On Cape Ann, faith communities are addressing the climate crisis through prayer, programming, and local action. By coming together and exploring our roots in our faith traditions, we are able to commit to greater care and healing of Cape Ann and the larger world. We inspire each other to take even more powerful action with others.
- Reuse! Mine your home to see what can be reused. Avoid all single use items.
- Use reusable food storage containers such as metal snack and sandwich containers or fabric sandwich envelopes or beeswax wrap. These washable options are a great alternative to plastic wrap and plastic sandwich bags.
- Use a reusable water/drink bottle/container: Stainless steel is the best option.
- Get a reusable cutlery set that includes a reusable straw or make from items you already have.
- Eating out: No straw in my drink please! Bring your own reusable storage containers. Keep a supply in your car so you don’t forget.
- Buy in bulk: bring your own containers to stores that allow or ask if they don’t.
- Shop localCheck out your communities’ website for more details on what else can be diverted from your trash.
- For hard to recycle items in MA, check out Beyond the Bin.
- For even harder to recycle items, check out Black Earth Compost CHaRM pickup, Buy Nothing and Green Disk
- Before you buy school supplies: check your office, shelves, desk, drawers….
- Buy used! Get new (to you) clothes, furniture, etc. through sharing groups, online marketplaces, or secondhand shops.
- Shop mindfully. Look for clothes made from natural fibers. Avoiding clothes made with synthetic fibers (like nylon, polyester, and acrylic) reduces the amount of microplastics in household air (dryer lint) and outdoor air (dryer vents).
- Install a filter on your washing machine to prevent millions of microfibers from entering the ocean (check out filtrol.net and use Seaside Sustainability’s discount code SSFRIENDS+1 for a free filter and 5% off).
- Wash your clothes with plant based laundry detergent sheets, instead of detergent from a plastic bottle. Say no to plastic dryer sheets, and dishwasher pods. There are alternatives.
- Switch to a shampoo bar and ditch shampoo bottles for good. While you are at it, switch to a sustainable toothbrush and floss!
- What else do you use made of plastic that has a sustainable alternative?
- Are you a walker or beachgoer? Reuse a small bag to pick up trash and recycling.
- Get involved locally, on the state and/or federal level to raise visibility and pass laws (expanded bottle bill, extended producer responsibility -EPR, e.g.) that reduce our waste. In MA, we currently export nearly 45% of our waste out of state and currently pay one of the highest per ton trash fees in the U.S.
- Your kitchen is full of microplastics. Here’s how to eat less of them: https://tinyurl.com/uejubtps
- Doing your shopping close by not only reduces your family’s carbon footprint, but you can bring your own bags and sometimes containers to fill. Online purchases have significant environmental impacts through increased packaging waste and CO2 emissions from delivery. Small businesses also need our support.
- Patronize stores that minimize plastic packaging. Reusable is the best choice, but when that is not an option, choose metal, paper or certified compostable packaging – that gets composted in an industrial composting facility – whenever possible. (Composting transforms organic material into humus which enriches soil).
- Consider joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or shopping at your local farm/farmers market.
- Compost your food waste. Check to see if your municipality offers food waste collection either at the curb or at drop-off locations. Private composting collection may also be available for a fee. If your food waste is going to a commercial composting facility, you will not only be able to compost your food waste but also certified compostable food service ware.
- Know what plastic can be recycled in MA and be sure to recycle it! www.recyclesmartma.org
Downloadable PDF of “What YOU CAN DO to Reduce YOUR Plastic Footprint” with Clickable links.
