From 1001 Easy Ways for Earth-Wise Living

Plastics have a highly detrimental effect on the environment, but are so much a part of life today that it would be very difficult to do without them. The following tips will help you reduce your consumption by half, or even more.

1 Choose glass, ceramic or stainless steel containers for storing food.

2 To wrap food, opt for waxed or greaseproof paper or cellophane (made from plant fibre).

3 Substitute paper bags for plastic bags as often as you can.

4 Avoid prepacked foods. Buy in bulk whenever possible, takingalong your own containers.

5 Try to cut down your use of foods packed in plastic-lined cans.

6 Look for cellulose freezer bags, which should soon be available in Australia and New Zealand. These are made from natural materials and are biodegradable.

7 Take your own reusable bags when you go shopping. Bags made from polypropylene can be purchased cheaply from most major supermarkets. Although they are manufactured using non-renewable fossil fuels, they last much longer than plastic shopping bags and can be reused many times over.

8 If you have to use plastic bags at the supermarket, make sure at least eight items go into each one – assuming they are not too heavy.

9 Aim to reuse plastic bags at least once or twice.

10 Buy plastics that your local council will recycle. To identify recyclable plastics, manufacturers stamp an identification code on all products. Councils usually publish lists of the plastics they collect and recycle.
 

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better, healthier life.