Hannah Richey
Opinion Editor
hgrichey@uab.edu
Everyone knows about reusable water bottles to reduce plastic waste but there are other ways to implement reusable and sustainable items in your daily life.
For your home
Cleaning Brushes
Biodegradable cleaning brushes are a great way to reduce plastic waste. The plastic brushes and sponges we normally use go bad pretty quickly and don’t really serve a purpose after they’re finished. These brushes from Amazon are made from coconut fibers and bamboo.
Glass Spray Bottle
If you like to DIY your cleaning supplies or have a store nearby with filling stations for detergents and spray cleaners a glass spray bottle will come in handy. They come in a variety of colors but here’s a clear one that you can label and customize on your own.
Silicone Straws
Everyone knows about metal straws given the VSCO girl meme of 2019. Metal straws aren’t ideal for many people because they’re not very flexible and can be unpleasant to use in hot and really cold beverages. Silicone straws mitigate a lot of those problems and come in more colors if that’s your thing. This pack comes in
On the go
Silicone Sandwich Bags
Sandwich and snack bags are useful in carrying your lunch to campus but running out can be a pain. Silicone bags are reusable and this pack comes in a variety of sizes. They can also be used to store food in your fridge and freezer. You never run out of bags because all you have to do is wash them
Collapsible Silicone Straw
Silicone straws can also be used on the go with this collapsible straw duo. Throw one in your backpack and one on your keychain or share with a friend. There’s also a spot in the case for the cleaning brush so you can clean it right after use.
Mesh Produce Bags
If you prefer to bag your produce at the store or get whole coffee beans a reusable mesh bag will come in handy. This brand has a variety of sizes and types of mesh bags to choose from so you can find what works best for you and your needs.
