People Overwhelmed by Plastic Waste Cycle
People feel burdened by the scale of environmental problems like plastic waste and pharmaceutical disposal, struggling to make meaningful change and feeling frustrated by the perceived difficulty and limitations of individual actions. This leads to a sense of overwhelm and a desire for easier, more impactful solutions.
SOURCES (60)
“I eas recently given a disposable vape, and I don’t wanna let it go to waste. I’m gonna recycle the shell, but do y’all have any idea how I could reuse the innards? submitted by /u/Dizzy-Speech-3576 [link] [comments]”
“It's just shopping. Stop calling it an eco-upgrade. Your pantry doesn't need to look like a TikTok aesthetic, just wash out the empty peanut butter jars and use those like the rest of us submitted by /u/ProfessionalRip3220 [link] [comments]”
“Hello everyone, I am a junior in high school and have been tasked with creating an Idea and pitch on a sustainable act we can do/ implement in our country to reduce waste emissions. My team and I were given the SDGs 6 (Water), 7(Energy), 11(Transport), 12 (Food waste), [14 and 15 (Ecosystems {Animals, plants ETC})] to choose from and I'd like to work on the SDG 14 and 15 to develop a sustainable and Novel Idea To preserve the fragile ecosystem of my country which because of its dessert clima”
“My husband and I live buy ice cream in these tubs once a month and have already used a couple for containers but they're so big! we live in an area with no recycling and didn't know if I could use them for something else or if I could donate them somewhere for someone else to use? submitted by /u/-isthisreddit [link] [comments]”
“I don't remember energy use being the problem with plastic bags?It was plastic bags being absolutely everywhere in the environment. Streets, parks, trees. Wrapped around anything sticking out of the ground. On your face on a windy day.Pollution is the problem with plastic. Probably health, too, now that microplastics are being recognized as an issue.”
“Yes, I've looked up this question for answers more than once, in every subreddit I could think of and also google and duckduckgo. Everything gives me the same answer on how to cut plastic from my life but I want to know how to destroy it. I do litter-picking around my neighborhood and manage to recycle everything I can, but at the end of the day I have a lot of single use plastic that is too broken or damaged for recycling and that's what I don't know how to handle. Cutting it up int”
“I want to reduce my food waste, but i dont find easy and actually sticking way, of how to track, what I have at home, while not being at home. I always go to store, after my work, since i have quite a road from home to the store, and driving home is always on the way, so I save on time and fuel. But then, I get the idea, of what I want to cook, and then I roughly know what products I have, but not for sure, so there are multiple times, when I buy stuff, that I already had, and instead of using i”
“These are the casings for Claritin rapid dissolve. They are like a type of metal but they could also be plastic (I don’t really have a lot of knowledge for types of materials) I love to do crafts and art so if anyone has ideas like that that would be cool. I’m open to any ideas though really. Practical or artsy. Anything would be great! submitted by /u/Breezeway47 [link] [comments]”
“What is the easiest way to seal a 3d print to prevent bacteria buildup? I have one design to print that can be worn and one which things will be drunk out of (both PETG) My quick research has said that small holes in the plastic can have large bacteria buildups so it shouldn't be printed for multiple uses without some extra steps. Is there a type of resin that's good to use or something like clear nail polish? Bonus if it will also reinforce the print to make it stronger submitted”
“every spring i tell myself i have a storage system, and every year it falls apart. the vacuum bags slowly re-inflate, the under-bed boxes collect dust, and the high closet shelf is blocked by winter bedding i only use for a few weeks. my rental closet is already too small for actual clothes, so dedicating half of it to off-season bedding feels ridiculous. has anyone in a small apartment actually found a compact way to store seasonal bedding, or did you eventually simplify to one basic setup and”
“These lil guys are made from (in order of layers) fabric scraps, old microfiber cloths, and old rags! They live on the floors of kitchens and bathrooms and when theres a spill, you can move em with your foot and mop it up! Saves the good towels and prevents bending over :) i keep the tails long so they can be tied or hung on cabinets if theres no floor space I make these lil critters as wedding presents (in a set of two so they dont get lonely and in case a pet wants one as their own lo”
“That's perfectly normal. Why waste anything if you can just rinse it instead? Seeing food as valueless and throwing it away because some water touched the packaging is a toxic mindset. Having too much money makes people less human. No joke.”
“Please help! I wouldn't say I have a BUNCH of stuff but I have a decent amount of things for someone living in this world now😭 i'm ashamed to say but I used to LOVE buying the newest trendiest items (to a certain extent cause i'm still a kid) and I'm moving soon and I want this to be a better stage of my life. What would you guys recommend I do with my things? Should I donate or should I give them to people in ny aparatment complex? submitted by /u/plzcanwebekind [li”
“It’s not that i didn’t know that the poops are a waste of plastic, but i never really thought about it too much. This little jigglypuff i made for my girlfriend filled a medium size ziploc bag.. Toolchangers are definitely the way to go for the figure haha submitted by /u/Jkoskie1214 [link] [comments]”
“Hi there. Just bought my son his first bento box - the Bentgo Pop. I looked at the Chill but it’s too small for my son. We love the Pop and got a PB teen lunchbox for it to go in so I could pack it with an ice pack. It fits great but my son says he can’t take the bentgo out of the lunchbox at school because there’s not enough room, and he can’t keep the bentgo closed while sitting in the lunchbox. So he wants to take it without a lunchbox, but I’m concerned about the food getting warm. I looked”
I just leave that brown stringy tape on the boxes. It mulches just fine
“I care about recycling and there is glass and metal in those. Does anyone know of specialty recycling for those? Even out if state although I’m not sure it’d be legal to ship them submitted by /u/Nature_Is_Lit_Yo [link] [comments]”
“How do you guys handle when you're doing a Shop & Deliver in a grocery store and they have zero paper/plastic bags and only their reusable paper bags which are about a dollar each? Do you just put the reusable bags in the order and buy them with the red card? I've done it a couple of times and haven't been flagged yet but wondering how everyone else handles it? There is a Shoprite in the zone I work that gets loads of orders but I stay away from it because they religiously won”
“It's a photo from Pinterest. I'm trying to figure out a set up where you don't have to lift a whole bottle of detergent for every wash for my grandma. It's less about aestetics and more about utility 🤔 Or is there something else I can do that will look decent in the open? submitted by /u/Personal_Scientist_8 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone! I’m new to the zero waste life, with my upcoming family planning and what not I had like a weird eye opening of oh shit that’s a lot of single use trash :/ I’m curious to know what are easy things I can swap out to help! Or what’s something that you swapped to that you felt was an amazing switch? I’d like to start swapping as I run out of things! Like shampoo/conditioner lotion etc. Thank you I’ve been buying cloth diapers second hand, and I just got a whole bunch of second hand cot”
“I know there are people criticizing being low waste because “it isn’t our biggest problem right now” I’m not disagreeing. yes we should encourage people to not have pets, fly less or not at all, adopt a more plant based diet, give up their cars, and switch to clean energy/clean heating, write to politicians, purchase renewable energy/thermal certificates, and vote well. I still think going low waste is worth it on top of these other things For the following reasons. low waste products are often”
“My son brings them by the bagful my dogs love to use them as beds. I'd like to know if I'd be able to wash & reuse them and not have to put them in the refuse. If so do you know any tips that you can share? Especially about getting out the occasional bits of doggie odor. submitted by /u/_PeLaGiKoS14_ [link] [comments]”
“Rug, shelf, two suitcases that worked totally fine and a rolling cart. Someone (not sure if the same person) out these in the crash room (not “in the trash”) and I took them, cleaned them up and posted on my local buy nothing Facebook group. Everything was picked up almost immediately :) submitted by /u/Accomplished_Page653 [link] [comments]”
“I started the summer with one bag that has foil insulation from a take out dinner. I was looking through trash (context). I didnt know amazon grocery bags have insulation! Now I have free material for more blackout curtains!!! I should have grabbed more from the trash. submitted by /u/gaymythicalcreature [link] [comments]”
“Repost from [ r/sustainability ] I truly want to get as many perspectives as possible. I became passionate about sustainability and anti-consumerism during my senior year of high school and in January of that year decided I would try to minimize my amazon purchases. I decreased my amazon purchases that year by 80% compared to the year before and was feeling very proud (I quite literally only bought a mattress cover for my dorm and a shower caddy). That was 2025 but this year, I made it to July w”
“For those that do the heat gun/oven with silicone molds for recycling poop/scraps what are some tips and tools you can suggest? What works good to get the pieces uniform - a small blender? submitted by /u/trixster87 [link] [comments]”
“I’m moving into my first apartment soon. I currently work at a deli and we have batches and batches of red and blue cleaning rags, so i’m helping myself to a few. My plan is to have red rags for general cleaning and blue rags for the TOILET. or, is it smarter to do red rags for general cleaning and the blue rugs for the BATHROOM. regardless, i’ve seen a lot of people say it’s okay to wash them all together (red + blue) and that maybe even adding some bleach would ease the dirty scaries. Any thou”
“Basically what the title says. I'm really trying to get single use plastic out of my life. Disposable pads are easy but so much plastic going into the trash. I am not opposed to using old towels on the floor, but need a waterproof layer underneath. What has been successful for you all? submitted by /u/a2fullofrage [link] [comments]”
“Yeaaaah thirty rolls just means you didn't wait until you completely ran out before buying another 24 pack”
“Thank you! I rarely have access to a car so when I do, I buy a years worth of all the things that won't go bad: toilet paper, toiletries, laundry powder and such. I'm not a prepper, it just makes my life a whole lot easier.”
“I've looked for this too, and most "biodegradable" trimmer line seems to be either hard to find or not actually made for years of outdoor use. The stuff that lasts in storage usually lasts in the yard too.”
“Your preferences are not necessarily shared by other people.What's next, banning pineapple on pizza?> Because it's destroying the planet creating mountains of ewaste.Don't buy stuff, then? Or in general, ask your legislators for a tax on ewaste?> And because as a consumer, I don't want to spend a week doing research on every product to make sure they aren't abusing my rights in some confusing way that only shows up years down the line.Read reviews, or rely on brands that have a reputation to bu”
“I’ve found out another thing that my dog has learned without me directly teaching him. I always use poo bags and we always use the same bin on our walks. Home is one way the bin is the other way. I say to him let’s go to the bin and he’ll turn in the right direction. Anyway today he had a poo just as I received a phone call. I spoke for a little while and he started barking. He was telling me I hadn’t picked up his poo yet! As soon as I had he was happy 😃 submitted by /u/Jaybee02196”
“Hello, not sure if this is the right sub. Recently, my chinchilla refused a bag of feed, I have about 3lbs of it, along with about 1.5lbs of hamster food from my hamster that passed away. I want to see if I can compost them so I don't have to throw it to the bin, preferably a method I can do in my apartment or can I just soak them in water and throw it to plants? It's mainly timothy hay in the ingredients. Before someone ask why don't I gift it out, I've considered it but decided”
“We’re finally getting around to our spring cleaning (in August, lol) and realized that it’s been so long since 2020 that my 2nd bulk purchase of masks that I bought at the tail end of masks being heavily encouraged/expected at school/work post-illness at work are apparently all expired? I’m leaning towards buying more but I guess I have no idea how many to buy. I went a little nuts during 2020-2022 with panicking and overbuying and ended up having to throw out so much (several expired Covid test”
“Im pregnant with #3 and have made do with a standard, flip top trash can for baby #2 but, due to stink problems, would like to go ahead & get an actual diaper pail before I have 2 kids in diapers. Besides ubbi, which pails are both compact, and can work with standard trash bags without too much trouble? I had an ubbi for my first and thought it was ok but wasnt like impressed. I suppose diaper pails are not the most exciting baby product regardless. I can't get my hands on fancy diaper p”
“I carry all of my wheel products/brushes and prep chemicals in a 5-gallon bucket. Anyone using an organizer of sorts to hold bottles and brushes in a 5-gallon bucket so it's not just a wet mess of items? Wondering what, if anything, works for you. Most seem designed for tools and not wet bottles and brushes. Thanks! https://preview.redd.it/9ke0tqe99rjh1.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&s=2f07c186d2f60d562b60f2f6abca61b0532a95f4 submitted by /u/mooch91 [link] [”
You can get cute little plastic bins from Daiso put them in various rooms.
“This is not any kind of judgment on your priorities. We all have different priorities and it's totally fine. For me, paper towels are a luxury. We never had them when I was a kid and I never bought them as an adult until I felt more financially stable. In fact, I consider myself to be doing ok financially as long as I feel comfortable buying paper towels and kleenex. I absolutely remember, though, hoping to god I didn't run out of toilet paper because I only had like $2 in the bank until”
“Sort of, But mostly because I ride a bike/take the bus and it's the bulk that bothers me. I buy the 4kg Lemon Almat (ALDI Au) laundry powder for $4.99. It honestly lasts me >18 months to 2 years so it's rare I have to refill it. Paper towel, I don't really buy that often. It's good for mopping up the cat-sick but for most other messes I use one of the many cloth rags I have in circulation. If I need to buy toilet paper, I'm automatically choosing not to buy paper towel bec”
“I try to space out the purchases on different trips so it doesn't hit all at once, and I'm always looking for deals and bundling those with coupons when possible. I avoid the big name brands and have a few go-to generics or cheaper brands like Xtra for laundry (Purex and Arm & Hammer are usually much cheaper than Tide or Gain, for example).”
“I recommend checking out the r/laundry sub. It has been very helpful!! Apparently we've all been using far too much detergent 🤷♀️”
We have been using fast food napkins .They always give us a lot of them.
“Too much soap isn't good either. Line one or two should be plenty. You can also add a detergent booster like Borax which helps it work better.”
$5 can buy a dozen microfiber cloths you can use to replace paper towels
“Tie it in a knot so nothing comes out and throw it away when you get dressed.”
“Im trying really hard to declutter and its proving more and more difficult (now with a child too). I wish stuff i put on ebay/Facebook would sell or even the free listings would get taken but it ends up being admin heavy with back and forths and no shows. My local op shop/thrift store only takes very specific things. So I have lots that still has use in it but nowhere to give it. If i put it on the street council will put illegal dumping on it. Street libraries are full (i can only do so much dr”
“Unless you are doing it in a lot of different places, I found a lined waste paper basket near the bed works really well.”
“This is a weirdly specific thing but it bugs me every time. Once you're done, you're kind of just holding this thing, and whatever room you're in, the trash can is never right there. So you end up walking across the room with it, and half the time something drips or it just feels awkward to deal with. I've been trying to figure out if there's already a good solution for this (a little discreet pouch, a built-in compartment, anything), but I haven't found anything that act”
“Ive been looking for a good absorbing substitute from paper towels to clean up bodily fluids from my pets. I have 4 dogs so I through paper towels fast. submitted by /u/TeachingHead3980 [link] [comments]”
“Which of 3 would be best for turning waste into bio mass for bird or fish feed bsfl seems to be best but not sure how they do with cellulose rich material submitted by /u/UlfurGaming [link] [comments]”
“Hey y'all- I am looking for a plot or something that displays the known/suspected health effects of various plastics. My motivation is fairly straightforward. I walk my dog in a local park every morning and most evenings. While walking, I often pick up trash. The most common trash is drink containers, cigarette butts, and bags of dog poop. Often, I pick up receipts, though. The other day, I was reading a book that indicated that there is a non-trivial risk to exposure to this thermal paper d”
“Okay, not sure if anyone has any ideas about this but I am looking at the possibility of turning my current sandwich prep fridge into a work top low bit for my barista station. Obviously, the big problem is the big hole in the top. Just putting a sheet of metal on top doesn’t seem like a great idea. The lid is super easy to dismount, but I’m trying to figure out how to actually insulate a top so that a hot espresso machine can sit on top without leaking hot air into the fridge and cold air seepi”