Written by Jen Cole, Director, Clean Fairfax

All around the world, folks are pledging to give up single use plastic by reaching for reusables this month in celebration of Plastic Free July. Single use plastics are the top items we find in cleanups and in streams here in Fairfax County. Items like: 

• wrappers,
• grocery bags,
• to-go containers,
• cutlery,
• straws, and
• drink bottles and cups

In an ideal world, everything should be recycled but most single use plastics are hard to recycle items either by design or size or plastic composition. Making your first line of defense avoiding those difficult-to-recycle items is a great Plastic Free July Pledge. 

One of the most sustainable practices you can do is use what you have — rather than going through your kitchen and throwing away everything plastic and buying all new glass, metal, or ceramic containers. But plastic breaks down with use and you should do an inventory of your containers and utensils and get rid of anything that is “shedding” or has divots or cut marks in it. Default to using the items you have that are made of metal, glass, wood or ceramic, and replace your plastic as needed with non-plastic tools and containers.

We put together 12 easy swaps that you can try to reduce your dependence on single use plastics for the whole year, not just for the month of July!

1. When you pick up take out, refuse the plastic wrapped packet of knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks and napkin, especially if you’re taking it right home! Opt to use your reusable cutlery.
2. Use a reusable lunchbox or bento box instead of plastic baggies.
3. If you find that your tap water is not to your liking, use a water filter instead of buying cases of water bottles.
4. Use one of the many reusable drink bottles or tumblers you already own. If you need one, get a good quality, stainless steel, double walled container that isn’t too big that you can’t carry it around. Also, you don’t need one in every color.

5. Use containers with lids instead of plastic wrap, or use aluminum foil, which can be recycled!
6. Save plastic mailing envelopes (like the one pictured below) for your household plastic bag needs rather than relying on grocery bags.

7. Remember that complicated take-back schemes that require you to pay to mail something back to an entity that claims to recycle your plastic doesn’t absolve you of using single use plastic.
8. Stop using a plastic bag for something that already has a built-in wrapper — like a melon, bananas, or grapes that are already in a bag.
9. Swap out your bottles of shampoo and conditioner for solid bars of the same product.

10. Skip the straw but if you need one, use a reusable one with a silicone tip for comfort and safety.
11. Find your closest zero waste store and bulk section of your favorite grocery store. Enjoy the feeling you get when you come home from the store with half the plastic you used to have!
12. Bring your own shopping bag everywhere you go, especially when you “Turnip at the Fairfax County Farmers Markets” (which are now Plastic Bag Free for the second year!)

It is admittedly difficult to avoid all plastic, all the time. But you can make thoughtful and better choices simply by remembering that you do, in fact, have choices and many of them are already in your home. 

If you need a pep talk as you continue to lighten your plastic consumption, reach out to Clean Fairfax! We know you can do it!  💚

Jen Cole is the director of Clean Fairfax. She holds an MPA from Norwich University and a Certification in Advanced Sustainable Business Practices from University of Vermont. She has also worked in urban agriculture, environmental law, and urban forestry in Providence, RI. Jen lives in Prince William County with her husband, two dogs, six cats, fig, apple, apricot, and peach trees, and two hives of bees.  

Established in 1985, Clean Fairfax is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working on litter prevention efforts, promoting community cleanups and supporting reducing, reusing and recycling. It also serves as a clearinghouse for environmental information in Fairfax County. 

Climate Matters is the blog of Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, where we share stories, insights and information related to climate change and environmental sustainability. Posts are written by knowledgeable and passionate OEEC staff members and guest authors. To read all blog posts, visit Climate Matters.