As part of our monthly, free lecture series, club member Marti Tillinger recently shared with us the impact of single-use plastics on our environment. She provided some great alternative ideas! Here is a summary of her presentation…

Only about five to six percent of plastic manufactured ever really gets recycled. Most of it ends up in landfills, and it takes forever (if at all) to break down. Much of the discarded plastic forms micro-plastics which end up in our water, soil, and in our bodies.

Plastics that enter our waterways (streams, rivers, lakes) end up in the oceans, much in huge oceanic garbage dumps. They snare aquatic life or endanger them when they mistake the plastic for food and end up dying horrible deaths from ingesting undigestible toxins. Others die of starvation when their stomachs fill with plastic debris or they get intestinal strangulation.

We owe it to future generations, and to our precious planet and its inhabitants of all types, now and in the future, to be more responsible in our actions. We CAN and MUST cut back on wasteful and dangerous plastic usage – it all matters!

There are many alternate products to single-use plastics and products packaged with plastic. One company with great products is “Free the Ocean” at shop.freetheocean.com. Here is a sampling of what you can use to reduce plastic usage:
 

In the Kitchen:

• Reusable Swedish dish cloths, non-paper towels

• Biodegradable kitchen sponges

• Coconut dish and veggie scrubbers

• Compostable 13 and 33 gallon trash bag

• Various types of food savers, including bee’s wrap, silicone sandwich & storage bags, and cheese huggers

• Linen or cotton tea & kitchen towels and napkins

• Mesh produce and tote bags

• Stainless steel or bamboo straws

• Reusable coffee filters

• Bamboo cooking and eating utensils

• Composter and filters

• Herb dish

• Reusable tea strainer and loose teas

 

Cleaning:

• Dishwasher tablets, dish washing block, cast iron pan cleaner

• Wooden dish brush

• Bamboo soap dish

• Eco-strips laundry detergent, laundry powder, oxygen laundry brightener, stain stick bar, dryer balls

• Eco-friendly fabric fresheners

• Eco-strips toilet cleaner

• Natural latex cleaning gloves

• Gentle home cleaning scrub

 

Personal care:

• Bamboo toothbrushes, travel case & toothbrush stands, natural toothpaste & toothpaste tablets, compostable dental floss, mouthwash tablets, breath mints

• Organic body and face creams, under eye balm, makeup remover, eco-lip balm

• Loofa sponge, wooden nail brush, bamboo cotton swabs, facial roller

• Hypoallergenic biodegradable bandage strips

• Shampoo & conditioner for various hair types, hair ties, bamboo hair brush & comb

• Deodorant

• Eco-friendly organic sunscreen and natural bug repellant lotion bar

• Muscle salve & balm

 

Garden/Gifts/Food:

• Garden-in-a-bag, garden sprinkles seeds, seedling gift cards with wildflower seeds, pollinator seed pops, flower scatter garden

• High carbon garden shears

• Gardener’s hand soaps

• Eco-friendly coasters

• Soy candles

• Eco-friendly wrapping paper

• Fair-trade chocolates

• Lavender sachet

• Mini notes

• Organic tea & cocoa, healthy spreads & jams

• FREE complete guide to composting

• As part of our monthly, free lecture series, club member Marti Tillinger recently shared with us the impact of single-use plastics on our environment. She provided some great alternative ideas! Here is a summary of her presentation…

• Only about five to six percent of plastic manufactured ever really gets recycled. Most of it ends up in landfills, and it takes forever (if at all) to break down. Much of the discarded plastic forms micro-plastics which end up in our water, soil, and in our bodies.

• Plastics that enter our waterways (streams, rivers, lakes) end up in the oceans, much in huge oceanic garbage dumps. They snare aquatic life or endanger them when they mistake the plastic for food and end up dying horrible deaths from ingesting undigestible toxins. Others die of starvation when their stomachs fill with plastic debris or they get intestinal strangulation.

• We owe it to future generations, and to our precious planet and its inhabitants of all types, now and in the future, to be more responsible in our actions. We CAN and MUST cut back on wasteful and dangerous plastic usage – it all matters!

• There are many alternate products to single-use plastics and products packaged with plastic. One company with great products is “Free the Ocean” at shop.freetheocean.com. Here is a sampling of what you can use to reduce plastic usage:

• In the Kitchen:

• Reusable Swedish dish cloths, non-paper towels

• Biodegradable kitchen sponges

• Coconut dish and veggie scrubbers

• Compostable 13 and 33 gallon trash bag

• Various types of food savers, including bee’s wrap, silicone sandwich & storage bags, and cheese huggers

• Linen or cotton tea & kitchen towels and napkins

• Mesh produce and tote bags

• Stainless steel or bamboo straws

• Reusable coffee filters

• Bamboo cooking and eating utensils

• Composter and filters

• Herb dish

• Reusable tea strainer and loose teas

•  

• Cleaning:

• Dishwasher tablets, dish washing block, cast iron pan cleaner

• Wooden dish brush

• Bamboo soap dish

• Eco-strips laundry detergent, laundry powder, oxygen laundry brightener, stain stick bar, dryer balls

• Eco-friendly fabric fresheners

• Eco-strips toilet cleaner

• Natural latex cleaning gloves

• Gentle home cleaning scrub

•  

• Personal care:

• Bamboo toothbrushes, travel case & toothbrush stands, natural toothpaste & toothpaste tablets, compostable dental floss, mouthwash tablets, breath mints

• Organic body and face creams, under eye balm, makeup remover, eco-lip balm

• Loofa sponge, wooden nail brush, bamboo cotton swabs, facial roller

• Hypoallergenic biodegradable bandage strips

• Shampoo & conditioner for various hair types, hair ties, bamboo hair brush & comb

• Deodorant

• Eco-friendly organic sunscreen and natural bug repellant lotion bar

• Muscle salve & balm

•  

• Garden/Gifts/Food:

• Garden-in-a-bag, garden sprinkles seeds, seedling gift cards with wildflower seeds, pollinator seed pops, flower scatter garden

• High carbon garden shears

• Gardener’s hand soaps

• Eco-friendly coasters

• Soy candles

• Eco-friendly wrapping paper

• Fair-trade chocolates

• Lavender sachet

• Mini notes

• Organic tea & cocoa, healthy spreads & jams

• FREE complete guide to composting

•  

• For Pets: Bamboo pet bowls, dog shampoo, various dog & cat toys, compostable pick-up bags, organic catnip, natural large dog bone, bamboo dog brush

•  

• For Kids: Crayon rocks, “Keeper of the Wild Words” book, “We Are the Ocean” book, 500 piece jigsaw puzzles, plant-able (seed) pencils.

•  

• Marti shared other things we can do:

• Avoid single-use use plastic bottles and use/refill reusable bottles instead

• Don’t use plastic straws

• Do NOT heat foods in plastic containers – this can leach chemicals into food

• Wash and reuse plastic cups, plates, silverware, and tableware for picnics and entertaining

• Use mesh bags for buying produce

• Take plastic overwrap, etc. to a Tops Friendly Market bin for recycling

•  

• Remember – we CAN & MUST each do our part in decreasing harmful plastic usage

 

For Pets: Bamboo pet bowls, dog shampoo, various dog & cat toys, compostable pick-up bags, organic catnip, natural large dog bone, bamboo dog brush 

 

For Kids: Crayon rocks, “Keeper of the Wild Words” book, “We Are the Ocean” book, 500 piece jigsaw puzzles, plant-able (seed) pencils.

 

Marti shared other things we can do:

• Avoid single-use use plastic bottles and use/refill reusable bottles instead

• Don’t use plastic straws

• Do NOT heat foods in plastic containers – this can leach chemicals into food

• Wash and reuse plastic cups, plates, silverware, and tableware for picnics and entertaining

• Use mesh bags for buying produce

• Take plastic overwrap, etc. to a Tops Friendly Market bin for recycling

 

Remember – we CAN & MUST each do our part in decreasing harmful plastic usage

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