Let’s Use Less Plastic This Summer

Summer is a time for cookouts, picnics, and lots of large gatherings of family and friends. This often means we use disposable plates, utensils, napkins and glasses. If there were only a few of us, this would be fine, but unfortunately, there are a lot of us.

It may surprise you but none of the items mentioned above are recyclable. They are simply one-time use, disposable items filling up our landfills. The paper ones will eventually decompose but the plastic ones will not.

I know, I can hear your sighs and see your eyes rolling all the way over here working at my computer. They’re so convenient. We don’t have to wash them or store them. We only use a few. Let someone else worry about it.

So, I hear you, but what if we all compromise and try to use fewer of these items? Let’s address plastic utensils. All those plastic forks, knives, and spoons will outlast us. Perhaps we should decorate graves with them since they’ll outlast the stones commonly used now. Stones degrade over time, plastic hangs in there, especially the hard plastic utensils are made of. No one wants to use their good utensils in an outdoor environment, especially when we’re at the beach or camping. There are now utensils made of bamboo, a sustainable alternative. Some of these can be tossed out after use and will eventually decompose but many are washable and will last a long time. Thrift stores are full of old, mismatched forks and knives and you can get a whole bunch for a dollar or two. Lose one? So what? You will have to take them home to wash but in a world full of dishwashers, is that really an insurmountable problem?

Paper plates are better than plastic plates but be sure to buy those that aren’t plastic coated. There are many good options today. You can also use secondhand melamine plates if you want to. These are easy to find and mix and match at yard sales or thrift shops.

Napkins are another easy-to-throw-away option, but if it’s a small group, why not use cloth napkins? These don’t have to be fancy and again, they’re cheap and easy to find second hand. I made a bunch for our family in the 1980s and most of them are a bit faded but work just fine for daily use. Tuck one in your lunch bag and toss in the laundry later.

Most of our plastic use is in drink bottles and packaging. It’s easy to buy the big packs of snacks all individually wrapped but think about all that plastic going to waste. Is it that hard to buy in bulk and repackage in your own reusable containers? Maybe, and I’m not going to argue with single parents working two jobs tossing snacks in the kid’s lunch bags. I get it. But many of the rest of us have the time and energy to repack our snacks.

By now most of us know that single-use water and juice bottles are a real environmental problem. Many of us use sturdy, reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, and even soup thermoses on a regular basis. Look for those with the least amount of plastic. Remember that when you drink from a plastic container you are also absorbing a minute amount of plastic wash off.

Beach toys are almost always made of plastic and for good reason. Remember those metal pails and how rusty they got? If you’re an auntie or grandparent, maybe find used ones. They’re readily available and easy to disinfect and clean, especially for occasional fun. You might also consider using other items such as metal measuring cups, big ladles and even colanders for those building sandcastles and such.

Packing lunches can involve a lot of plastic, or not. Invest in some different containers to use, such as those made of stainless steel. These can be relatively expensive, but I’ve had my set for more than five years and I use it almost daily. Add to your collection over time.

We still have a lot of plastic storage containers. Most of these were bought years ago. I decided it didn’t make sense to toss them out. Rather we’ll use them until they can’t be used anymore. At that time, we won’t replace them with more plastic but will use an alternative.

When we buy new things, perhaps we can be mindful of what and how they are made. We can seek alternatives to many items if we are willing. Think about how many of us switched to fabric bags to avoid using plastic ones, especially the ones meant for one-time use.

Our world is filled with plastic. It is convenient, cheap, and makes a lot of people that own the companies that manufacture it rich. Plastic is made from fossil fuels. Is this really what we want to be doing with a precious resource?

There are times and places when plastic is a godsend, such as in hospitals. The use of one-time sterile plastics has probably saved countless lives. However, there are many items in a hospital that don’t really need to be sterile or wrapped in plastic, so hopefully they will adjust their use over time.

Advertised years ago as something that would make our lives better, plastic has now become more of a scourge than a savior. Plastic particles are in everything, including the blood of newborn infants, birds and drinking water. Our landfills are overflowing, and our oceans are plagued with massive plastic trash islands. Young birds and animals consume small bits of plastic thinking they are food, often dying as a result.

You and I can’t solve all the world’s problems this summer, but we can use less plastic. It may be less convenient at first but if we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.