Day 1: Put Together a Go Bag
SCARY FACTS
- National Geographic spelled it out in alarming terms: The United States uses more than 36 billion disposable utensils a year. Laid end to end, they could wrap around the globe 139 times.
- Humans buy about 1,000,000 plastic bottles per minute in total. Only about 23% of plastic bottles are recycled within the U.S.
- Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, averaging about 13 bottles per month for every person in the U.S.! That means by using a reusable water bottle, you could save an average of 156 plastic bottles annually.
- It is estimated that 4 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide annually. Only 1% of plastic bags are returned for recycling. Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags annually. That’s about 307 bags per person!
- Half a million straws are used in the world every day.
- 500 billion disposable cups are consumed every year. Americans alone throw away 25 billion styrofoam coffee cups annually. Styrofoam cannot be completely recycled. Most of the Styrofoam disposed of today will still be present in landfills 500 years from now. UGH.
It’s ok if it’s compostable right?
Unfortunately not : (
Last year, Boulder and Denver updated their guidelines such that even those certified compostable cups, utensils, plates and to-go containers CANNOT go in the compost anymore.
So, what CAN you do?
ACTION 1:
Create a ‘Go Bag’.
Mine consists of:
- Reusable silverware (My go to is this cool silverware set consisting of knife, fork, spoon, straws, straw cleaner and even CHOPSTICKS!)
- Silicone reusable (watertight) bag for leftovers. I obviously love the Nude Foods ones.
- Metal water bottle – my kids love these!
Keep it in your purse, in your backpack, on your bike or in your car so that you always have something. I even carry spares to share with friends.
I use mine at:
- The Farmers’ Market
- Food Trucks
- Coffee shops
- For leftovers at restaurants
- For any takeout
Most food service providers are happy to fill your container as it saves them money on providing you with one : )
And you’ll get to feel oh-so-smug when you whip out your container to take those yummy leftovers in – BONUS!
Remember to post in the Facebook group today introducing yourself!