I don’t like to use plastic materials for my daily usage. We all know the problems created by hazardous use of plastics. I don’t want to discuss those. But I would like to share how you can cut off your usage of plastics ๐
When I was in India, I never take plastic bags from vendors or shop keepers. When I had a vacation in my college, I used to go to each small/big stores and tried to convince shop keepers not to use plastic bags ๐ I still remember those 5 stores where I have successfully convinced shop keepers and they stopped using plastics ๐
I always feel that rather than blaming the system of our country, I should focus on doing something as a normal citizen ๐
and that’s what I did! That was my little contribution to the environment ๐
When I came to USA. I was shocked to see the usage of plastic here. I know that every product got recycled here. That’s fine! But US is spending lots of energy and money to recycle them! Again, I used my own way of fighting against it. The whole culture and people are different here. You can not go to Walmart store and convince the shop keeper! No! But yes, you can perform your tiny little steps to make your house plastic free ๐
When you go to any grocery shops at USA, you end up getting your vegetables in at least 10-12 plastic bags every week! 40 plastic bags a month and 480 plastic bags a year!
So to avoid that, I requested my mom to make cloth bags for carrying vegetables from grocery stores. I keep all the vegetables and fruits in this cloth bags, and I keep these bags directly into my refrigerator. My vegetables and fruits also stay fresh because cloth bags absorbs extra moisture.
I simply put those cloth bags in washer for cleaning. and I keep 10-12 cloth bags in my big grocery cloth bag in my car all the time. So whenever I need to go for buying grocery, My little cloth bags are always there lying in my car ๐
You can also make these bags at home. Go to Walmart or Michales and get cloth material. cut them into rectangle shape and cover 3 of it side and you are done!
Here are pictures of my cloth bags ๐
Whenever I go to any grocery store, Cashier loves my cloth bags and always asks about it. And I explain them every time that how I am making a change and not harming our environment ๐
Another big thing which I noticed here is whenever you go to any party or at friend’s place for get to gather, they use plastic spoons and forks. It hurts me when I see that big Costco box of 500 plastic spoons at my friend’s house ๐ฆ
I used to do that before too. But I realized after some time and bought 30 steel spoons from Walmart and after that when I have a party at my home, I always use these steel spoons ๐
but If I am outside my house and still want to use steel spoon and fork then?
For that I made carry case to bring steel spoon and steel fork and I keep it in my purse all the time. Even if I am going to my friend’s place – I use my steel spoon and fork ๐
Let me show you the steps of how I made these spoon/fork carrying case:
Step 1: Buy little thick cloth from walmart/ Michaels (They are always available in fabric section)
Step 2: Usually they came into A4 size of a paper, so cut them into half.
Step 3: You can use any thick string and needle to make stitches on it. I used woolen yarn and yarn needle( purchased these from Michales)
Step 4: Insert yarn into needle. Turn half of the cloth to make a pouch to hold spoon and fork. and try toย stitch it from bottom and its sides. (you can use any type of stitch of your choice.)
Step 5: To make its cover, Just close the half of the portion from top and put one long string in the middle to close the pouch.
Step 6: You don’t need to do any kind of stitches on any side of the pouch now. I did that to decorate it further. But you can skip it if you don’t want to do that.
And here are my beautiful spoon-fork carrying pouch is ready!!!
Can’t we avoid use of plastic from our daily routine? and replace everything by biodegradable and reusable items?
How about this?
So are you ready to perform your part? ๐
