possible in our lives. Like many of you, we’ve used sturdy cloth or mesh bags for groceries for years. We wondered what other changes we could make. Here are five things we have done that are simple and low cost.

Wash and reuse plastic bags

A major contributor to the environmental disaster is one-use plastic. I’ve been washing and reusing plastic bags for a long time. Naturally, if the bag contained something like raw meat, I didn’t reuse it.

I store these washed bags in a separate drawer from the new bags so we know the difference. Depending on what it originally contained,  a used bag can be used for food still in its original wrapper, like cheese or cookies. We also use them for non-food items that need to be wrangled like pens and small loose items, like twist ties. 

In addition, we now try to get any meat or fish we purchase at the deli or the meat counter. That way, it is wrapped in butcher paper rather than plastic.

Instead of one-use plastic bags, use glassware to store food.

We already had several glass storage bowls of various sizes, each with its own lid. Yes, the lids are plastic, but they aren’t one-use plastic. We wash them and use them over and over.

Not only does it help the environment, we’re saving money by not buying as many plastic bags.

Replace plastic-bottled hand soap with bars of soap.

When we used liquid hand soap in plastic bottles, we bought the large refill bottles, and that was a good first step, but it’s still one-use for that large bottle. We decided to use bars of soap instead.

Remember those??

The great thing about bar soap is there are so many delectable scents, and they make the bathroom smell pretty. Also, you can buy lovely soap dishes for them.

Use paper plates and real silverware or wooden utensils instead of plastic.

We used to tease my mom when she washed plastic silverware. “Mom, throw them away. That’s why you use plastic.” Oh, that we had been as wise as she all those years ago.

I know plastic utensils are convenient for larger gatherings and picnics, but, honestly, is throwing a bunch of silverware in the dishwasher or even washing it by hand that difficult? In five minutes, you’ve saved a lot of wildlife. 

Refuse a straw at restaurants.

Though the number of straws used in America each day might not number 500 million, as has been reported, there are probably thousands used each day. Just think of all the fast-food restaurants across the country. Refusing a straw can be an easy way to start your own change.

Many restaurants in our city have stopped using straws. Some provide a straw if you request one. Some have changed to paper straws.

What interests me is people’s objection to drinking out of a glass someone previously used. Well, the glasses are washed in the same dishwasher as the silverware, and you’re putting that fork right into your mouth.

If it makes you feel better, you can purchase eight reusable, stainless steel straws for around $9—just over a dollar each on Amazon. Save a dolphin, buy a metal straw. 

We recently listened to an interview with Dr. Jenna Jambeck on NPR. She describes what she finds as she explores what is biodegradable in landfills. Apparently, bologna/baloney isn’t  Click to listen or read the article. It’s short and very enjoyable.

When we decided to switch to bar soap, I went into a national chain bath products store and asked if they sold scented hand soap. I explained our goal to eliminate plastic bottles.

As the clerk gave me the side-eye, I gazed around at shelves and shelves of beautifully packaged, one-use plastic bottles. There were so many, I felt like I was looking into an infinity mirror. I was so overwhelmed, I couldn’t breathe for a moment. This was just one small store in one small city. Multiply that by thousands around the world.

Sometimes I feel like David facing down Goliath. The problem is enormous, and I’m just one person. But we all know the power in numbers. If we all changed one area in our lifestyle, that change would make a tremendous difference.

I have just one word for you … unplastic.