Common beauty and hygiene products such as toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo are common waste producers in our daily lives. These products typically come in plastic packaging, which is often either exceptionally hard to recycle or recyclable at all. When purchasing hygiene products, look out for non-plastic or easily recyclable options to reduce waste – newer companies are offering non-plastic alternatives. Read on for suggestions  to reduce plastic consumption and waste in your home: 

Toothpaste: Traditional toothpaste tubes are hard to recycle; the average family uses 24 tubes of toothpaste a year! Luckily, there are several great options available locally to make the switch. Toothpaste tabs or powder are an increasingly common product, available at grocery stores such as Harmons, Whole Foods, or fulFILLed in the Outlets. These tabs and powders are sold in glass, metal, or paper packaging.

Deodorant: About 3.2 billion deodorant containers are thrown in the trash each year! These containers are typically made of specially shaped, heat-resistant plastic and therefore not recyclable in curbside recycling. Recently, however, cardboard containers are emerging to replace plastic – a better option for recycling or even landfill. Or, try a crystal deodorant that will last longer. 

Shampoo/Conditioner: Traditional shampoo and conditioner come in plastic containers that are recyclable in curbside recycling. Traditional shampoo and conditioner are up to 85% water, therefore requiring waterproof plastic containers. Check out shampoo and conditioner bars: hard soap bars which can be used when wet as shampoo and conditioner! These bars typically cost between $7 and $20 but can last 2-3 times as long as liquid shampoo (meaning they can also be the more cost-effective option). Shampoo and conditioner bars are typically wrapped in paper or cardboard boxes, both of which can be recycled, resulting in a zero-waste and plastic-free product!

By Mia Moore