While grocery shopping may be an essential chore that keeps your house operating smoothly, it can also be one of the easiest ways to add excess waste to your trash bin. When you grocery shop, you accumulate waste quickly – from boxes used to pack food to bags to load groceries, there is constantly waste during this process. These are just a few ways that you can minimize waste on your next trip to the grocery store.
Think about the last time you left the grocery store. You probably left with a cart full of plastic bags that ended up in the trash moments after you unload the bags. Instead of using these plastic bags, bring your own reusable shopping totes. Not only are these totes much more sturdy, which means less trips to unpack your car, but they are also eco-friendly for the planet. Reusable shopping bags may be an investment at first, but they will pay off quickly.
When you grocery shop, you will need to be concerned with the garbage that you throw away immediately upon returning home, but you should also be concerned with the garbage that accumulates over time. Plastic water bottles and drink containers lead to pollution in our oceans. Instead of tossing these containers into your trash, practice the right plastic recycling in New Jersey. If you can, you should try to avoid buying these bottles all together and instead start using reusable water bottles.
A great way to save on extra packaging is to buy items in bulk. Not only will this reduce the use of original packaging, but it can also be more cost-effective for your wallet. Bulk items are often grouped together, which means that you will not have to worry about all the extra individualized packages that many foods typically come in.
Instead of bagging your groceries each time you shop, just simply keep crates in your car. After you pay, you can bring your cart straight to your trunk and unload your groceries into your crates. This will keep things organized and easy to carry into your home, which can make unpacking a breeze. It can also save on unnecessary waste, like plastic bags or boxes, depending on where you shop.
Nowadays, you can find any sustainable choice to swap out with a less eco-friendly option. This includes those produce bags that many people use while grocery shopping. Instead of reaching for an individual bag for each and every piece of produce, consider loading your fruit and veggies into a mesh produce bag. This reusable bag can help to cut unnecessary use of plastics.
By adopting these habits, you can start to minimize waste during your runs to the grocery store. Over time, these habits will feel like second nature and then you can continue to add more sustainable practices to your lifestyle. If you want to hear more about plastic recycling in New Jersey, contact All County Recycling today.
