Real ways to use less plastic
Recycling alone was never supposed to solve the planet’s waste problem.
The more you reduce, reuse, and recycle—in that order—the smaller your waste footprint becomes. We often hear from Ridwell members that recycling more helps them naturally reduce and reuse more, too. They’re aware of what they get rid of, which spills over to being careful about what they use and intentional about multi-use.
Here are some less-common ways to cut plastic out before it ever reaches your bin, gathered from our team and community members.
Visit a zero waste store
Frequenting stores that are purpose-built to reduce packaging is a great way to cut down on plastic waste—they carry everything from pantry staples to cleaning products to plastic-free reusables. But how do you actually get started? Read on!
Find a store. If you're not aware of one nearby, try searching online for your city plus "zero waste store." Some areas may not have one yet—in that case, seek out bulk bins at regular grocery stores as a starting point.
Bring your reusables. Jars or bottles for bulk products and reusable bags to carry everything.
Start small to avoid overwhelm. Rather than trying to replace a bunch of household items in one go, start with what you're already out of. Common zero-waste picks include laundry detergent, dish soap, and shampoo bars.
More ways to reduce and reuse
If you've already found your nearest zero waste store, you've got a lot of ground covered. Want to do more? Here's where to look next.
Reduce at the register. The easiest plastic to cut is the plastic you never brought home. Decline the straw, the extra bag, the takeout utensils you won't use. It sounds small, but every "no thanks" is one less thing that has to be dealt with later.
Choose concentrates. Laundry sheets instead of jugs. Concentrated cleaning spray you dilute yourself instead of a new bottle every time. Same result, a fraction of the plastic and the shipping weight.
Borrow before you buy. Tool libraries, neighborhood Buy Nothing groups, and rental sites cover the one-and-done items—the decoration, the gadget, the tool for a single project — that are almost always packaged in more plastic than the actual number of uses justifies.
Bring your own container to restaurants. Carry along your favorite reusables so you can take home leftovers without single-use packaging.
Audit your subscriptions. Auto-ship orders are easy to set and forget, and they quietly over-order plastic-packaged goods on a schedule instead of when you actually need them. A quick quarterly check of what's on autopilot can catch waste you're not even seeing.
Turn "single-use" into a multi-use habit. Even when you try to avoid them, single-use plastics have a way of finding us all. Ziptop bags can be reused several times before they wear out (and are ready to Ridwell when they're done). Produce bags go back in your grocery bag for the next trip. It's not glamorous, but it's the difference between one use and five.
What to do with the stuff that’s already in your kitchen
Beyond multi-use, there's a whole world of ways to repurpose common household plastic. One Ridwell member told us she uses her yogurt containers for seed starts—poke a few drainage holes in the bottom, and they're ready for spring. Once you get into the habit, you'll come up with all sorts of ideas. Here are a few to get you started:
Yogurt tubs as seed starts
Cottage cheese tubs to portion-freeze soup
Berry clamshell lids as catchall trays
Bread bags as small trash can liners
Produce bags as dog walk bags
Water bottles as reusable ice blocks for coolers
Egg cartons as kids' paint palettes
Ziptop bags as piping bags for frosting
Summing it up
Shrinking your waste footprint doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You’re already doing your part, and one or two additions really add up. Keep finding the ways that work for you to reduce what comes into your life, reuse what you can, and recycle what’s ready for its next step.
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