Going Plastic-Free On A Budget πŸ‘›: Are you looking for an eco-friendly way to live without breaking the bank? Then, you’re in the right place! Going plastic-free can be a daunting challenge because single-use plastic products are so prevalent in our everyday lives. However, if we want to protect our planet and future generations, meaningful change must start now. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips on going plastic-free whilst also saving money. With our advice, you’ll soon be living sustainably and within your means!

The number of plastics in the ocean continues to rise by the minute. In fact, as early as 2050, we could see our oceans with more plastic than fish. Scary to think, is it not?

 

Some plastic statistics you should be aware of

Before we continue further, covering how one can start going plastic-free on a budget, let us share with you some interesting facts.

Still not alarmed by the absurd amount of plastic? Accumulate recently shared some mind-blowing plastic waste facts in Australia that you should definitely take note of.

  • Australia consumes close to 3.5 million tonnes of plastic every year.
  • In a single year, the average Australian citizen discards 130 kg of plastic.
  • One million metric tonnes of single-use plastic are used annually in Australia.
  • About 4.5 billion single-use HDPE plastic bags are used annually in Australia.
  • 12.4% of all waste is recycled nationally in Australia.
  • Plastic garbage is just 13.1% recovered.
  • Almost half of all plastic garbage is generated by households.
  • Every year, 130,000 tons of plastics leak into Australia’s maritime ecosystem.
  • Just 36% of Australia’s PET plastic bottles are recycled.
  • Every day, over 9 million single-use plastic straws are used in Australia.

These stats alone should make us desperate to go plastic-free (within budget, of course, which we will cover more below).

 

Can you go on with your life without plastic?

People have a hard time imagining life without plastic. Everywhere you go, single-use plastics are there. Too lazy to cook at home? No worries there – you can just proceed to take out some food from a fast food restaurant without much hassle. Need some necessities like food and toiletries? Then go to the supermarket and buy some there!

Unfortunately, single-use plastics are always present in the instances we mentioned above, specifically to bag food and toiletries. And obviously, these are not the only instances we use single-use plastics. So, what can we do to avoid the use of these plastics?

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Of course, we can opt to avoid using plastics altogether and find the best alternative. But opting for the eco-friendly choice more likely than not means spending a bit more than using the cheaper and more convenient plastic packaging… Or is it really?


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What if we told you that you can go plastic-free and do so even on a budget?

 

How to go plastic-free on a budget

Now that you have decided to go plastic-free, we want to thank you for thinking about the environment and, as a result, provide you with 5 useful tips to do so on a budget.

 

1. Go plastic-free on a budget by summoning your ‘inner chef’ and cooking at home, and store your food in reusable containers

As we have mentioned above, eating at restaurants and ordering take-out food to eat at home is one surefire way to not live a more plastic-free life. Additionally, eating that way on a regular basis costs a lot more than simply preparing a hearty meal at home.

If going plastic-free on a budget is in your plan, then we suggest that the first thing that you should do is avoid buying food at restaurants and eating outside/ordering take-out, and just cook in the comfort of your home.

Not only do you save a lot of money doing so, but you can also ensure that you whip up something much healthier than the food in restaurants. Alongside those mentioned, you avoid getting food packaged in plastic when you cook at home.

Remember to use those cheap but sturdy Tupperware that you can use again when cooking for yourself to take to at work. Do not throw them away immediately. But never heat the Tupperware in the microwave and put hot food in the said container for it to last.

 

2. No more wipes, only cloth

A lot of us here at Waster love taking care of our skin. In the past (i.e., before we worked here), a lot of us admit that we used wipes to clean our skin.

However, we stopped using wipes because they are single-use and packaged in plastic.Β Aside from that, they are not as effective as the much simpler face wash product and water.

The environmentally better and cheaper option to do is to buy a reusable and washable face cloth. Buy pieces of cloth for your face and other parts of your body so that you can rotate them.

 

3. Go plastic-free on a budget by buying a reusable coffee mug

We would also advise you, to go plastic-free on a budget, to avoid getting coffee on the go as much as possible. Aside from avoiding using plastic straws and cups, you get to save money if you make your own coffee at home.

However, if you simply do not have the time to make your own coffee, then you should buy and use reusable coffee mugs or cups that can help you save both the environment and some money. Many coffee shops welcome reusable mugs and cups and reward customers that bring their own.

 

4. Use a reusable shopping bag

When going to the supermarket, you should avoid using plastic bags and instead get yourself a reusable one. Not only would you be going plastic-free and helping the environment, but you can budget better by avoiding paying for plastic bags every time you go there and buy groceries.

To add you should buy in bulk when going to the supermarket. Buying in bulk is often cheaper than buying smaller packages, and it can reduce your plastic waste. Look for stores that offer bulk options for items like grains, nuts, and snacks, and bring your own reusable containers to fill up.

 

5. Finally, avoid using plastic water bottles

Buying bottled water is expensive and creates a lot of plastic waste. Invest in a reusable water bottle and refill it throughout the day. This will save you money and help reduce your plastic waste.

Speaking of bottles, you should also avoid other plastic bottles with liquids inside. Let us take a look at cleaning products, for instance. Many cleaning products come in plastic bottles and can be expensive. Instead, make your own cleaning products using ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils. These ingredients are inexpensive, and you can reuse the same containers over and over again.

 

Contact Waster today for your waste and recycling needs!

Are you a business in need of waste and recycling bin services?

If so, please call 1300 WASTER (1300 927 837).Β  You can also email us atΒ [email protected]Β if you have any further questions. Find the best deals in terms of waste and recycling pricing and services!

 

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