Replace

Many items that we use once and throw away can be replaced with reusable items.  In Reuse Businesses, we discuss emerging businesses within the reuse community. Many of the items that replace throw away items, may be purchased at reuse stores. 

• Replace plastic and paper grocery bags with reusable bags.
• Replace plastic water bottles with stainless steel reusable water bottles or BPA free plastic reusable water bottles.
  • The average American uses 167 disposable water bottles in a year but only recycles 38.
  • Only 23% of those water bottles are put into recycling bins.
  • The 77% that are not recycled (about 38 billion bottles) have an estimated worth of about $1 billion.
• Replace plastic straws with stainless steel or paper or compostable straws.
  • In the U.S. alone, we use over 500 million plastic straws a DAY.
  • Plastic straws are too small to be recycled.
  • Encourage restaurants to ask customers if they want/need a straw.
  • The more enlightened we, as customers, become, the more opportunities we have to change the behavior of restaurant owners.
• Replace plastic dinnerware, cups and utensils with compostable or recyclable products, or products made from recycled materials.
• Replace plastic storage containers with glass.
  • Unlike plastic containers, glass jars do not contain chemicals that can leach into food.
  • Glass can be safely washed at high temperatures for sanitation.
  • Recycled glass uses 40% less energy than manufacturing new glass.
  • Close to 80% of all recycled glass can be reclaimed.
  • Not all plastic can be recycled.
• Replace bottled water with filtered tap water. See Reducing Water Consumption to view the benefits of using filtered tap water.