Many times products that you buy are wrapped in a variety of plastic material, saran wrap, aluminum foil, and styrofoam. A majority of all that wrapping material is not recyclable and ends up in your trash creating larger piles in landfills. This can be very disconcerting for those who do their best to recycle and reduce wastes. Most shoppers look at price, brand, nutritional content and don’t look at how much wrapping the product has. Here are some steps to help you precycle by avoiding purchasing products that will create less waste for your home:
- 1. Beef, fish and poultry – These foods are usually wrapped up in non- recyclable material from saran wrap, plastic, and Styrofoam. Fish commonly is placed in Styrofoam, each individual fish is wrapped in plastic and the entire product is then wrapped in saran wrap. Avoid all that wrapping and buy directly from the butcher. A butcher will wrap your meat and fish in just one type of wrapping material.
- 2. Produce-Fruits and veggies are now commonly being sold in plastic containers and plastic bags. Companies are luring us into buying overpriced produce already cut up and no need to peel. These ready to eat fruits and veggies are wrapped in different types of plastic material and is unnecessarily packaged. Buy your produce without any packaging and avoid using produce plastic bags for each item of produce you buy. It’s best to only use produce plastic bags for items that are sold by the pound.
- 3. Buy it once- Avoid purchasing disposable items and buy items that will last long. By buying items that last you’re saving money, reducing trips to the store and reducing waste. Plastic water bottles is a perfect example , purchasing filtered water system for your home eliminates the use of recycling plastic bottles, frequent purchase of water and trips to the grocery store.
- 4. Bulk- If you frequently buy a certain product, buy it in bulk. It will last longer and you’re reducing the amount of wastes in your home. Laundry detergent, dishwashing soap and many other items regularly used can be purchased in bulk and come in less packaging.
- 5. Bagged cereal- Some top brand cereal companies are changing their packaging to recyclable bagged cereal this new practice definitely eliminates excess packaging. Precycle by opting for bagged cereal instead of boxed cereal with a plastic bag inside.
Precycling results in less recycling for you, reduces trash in your home and saves you time. Don’t forget to bring your reusable bags!