A 5 Gyres Ambassador’s Guide to Reducing Plastic Waste
5 Gyres Ambassador Den Fusso shares 90 easy ways to move toward zero waste and reduce plastic in everyday living. Perfection isn’t the goal—progress is. Whether it’s swapping out single-use items or making smarter choices at the grocery store, small changes can add up to big impact. This guide outlines simple, generally inexpensive steps that anyone can take to reduce waste this Plastic Free July — and beyond!
Kitchen & Cookware
1. Store baking goods and grains (flour, cornmeal, rice, pasta, etc.) in glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers.
2. Avoid food prep in plastic bowls or with plastic cookware. Instead, use glass, metal, wood, or silicone.
3. Avoid plastic plates, cups, cutlery, and other foodware accessories. Instead use glass, stainless steel, stoneware, bamboo, or other natural options that don’t shed microplastics.
4. Never microwave food in a plastic container, as the heat causes microplastics to release. Use a glass or ceramic container in the microwave.
5. Choose coffee makers without plastic baskets. There are other styles, like French Press coffee.
6. Avoid electric water kettles made of plastic.
7. Use a stainless steel scrubber to scrape stuck food from pots and pans. If food is still hard to remove, use a single-edge razor blade. Avoid plastic scrubbers or sponges.
8. Avoid non-stick cookware, many of which contain PFAS (“forever chemicals”). Seasoned cast iron is best, and stuck food comes off easily after being soaked and scraped.
9. Instead of a plastic vegetable scrubber, opt for one with natural bristles.
10. Avoid plastic cutting boards. Instead, choose stainless steel, wood, or bamboo.
11. Use a bar dish soap to avoid the single-use plastic containers that hold liquid soap. The bars work well and last a long time. If you prefer liquid dish soap, buy it at a refill store, in bulk, or look online for DIY recipes.
12. Use a cotton dish rag that can be washed and reused, and/or a natural bristle brush. Synthetic sponges shed microplastic fibers and don’t last as long as a rag.
13. Paper towels are single-use and usually wrapped in plastic. Instead, opt for 100% cotton kitchen towels, reusable paper towels, and/or bar rags. When they are dirty, wash and reuse them.
14. Instead of paper napkins, use cloth napkins, which can be washed and reused. Fun fact: in the early 1900’s, each member of a family had their own unique napkin ring and reused their marginally soiled cloth napkin until laundry day!
15. Use metal binder clips rather than plastic “chip clips” to secure opened bread bags, frozen food bags, snack bags, etc.
16. If you use straws, get a metal or silicone reusable straw. Avoid single-use plastic straws.
17. Avoid single-use plastic food containers or zip-lock bags to store leftovers. Instead, use reusable food containers, like mason jars, repurposed glass jars, silicone containers, foil, or beeswax wraps.
18. Have extra bowls, plates, cutlery, water glasses, and wine glasses on hand for social gatherings to avoid the need for single-use plastic. These items can be easily thrifted or found on local Buy Nothing groups. Pro tip: having unique wine glasses helps limit drink mix-ups!
Food & Drink
19. Drink water from the tap and avoid bottled water. If you prefer filtered water, buy a countertop or under-sink water filter system. You’ll consume less microplastics, and you’ll have less waste.
20. Buy or grow loose tea and use a tea ball or strainer. The majority of commercial tea bags actually contain small plastic fibers for added strength, which increases exposure to microplastics.
21. Eat your leftovers! A lot of plastic is used in the production, transportation, distribution, and sale of all food, so don't waste food. If your food is likely to spoil before you can eat it, consider freezing or dehydrating it.
22. Toast old bread and blend it in a food processor to use as a substitute for purchased breadcrumbs. You can also season old bread, toast it, and cut it into chunks to use as croutons.
23. Use tape and a Sharpie to mark the date/food description of leftover food before storing it in the fridge or freezer. Sometimes, frozen foods can be hard to identify!
24. Dedicate a special shelf in the refrigerator for items that need to be eaten quickly before they spoil. Train yourself to always look there first.
25. Get an air-popper or silicone microwavable popcorn popper to make your own popcorn! This helps to avoid buying snack foods packaged in plastic.
26. Explore eating whole, plant-based foods. The amount of plastic waste from corporate farming is significant!
27. Compost your food scraps. If you can’t compost in your yard, consider a countertop food composter. Pro tip: look on Facebook Marketplace for secondhand options!
Shop Sustainably
28. Plan weekly meals ahead of time, and shop with a grocery list. Avoid impulse buying, and buy only what you can eat before it will spoil.
29. Buy local, if possible. Consider signing up for a CSA or shop at your local farmer's market (and bring your own bags!).
30. Buy staple items like grains, nuts, flour, and spices from the bulk section, rather than pre-packaged in the aisles.
31. Use reusable grocery bags to avoid single-use plastic or new paper bags. Remember that plastic film and bags aren’t accepted in curbside recycling systems!
32. Use reusable produce bags. If you forget them or don’t have any, place your produce directly into your shopping cart and directly onto the conveyor belt without a plastic bag. Fun fact: it’s what people did before plastic bags!
33. Whenever possible, avoid processed, pre-packaged foods, which tend to be heavily packaged in plastic.
34. Some foods are available for purchase in various packaging options, including in plastic, cardboard, or in bulk. Choose the option with the least plastic packaging.
Bathroom & Personal Care
35. Instead of liquid soap or body wash, use bar soap that is packaged with a cardboard sleeve or without packaging at all.
36. Use shampoo bars. Pro tip: when traveling, there is no worry of shampoo leaking all over your clothing!
37. Buy deodorant in a cardboard tube, or try making your own! Common ingredients, like arrowroot or cornstarch, coconut oil, and beeswax are in many DIY recipes.
38. Try toothpaste tablets or powder, or toothpaste in a metal tube.
39. Use bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic. Pro tip: they are usually less expensive if you buy in bulk!
40. Typical floss is made of plastic. Buy bamboo or coconut floss instead of plastic floss, and never dispose of used floss in the toilet (it can get tangled in the sewer system).
41. Personal care products often contain microbeads. Try making your own face cream, hand lotion, or body lotion — it’s as simple as melting a few common ingredients together!
42. Use up your makeup before buying new. Avoid impulse purchases when you have products that work fine!
43. Avoid disposable plastic razors, and consider using a traditional metal safety razor.
44. Consider using menstrual cups, period panties, or reusable menstrual cloths during your monthly cycle, instead of plastic period products.
45. Buy toilet paper made from recycled paper or bamboo, not from virgin forests. Be picky about your toilet paper — the original source matters! Some companies, like Who Gives A Crap, offer recycled paper or bamboo toilet paper and also avoid plastic packaging.
46. If you’re interested in a handheld bidet, consider using a hair-dye squirt bottle. It has a very small, pointed tip for easy reach and a strong stream! Reusable washcloths can also be used to pat dry.
47. Buy 100% cotton towels, rather than polyester or cotton-polyester blends. Polyester is a type of plastic, which contributes to microfiber pollution in indoor air.
48. Use cloth handkerchiefs instead of tissues. You can hand wash them after use, and they don’t irritate a runny nose like tissues tend to do.
Clothing & Textiles
49. Instead of disposables, use cloth diapers for babies. Cut up old towels or t-shirts to use as wipes. They can be dunked in the toilet to remove the bulk soil, then laundered in the washing machine.
50. Instead of buying new clothing items, check out your lcoal thrift shop or online marketplace. If you are patient, you will likely find what you seek, while giving new life to an item that would otherwise end up in the landfill.
51. Repair items instead of buying new to extend the life of what you already own.
52. Avoid buying cheap shoes. They tend to fit poorly, hurt your feet, won’t last, and can eventually cause foot problems. Instead, spend a bit more on quality shoes and have them re-heeled as necessary. Your feet will thank you, and so will the planet!
53. Whenever possible, wear clothing made from natural fibers. Avoid synthetic (plastic) materials like polyester, acrylic, or nylon, which shed microfibers during wash and wear. Generally, used clothing releases fewer microfibers than new.
54. Use floor mats and rugs made of natural fibers, like sisal, cotton, or hemp. Pro tip: if you enjoy crafts, consider making a rag-rug with old sheets or t-shirts!
Household Tips
55. Use pencils when possible. Pens (with plastic housing) often clog, so they end up in the trash.
56. Instead of buying physical books, magazines, or newspapers, opt for library books, e-books, or audiobooks. “Libby” is a free resource available from the public library.
57. Instead of a Swiffer mop with single-use wiping cloths, make your own from old towels or socks that can be washed and reused.
58. Vacuum and damp dust often to reduce dust, which often contains microplastics. Pro tip: make sure your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter!
59. Conduct a trash audit to identify areas where you can personally decrease your waste. Until you meet your goal, weigh your trash each week and put your garbage on a "diet." Challenge yourself, family, and/or friends to move toward zero waste.
60. Light candles with matches or refillable lighters to avoid single-use plastic lighters.
61. Instead of synthetic sheets, blankets, bedspreads, or duvet covers, opt for those made from natural fibers like cotton, bamboo, or wool. This also applies to furniture, carpeting, and other home textiles.
62. Wash clothes in cold water and on a delicate cycle. These settings can help shed fewer microfibers.
63. If possible, install a microfiber-catching filter on your washing machine. They aren’t cheap, but they can capture a significant amount of microfibers before they end up in the environment. Another great, and more economical, option is a GUPPYFRIEND bag, which can capture microfibers from synthetic clothing during laundering.
64. Line dry your laundry when possible. Dryers are a significant source of airborne microfiber emissions.
65. Make or buy wool dryer balls (make sure they are 100% wool, not acrylic or other synthetic) instead of using single-use dryer sheets.
66. Reduce your 4th Class Mail (AKA junk mail) by visiting lists--optoutprescreen.com or calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT. A lot of water, chemicals, plastics, and trees are used to produce junk mail.
67. Instead of paper statements and bills, opt for electronic documents to cut down on paper waste and the destruction of trees.
68. Use LED light bulbs.
69. Rather than buying new, try to repair damaged/broken items. If they can’t be repaired, can they be repurposed?
70. Avoid impulse purchases, such as seasonal decorations. Check if neighbors or friends have any to share or give. Making decorations can be fun!
71. When you need tools or equipment, try to borrow from a friend or neighbor first. Some communities even have tool libraries to borrow these items! If you must purchase items, be sure to buy quality products that will last.
Going Out
72. Always carry a reusable water bottle to avoid buying water in single-use plastic bottles.
73. Tires are a major source of microplastic pollution. Check them for proper inflation, and drive safely to avoid having to stop quickly.
74. Trying a new hobby or sport? Borrow equipment from a friend or neighbor, rent, or buy it used — at least until you’re sure you like the activity and need to buy your own.
75. Do you go to meetings where single-use stick-on name tags are provided? Make your own reusable name tag, and keep it handy in your glove box or bag.
76. Avoid takeout food from businesses that use single-use plastic. Vote with your dollars by supporting businesses that are making an effort to be more sustainable.
77. Always have a reusable food container, cutlery, cloth napkin, and water bottle (in purse, car, backpack, desk or work cubby). When ordering food for takeaway, be sure to tell them to “Skip the Stuff” and exclude foodware accessories and condiments from your bag.
78. Choose electronic receipts over printed receipts, many of which are coated with BPA, a known carcinogen. Cashiers have been found to have levels of BPA in their blood 30% higher than people in other professions.
79. Never grab “freebies” offered by merchants and salespeople. Most of the time, these end up as clutter until you throw them out. Exactly how many pens, chapsticks, and key rings does one person actually need?
80. Have reusable bags readily available in your purse, backpack, or car.
81. Pack your lunch for work, school, or activities in reusable containers. Cloth bags and beeswax wraps work well for sandwiches!
Other Helpful Tips
82. If you have pets, repurpose empty frozen food bags, cereal liners, or snack bags to collect pet waste for disposal.
83. Consider gifting items you no longer need to others. Many items donated to thrift stores end up being shipped to developing countries that can’t manage the waste. Instead, give away items you no longer need on your local Buy Nothing group to ensure they get a second life.
84. Learn what is and isn’t recyclable in your community. Every city is different!
85. Learn where to recycle dead batteries in your community. Home Depot and Batteries Plus take them in many areas. Never toss them in the garbage, as they contain chemicals and heavy metals that can leach and contaminate groundwater.
86. Be aware of greenwashing! Do your research into truly sustainable brands.
87. If you need large sheets of paper, contact your local newspaper. They often sell inexpensively, or give away their end-rolls of newspaper with no newsprint. This long roll of paper can be used for countless purposes, including gift wrap, art projects, or signs.
88. Instead of giving a tangible gift, consider gifting an experience. Some great ideas are a trip to an amusement park, a dinner out, free babysitting, a subscription to a class, or adding to a childs’ educational fund. Check out more ideas here!
89. Wrap gifts in newspaper, magazine pages, or a reusable cloth. Make gift tags from paper to avoid the plastic and adhesive in pre-made tags.
90. Minimize what you own. Have what you truly love and use, and enrich your life with friends and experiences rather than stuff.
About Den Fusso:
After retiring from a career in physical therapy, Den turned her focus to environmentalism. As a self-proclaimed “Recycling Maniac”, Den thought reducing plastic waste would be easy. However, after hundreds of hours of research and learning more about the depths of the plastic problem, she learned that the plastic crisis is even bigger than she thought. She’s made gradual lifestyle changes to reduce her own waste footprint, and she and her husband now landfull just 1-2 pounds of trash per week — compared to the average American who throws away four pounds every day! Now, Den has made it her mission to share what she’s learned with others to inspire change.
