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Should you skip individual plastic produce bags at the grocery store?

You may have noticed that many stores and restaurants are becoming more environmentally conscious by moving away from single-use plastics. Straws are no longer a guarantee with your smoothie and plastic bags might cost you a few cents each at the supermarket. So what about those plastic produce bags available above the apples? Should you pass on those, too? Well, no. Not exactly. If you want to do your part at the grocery store, make sure you bring reusable bags for your larger groceries, but also bring some smaller bags for your individual produce items, as well. You see, not putting your produce in bags and putting it directly in your cart can be a very unsanitary practice. It might seem like the more sustainable choice, but when you put your broccoli or Romaine directly in the cart or on the conveyor belt, your food isn’t just touching that surface…

This is what those plastic recycling numbers really mean

Recycling isn’t always straight forward. You may have the best of intentions, but the various symbols, rules, and potential fines you can face for recycling the wrong stuff, would make anyone a bit annoyed. Further adding to the confusion, what can be recycled varies wildly from town to town. Then there is the seemingly elaborate number system, which is a mystery all of its own. But those numbers (you know, the ones surrounded by the universal triple arrow symbol for recycle) don’t have to be a mystery any longer, per Greenmatters.com. It turns out, plastics are assigned a number (1 to 7), which can identify the type of plastic resin present. Knowing what these numbers mean can help you sort your plastics and identify the ones that your local recycling plant will accept. Those numbers can also be valuable to you as a consumer because they can tell you if your…

15 easy ways to use less plastic in your life

Straws are having a major moment. Not only are national fast-food and restaurant chains looking at reducing or eliminating them entirely, but individuals across the country are saying ‘no’ to sipping from the wasteful plastic single-use item. While the straw ban will certainly help, it’s really just the beginning. If you’re interested in other easy ways to cut back on plastic consumption, here are a few ideas. Recycling is great, but the best thing you can do for the environment is use less plastic to begin with. What’s great about reusing materials is that in most cases, you end up saving some cash for your efforts, too. Here are 15 ways to cut out plastic from your life: 1. Stay away from straws. Major corporations like McDonald’s and Starbucks have started to eliminate plastic drinking straws from their restaurants, while whole cities have put a ban on them as well. Only…

U.K. proposes ban on plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton swabs

In a sweeping movement to help reduce the amount of non-recyclable consumer waste, the U.K. government has announced plans to ban the sale of plastic straws, stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton swabs. “Plastic waste is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world,” Prime Minister Theresa May announced in a statement on Wednesday, in which she called the U.K. government to be “a world leader on this issue.” Downing Street also said in the statement that it would work with industry in developing alternatives and ensuring “there is sufficient time to adapt.” The proposal would exempt plastic straws used for medical reasons. The ban is a small step in an overall effort to reduce plastic pollution from finding its way into the Earth’s oceans. According to the announcement, 150 million tons of plastic find its way to the water each year. This trash is responsible for killing one million birds and…

Why you shouldn’t drink champagne out of plastic cups

‘Tis the season for toasting with bubbly. Glasses of champagne get passed around this month so often that it can be tempting to use casual plastic cups when hosting less formal affairs. But in doing so you’re not only being less environmentally friendly, but you’re not getting the champagne’s full, glorious flavor. A new study on the popular holiday drink proves that its taste is, in fact, affected by the drinking vessel it’s served in. If you’re thinking that bottle of prosecco you cracked open before the office Christmas party didn’t taste as good out of the water cooler cup as it does at home out of your fancy champagne flutes, you would be correct. Plastic vessels such as Solo cups, water bottles, Tervis glasses, styrofoam or any other type of plasticware you may have on hand, will make the bubbles behave differently. The reason is that the bubbles stick to…