Did you know that going plastic free can actually save you money? Many companies provide incentives for bringing in your own reusable cups or bags to help reduce the quantity of plastics in our waste. Read on to learn why it’s crucial that we move away from single-use plastics and how it can benefit you.
Save the Planet & Your Wallet:
- Starbucks: Receive a $0.10 discount on your drink and earn 25 stars through the Starbucks Reward program when you use your own reusable coffee mug or cup. Starbucks also offers reusable mugs and plates for in-café dining – just ask!
- Peet’s Coffee: Receive a $0.10 discount on your drink when you bring your own reusable coffee mug or cup.
- Target: Earn a $0.05 discount for every reusable bag you bring and use.
- Whole Foods: Receive a $0.10 discount for every reusable bag you bring with you to bag your groceries.
Single-use plastics are often a convenient option, lending themselves to our busy lifestyles as an easy way to enjoy our favorite drinks or pick up a few groceries. However, more than eight million tons of plastic are dumped in our oceans every year, and single-use plastics like straws, flatware, and to-go cups account for 50% of this pollution. Now is the time to take action – choose to tackle one of these items for Plastic Free July!
Six Ways to Reduce Plastic in Your Daily Life:
- Bring your own reusable grocery bag. On average in the United States, 100 billion plastic bags are used by consumers annually, and the average time each bag is used is less than 15 minutes. Go a step further by using reusable produce bags for your fruits and veggies! Stop by one of our upcoming outreach events at a grocery store near you for a free one to get you started!
- Bring your own water bottle or cup. The amount of water used to produce a plastic bottle is six to seven times the amount of water in the bottle. Conserve water and plastic by using your own reusable water bottle.
- Use your own mug. Store a mug at your office or bring coffee in a travel mug from home. Bring your reusable mug to coffee shops and cafes when possible.
- Choose cardboard and paper packaging over plastic containers and bags. Less than 14 percent of plastic packaging – the fastest-growing type of packaging – gets recycled. When possible, choose cardboard or paper packaging that can be easily transformed into new paper products.
- Kick the disposable straw habit, especially plastic ones. Plastic straws cannot be recycled. Instead, try a reusable one made of stainless steel, silicone or bamboo – you can even purchase a foldable straw for ease of use on the go!
- Pack lunches in reusable containers. Rather than using single-use sandwich bags to pack your family’s lunches, opt for reusable containers to reduce waste. Many reusable sandwich bag and container options are available on the market including fun, Bento box-style options that make it easy to keep everything separated.
What About When You Can’t Reduce Your Plastic Waste?
- Bring plastic grocery bags and film to your local grocery store for recycling.
- Use curbside recycling or local recycling centers to recycle bottles, cans, and plastic containers.
- Visit our guide to recycling takeout waste!
- Explore our Recycle More Guide and Recycling Dilemmas to navigate recycling items in your community.
How can you save money by reducing single-use plastics in your life? First, opting for reusable items cuts down on purchasing costs. While reusable mugs, straws, and bags may cost more initially than disposable items, their longevity makes these more affordable long-term than single-use plastics. Additionally, many of your local stores and restaurants provide discounts for using reusable mugs or grocery bags. Which one of these will you try for Plastic-Free July?
Buy one of the 1 liter “sport bottles” of water with the flip up cap and re-use. I’ve had the same one not for just 1 month, but for over a year. I just wash it regularly. I refill it with either at the sink faucet or with filtered from my refrigerator.