By Jadon Hook, Sustainability Coordinator
Did you know that from the 3 million tonnes of plastic waste generated by Canadians every year, only 9% is recycled - the rest ends up in landfills. Choose to refuse single-use plastic and take part in our ongoing campaign Plastic-Free July.
Through this campaign, we are aspiring to help SLC and the surrounding community to reduce plastic use. The good news is anyone can get involved! Home is an ideal environment to get started. If you don’t know where to start or if you want to challenge yourself, below are some ideas to explore. Check these areas at home for opportunities to reduce plastic use:
Kitchen
- Ensure your recycling sorting adheres to local collection rules and ensure you understand which products are recyclable.
- Choose to purchase loose produce to avoid pre-packaged items (i.e. plastic wrapped produce).
- Use reusable containers when storing food as an alternative and ditch plastic cling wrap.
- Bring your own reusable shopping bags to the supermarket.
- Buy loose leaf tea instead of tea bags.
Bathroom
- Switch to bar soap instead of liquid soap.
- Refill your products and buy in bulk to avoid repeatedly buying plastic packaged products.
- Use a safety razor with replaceable stainless steel blades.
Laundry
- Use refillable options for detergents and powder.
- Explore laundry strips for a zero plastic solution.
Which steps can you start taking today towards a plastic-free lifestyle? Everyday choices matter and add up. within addition to these initiatives, you can take steps to reduce plastic use in other spaces, such as on campus. Revisit some suggestions we shared recently to help minimize plastic use on campus: previous Plastic-Free July Story.
For more resources, access a day-to-day guide to ensure your success in this challenge by downloading the Plastic-Free Choices Calendar and My Choices Checklist. You can also check out plasticfreejuly.org for great resources and solutions happening globally.
Do something drastic - cut the plastic!