July's Action: Choose to Reuse

04 Jul July’s Action: Choose to Reuse

Posted at 09:50h in EcoHomes by FCAN Office

Join the Plastic-Free July Challenge and reduce your single-use plastics this month

Did you know? The plastics industry generates carbon emissions equivalent to 600 coal plants, four times that of the airline industry. And U.S. plastics production alone could consume one-fifth of the Earth’s remaining carbon budget by 2050.

One way to “turn off the tap” on plastic production is to choose reuse. Plastic packaging is a huge contributor to climate change, not to mention clogging our oceans, waterways, and landfills—and only about 5% of it gets recycled in the US. But really, anything that is made to be used for a matter of seconds before being thrown away, whether it is plastic, paper, bamboo, or even compostable, contributes to a “take-make-waste” extractive economy and depletes precious resources. In fact, 10% of wood harvested, 20% of aluminum mined, 40% of plastic created, and 50% of glass produced goes to make single-use packaging for consumable products.

There are many steps you can take at home to lighten your plastic and single-use footprint:

The good ol’ standby: bring your reusable bags to the grocery store. Keep them in a convenient spot or in your car so that you always have them nearby and on hand.
You can also bring your own produce bags to the shop and farmers market. Use them for shopping bulk as well.
Did you know there is a refill store just down the road in Brunswick? Bring your own jars and containers to GoGo Refill and stock up on home goods and bath & beauty products, from dish soap and laundry detergent to body wash and shampoo.
Consider buying your dairy products in glass jars and bottles that can be returned to the store for a deposit refund.
Ditch the plastic wrap and opt instead for reusable food preservers like beeswax wrap.
Do a trash/recycling bin audit. Where’s your biggest volume of packaging coming from? Are there steps you can take to reduce it? For instance, buying the larger cereal/snack mix/yogurt bucket instead of the single-serve packets, and portioning them out in reusable containers.
Keep a travel mug handy for those impromptu stops at the coffee shop, and carry your own water bottle whenever possible. You can also try the new system at Reverie Coffee House in Brunswick, where you can check out a reusable coffee mug and return it at your next visit!
“Skip the Stuff!” If you’re getting takeout and bringing it home, ask the restaurant to skip the plastic utensils, condiment packets, napkins, straws, etc.
Join the Plastic Free July challenge to learn more tips and tricks and to be part of a global community working to stop plastic pollution.

Join with others working on the problem

You can also plug into a community working on these issues right here at home. Reuse Maine is working on larger systems (like the one modeled at Reverie, mentioned above) so that single-use stuff is reduced at the source and you don’t have to navigate around it and BYO everything. Part of a larger nationwide movement (learn about Upstream), Reuse Maine is a volunteer coalition of local businesses, environmental nonprofits, and community leaders who are working together to build a robust, integrated, and convenient reuse ecosystem in the Greater Portland area and beyond. They envision a future where packaging and foodware are reused rather than disposed — reducing waste, litter, carbon emissions, and costs for local businesses while creating local jobs and developing a green workforce. They are actively working to promote reuse across the entertainment, beverage, and foodservice sectors, as well as to embed reuse into Maine’s packaging policies.

They’d love for anyone who shares our vision to join them! This group meets in person every other month in Portland, with options to join virtually. The next get-together is Friday, July 19th from 2-3:30pm at Portland City Hall. Please reach out to [email protected] for more info.