Could You Live 'plastic Free'?

[Nameless14]

- Do you ever “refuse plastic,” perhaps by bringing your own bags to stores, avoiding takeout containers, drinking from a cup rather than using a plastic straw (or bringing your own metal one) or employing other tactics?
- Do you think the goal of using no plastic products is attainable? What about simply cutting down?
- If you tried to live totally plastic free, what would be the biggest challenge for you? Why do you say that?
- Do you try to use fewer plastic products these days? Do you try to recycle when possible? How about your family?
- Where in your life do you see the most unnecessary waste, whether it’s plastic or anything else? What, if anything, do you think can done to address the issue?

[ummmm]

I always buy my fruit and veg loose but Tesco still put it in a bag unless it's just one item...then they put a sticker on it.

[youngmafbog]

I would love to live plastic free but being realistic it is not possible without becomeing a hippy in a tents (Are there any hemp tents these days?)

So, the next best thing is to cut down and reuse what you have. Which is what my wife and I have tried to do for the last 27 years together. Kids, except one, do the same.

[Calicogirl]

I think that's pretty much where we are YMB, we're using and upcycling all the plastic stuff we have but not adding to the problem by buying more, we try to use a lot of natural textiles etc and we don't support anything that involves a lot of plastic waste. x

[Old_Geezer]

Possibly jno, but one has to keep the microbes secure so they only come into contact with the designated surplus people. (Easier to keep the two concepts separate and simply not keep replacing all the people leaving (natural attrition).)

[ummmm]

But if you do your shopping online you can't predict how it will be packaged.

Like hc says though....packaged food like broccoli etc lasts longer...and that's a fact.

Most people don't have time to shop daily. Or have any local greengrocers or butchers.

[diddlydo]

I started taking my own bags to the supermarket 35 years ago - the checkout people thought I was weird! I've always washed and re-used freezer bags until they have too many splits/holes - my grown-up kids think I'm a cheapskate. I'm using plastic margarine containers for freezing food that I've had and recycled for 35 years if not longer. I also now take those with me when I buy meat from the butchery counter in Waitrose - yes they will put your "loose" meat in it and save plastic bags! I'm not saying I could do without plastic but I can certainly do my bit to re-use and re-cycle. I wouldn't dream of buying coffee in a disposable cup - not least because it tastes foul.

[paddywak]

Today I received a new battery for my digital camera it was packed in
1 Large plastic envelope approx 8in x 7in
2 Card board box approx 6in x6in
3 Bubble wrap envelope approx 4in x4in
4 Another cardboard box approx 3in x 3in
5 Inside this the battery itself in one of those cardboard and plastic
packets you always struggle to open.
6 Finally the battery approx 1.5in x 1.5in x 0.25in
I'm all for proper packaging but I think in this case it was a little bit overdone

[ummmm]

I had a recent delivery and the packaging was ridiculous. I bought a baby vest and it came in two plastic packaging. It would have fitted in an envelope!!

[Jordyboy9]

We in Britain could get rid of all plastic and it would not make 1 iota of a difference,we have been to India 8 times and each time the plastic situation gets worse,it truly is horrendous the amount of plastic in the different places.

[diddlydo]

Just because India uses far too much plastic doesn't mean we have to do the same!

[hc4361]

I use a lot of tubs in my freezer instead of freezer bags - still plastic but very durable. Not suitable for everything, of course, but good for frozen veg.

[spathiphyllum]

Can't buy a car these days without it being at least 10% plastic.

[Theland]

Share your dentures!

[tamborine]

brooms, dustpan, buckets, bins & hair curlers are plastic I need. Food, shopping wrapped in plastic I can do without. I burn all surplus plastic & none in land fill from me.

[fiction-factory]

Nameless gets his posts by copying and pasting from theNY times
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/learning/could-you-live-plastic-free.html

[Chipchopper]

I was quite happy buying my favorite chocky bars, wrapped in paper but there don't seem to be any alternatives other than the plastic ones.
re using non plastic shopping bags, is a no brainer and I can't understand why some people still grab handfulls of plastic ones every time.

[Theland]

Oh let Nameless enjoy his fame.
Then recycle him.

[hc4361]

Burning plastic releases very harmful chemicals, tambo.
http://www.wecf.eu/cms/download/2004-2005/homeburning_plastics.pdf

[tamborine]

hc Ive been burning in my fireplace for years & am not dead yet. No more harmful than plane & car fumes here