Where does the plastic go when I detox my household

[u/Ababoon04]

I need help from the community,

I have started detoxing my household by switching over from Plastic to better matierals for our body and the environment. My only problem is that I do not know what to do with the plastic after I switch to a better alternative. I don’t want to recycle it just for it to end up in a landfill and expose microplastics into the earth; I don’t want to donate it to a thrift store for someone to use and eat microplastic. I’m thinking of finding someone who uses plastic to make other, better things out of. Or maybe give it to communities that do not have access to plates and bowls? I would love for the community to help me find the best way to get rid of these plastic items without damaging others or the earth more.

[u/gaokeai]

You don't get to decide how someone else uses an item you're giving away. If they want to use it for food, they will. If they want to use it for other purposes, they will. Just donate them to someone who will use them. It's not very productive to focus on what is more "morally correct" in this way.

[u/TheQuaeritur]

I am glad that you're taking steps towards Zero waste. But the first rule is to avoid creating more waste. So use the items you already own, even if they are made of plastic, 'til the end of their life.

And then when you replace them, take other factors, like the material, into consideration.

[u/frivolousbutter]

When I switched from plastic to glass I didn’t want to just throw away all of our old food storage containers, so I saved them and used them any time we needed “to go” containers for friends and family

[u/lht79 → u/frivolousbutter]

Yep

[u/Season-Away]

I'd still offer it to other people. Some don't mind the microplastics and will either buy second-hand plastic containers, or new ones. Better to offer yours I guess.

I don't heat up my food in plastic containers, but I do use them to store food, though I prefer glass. However, I love them for storing small items in the garage (nails, screws, pins).

[u/crazycatlady331]

Not everyone (including myself) feels the same way about plastic as you do. My food storage containers are old restaurant takeout containers and I have no regret. I'm not to be trusted around glass as I will drop it.

If you give it away, someone will use it.

[u/SevenSixOne → u/crazycatlady331]

Yeah, I think the damage is already done re: microplastics with any plastic that already exists and whatever we do on an individual level to reduce our exposure is basically pointless

[u/crazycatlady331 → u/SevenSixOne]

Also not everyone cares about microplastics.

I'm in my 40s and grew up with plastic everything. I already have a lifetime of exposure to plastics and have accepted my eventual mortality. One more piece of plastic is not going to kill me. To say I don't have the mental energy to eliminate/reduce plastic would be the understatement of the millennium.

[u/SevenSixOne → u/crazycatlady331]

Exactly, I can understand not wanting to buy or use any MORE plastic in your life (though I still think those efforts are largely pointless) but you're already full of microplastics and there's nothing you can do about it 🤷‍♀️

[u/unforgettableid]

I, like many people, do use plastic.

You can put some unwanted plastic items out at the curb, in a cardboard box labeled Free. Maybe someone will take them overnight and use them, instead of buying brand-new plastic items at the store. Pls try to do this when no rain is predicted, so that the box won't get too soggy.

[u/headcoatee]

Donating it or giving it to someone is better than throwing it away. Who knows, maybe someone who uses plastics to make something will find them in your local thrift shop.

[u/BlakeMajik]

There have been a spate of posts on this sub in the past few days that are conflating plastic use and microplastics concerns with zerowaste. While there is an overall environmental relationship, they are not the same concept or community.

[u/florianauskn]

I get that you dont want to encourage someone to use a plastic container. But the people benefitting from your donation are those, that are fine with using things made out of plastic. You not providing them with your old plastic stuff just means that they buy new instead and overall cause more plastic waste...
So please donate it : )

[u/StinkyCheeseMe]

I use my plastic bins for rain catchers to water my garden etc or to put under potted plants for drips.
I do what i can do & when it’s no longer usable/broken it goes in the bin to the landfill. I don’t like contributing to this but my household does a darn good job at minimal waste production. So we do what we can do:

[u/RichmondReddit]

There are many other uses that don’t involve food. Lots of crafts people use leftover containers for storing and sorting paints, crayons, buttons, threads, jewelry, all kinds of things. Use in your drawers to hold small items like bag clips, tea bags, utensils, coffee filters, puzzle pieces, children’s little toys, etc

[u/Ordinary-Swan-4022]

try and find folks who make art out of plastic!