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Day 9: Returned Used Plastics to Store

Day 9: Returned Use Plastics to Store

I went to the Farmers Market this morning and returned some plastics to the gardening nursery that I got that them from.

It’s becoming more common for stores to accept the plastic packaging that their goods came in. I can’t find a link of stores that are currently doing so, but will be on the lookout.

To find out if the store will accept the packaging, ask someone at the store if you can return the packaging after the item is opened.

If they won’t, open up the item in the store and have them discard of the packaging. Once their garbage bins start to fill up, it’ll likely cause a change.

According to GreenFeet, Americans generate 10.5 million tons of plastic waste a year but recycle only 1 or 2 % of it. Check out more quick facts on plastic pollution.


What was your simple green act for the day?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 at 7:29 am and is filed under How to Reduce Plastic Waste. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Zoie
    Any follow up on this one? I'm trying to return all my plastic... Also, I heard a rumor that places that take back grocery bags for recycling also take back plastic bags such as bread bags, etc. But, haven't been able to verify this. I've begun making more at home, but almost the only plastic waste we do generate is bread bags and other similar bags that have no number. My family of four (soon five) would be virtually plastic-waste-free if we could recycle these. Thanks for any info :)
  • Mike Lieberman
    Zoie - It totally depends on the store. There are definitely places that take plastic bags back for recycling https://365waystogogreen.com/2009/12/day-97-...

    Check out Earth911.com for places by you to recycle plastic bags and other items.
  • Zoie
    Thank you, Mike. earth911.com seems to confirm that I can do this only 1 mile away (we can walk :) Oh, by the way, I had accumulated a huge box of large styrofoam pieces that I didn't want to end up in the land fill, but couldn't find anywhere to take them for reuse. I thought I'd give freecycle a second try with them. Turns out, a guy who makes model airplanes was elated to take it all off my hands and not a bit would go to lanfill. Thanks for the inspiration to make an extra effort to go green!
  • Mike Lieberman
    That's awesome Zoie. I can't take credit for that, but I totally will :-)

    I've been thinking about waste and my purchases differently lately. I've been thinking if the garbage wasn't being picked up, where would I store this? What would I do with this? Would I still use that paper plate if I had to keep it in my apartment for days or weeks? It's changed the decisions that I've made.
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