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Zero Waste Dallas-Area Resources
I will keep this list updated as I explore and learn more. Please let me know if you’ve found any other places that aid in a lower waste lifestyle. Last updated: August 2024 Bulk Buying: Groceries, Home Care, Personal Care Products Usefull: Love this little booth that pops up across different markets in the Dallas area throughout the month! Bring your own container to refill hair/body care and home care products! (I love their shea butter body cream.) (August 2024 Update: usefull now has a brick and mortar store at 914 Sunset Ave. Dallas TX 75208!) Volleman’s: You can buy these glass packaged dairy products in stores with a $2…
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Is Plastic-Free Always Eco-Friendly?
The conversation around plastic always increases this time of year with the arrival of Plastic Free July. And while I do try and avoid plastic when possible, there are times when I’ve realized that the plastic-free option isn’t quite as eco-friendly as I’ve been led to believe. Here are some questions I find myself asking: – Is the amount of water and/or chemicals needed to clean an item in order to reuse it excessive? – Does this plastic-free option have to travel across the country to reach me? Or is there a locally made option (that might be packaged in plastic) available instead?– Does the plastic-free option utilize chemicals or…
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Keeping Items out of Landfills
I had the pleasure of giving a presentation on Conscious Consumption and Keeping Items out of Landfills with the Dallas Public Library. We talked about ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle and had a great Q+A after. If you want to learn more about low waste swaps and how to recycle better — watch the recording!
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Recycling Unusable Fabric + Textiles (Underwear Too!)
We’ve talked about how to recycle your plastics, glass, metal, and paper. And you know where to donate items in good condition. But what about those things that can’t be recycled curbside and aren’t in good enough condition (or are just too gross) to donate? MAINLY — old underwear, hole ridden socks, fabric masks, scrap fabric from your sewing endeavors, torn clothing — do these items HAVE to go to the landfill? Not necessarily. Textiles are recyclable but according to the EPA, only about 14% of all textiles are actually recycled. Throwing these items in the trash bin is definitely the easiest option and honestly, what most people do. BUT,…
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Plastic Free July Tips for 2021
It’s that time again — Plastic Free July! While every day should involve doing your best to save our planet, Plastic Free July is a great time to explore even more ways to reduce plastic waste. At this point, reusable bags/straws/water bottles are becoming a bit more mainstream… so let’s talk about some other ways to challenge yourself to go plastic free. Hair/body care products: This month, make it a goal to replace at least one of your plastic shampoo/conditioner/body wash bottles with a package free, bar soap option. (I’d say the easiest one to replace is body wash as there are so many bar soap options from both small,…
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Wishful Recycling
Before we get into recycling, I’d first like to remind you about those two things that are even better than recycling! YES. REDUCE AND REUSE. Always do those two things first. Now that that is out of the way… Obviously, there’s always going to be stuff to recycle. And recycling is much better than having something go to the landfill. However, there is also something called wishful recycling… where you desperately don’t want to put something in the trash so you figure, hey, this item COULD be recyclable (or this is similar to other things I recycle)… let’s just do that. Don’t do this. It can contaminate items that can…
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Eco-Friendly Finds: Target Edition
In the past, it’s definitely felt like being eco-friendly also meant paying a lot of money (or having to get things shipped from far off zero waste stores) to get things like bar shampoos, refillable deodorant, cleaning supplies, etc. At times, it has seemed like being eco-friendly just wasn’t for the normal person who buys most of their necessities at the local grocery store/Walmart/Target/etc. (Big Target fan here!) BUT — good news ahead. It seems like a lot of the big box stores are now carrying eco-friendly products (because, surprise, there’s a demand for it!). Sure, is some of it imperfect? Yeah. But is it still a big step up.…
