OK, so we’ve talked about how burning half of Philadelphia’s recycling is a symptom of a larger, broken system for consumption.

We even talked to AJ+ about it.

The next question we often get, even after I explain that 100% of Philadelphia’s recycling will “technically” be recycled in Philadelphia is:

“So how do we fix recycling?”

Once again, we won’t recycle our way out of this problem.

The solution starts with you.

Instead, here’s the starting steps of an action plan to help curb your consumption.

How to Reduce your Impact

Before you even recycle, there are TONS of ways to limit your impact. Here are many ways and resources we’ve provided over the past 11 years:

Reduce your waste.

• BYO Bag! Stop using plastic bags – they’re not recyclable. (Or many plastic film recyclings are suspect.)
• BYO bottles & coffee mugs.
• Shop bulk bins & go zero waste.
• Say NO to straws.
• BYO Cutlery – either get a bamboo set or DIY from a thrift store.
• Make your own cleaning products from baking soda & vinegar and personal care products from toothpaste to facemasks.
• Switch to a menstrual cup.

Reuse what you can.

• Buy clothes in consignment stores.
• Donate used clothes to thrift stores.
• Crowdsource used goods (and get rid of yours!) through the ‘Buy Nothing” project.
• Return egg & green produce cartons to local farmers (CSAs or farmers markets).
• Reuse water while cooking or using FREE rain barrels (through Rain Check.)

Buy Local.

• Reduce packaging waste by shopping locally
• Visit Farmers Markets to load up on food, bread, beauty products, plants and more.
• Ditch Amazon.

Compost.

• DIY.
• Compost through a local pick-up service.

Support Anti-Plastic Legislation

We can’t do it alone as consumers. Email, call, and talk to your local and state representatives to work on this important legislation to curb our consumption.

• PennEnvironment just introduced 13 waste reduction packages in PA.
• Pressure City Council for plastic bag legislation, including Mark Squilla who has been ‘planning to introduce” plastic bag legislation since 2012(ish).

It can’t be that hard. The entire darn continent of Europe just banned single-use plastics including straws, cotton buds and cutlery.

After all, microplastics are polluting our damn air now.

Tell Companies to Get Responsible

After all, Trader Joes is ditching 1 million pounds of plastic thanks to customer demands.

Companies are starting to use reusable containers through Terracycle’s Loop.

Ask companies in person, start petitions, and tweet the heck out of it.

Every time you make a purchase, you are expressing an opinion. Vote with your dollars and ethics.

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher