Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Habits

It’s said you need to do something thirty three times before it becomes a habit. I’ve been wondering how easy it is to break a habit!

Many of our environmentally, negative behaviours are a result of habits.

I’m working hard on reduce.

Recycle is a great word and a good habit but we’ve tried to cut back on many things that are non-essential.

I’ve already mentioned that I don’t like single use water bottles.

Since I decided they were negative I decided to grow a new habit.

I now carry a bottle everywhere I go. This way I can drink tap water that I have or obtain any time.

It’s not the only thing I carry. I also hate single use coffee cups. Though they are often paper based they’re generally waxed or plastic coated. This means they won’t biodegrade.

To avoid using them, I now carry a Keep Cup. It’s the equivalent of thirty five disposable plastic cups so where I use it every day as long as I’ve used it far more than thirty five times then I’ve reduced the impact a hot drink will have long term. As it goes I’ve used it now for five years. The important thing is to make a new habit.

I’ve noticed the number of extra things that are imposed on us for convenience and speed.

Now, with coffee cups come plastic stirrers. They’re not even spoons. They have such limited use.

So I’ve got a reuse able spoon/fork too. I often carry a teaspoon in my bag as well. Then if there’s no alternative to instant rubbish I can make a better choice.

I save up un-requested paper serviettes so that I can avoid using more. I’ve given up paper tissues in little plastic packets. They drive me crazy when I see them on pavements!

If I do use paper tissues (said she with a stinking cold) that’s where the recycled comes in. They are made from recycled paper so that the loop is closed on the paper cycle.

Meanwhile my bag’s not empty yet. And when it comes to plastic bags and their negative effect on wildlife and waste of resources, don’t get me started!

So I need two or three reusable shopping bags too. It prevents that bag mountain; the one growing under the sink or under the stairs or in the boot of the car.

Though we shop less and less it’s useful to have snag for vegetables or books.

I’m working on bringing lower- waste tea bags to replace the ones on offer in nylon fabric with paper, string and metal staples!

Now it’s not a perfect system but I’m working on my habits.

I have to use words too.

Do you need a bag?

No, thank you!