How to Ditch Plastic in the Bathroom

The average American throws away about 185 pounds of plastic every year, and 50% of the plastic we use gets thrown away after only a single use. It’s no mystery why we have a plastic pollution crisis on our hands. And while small ways might have made a dent in the problem once, we need to take more drastic measures now. Here are six ways you can change your bathroom habits to totally ditch plastic.

 

Though we need more drastic and deliberate actions, starting at home is the best way to begin living a low-waste, plastic-free lifestyle.

1.  Make your own toothpaste

Ditch store-bought toothpaste to eliminate the use of the plastic tube and the microbeads used in toothpaste. Make your own toothpaste at home using water, baking soda, and peppermint oil or any other food-safe essential oil.

2. Switch to bar soap over bottles

Most hair care products come packaged in plastic, but these plastic bottles generally end up in the landfill. Ditch the plastic bottles and buy bar soaps (that come unwrapped or in cardboard) and you can even switch to bar shampoo—just look for one that has no parabens, is gentle on skin, and is not tested on animals.

3. Change your menstrual routine

Opt for cardboard-applicator or applicator-free tampons or invest in a reusable menstrual cup. Traditional tampons and pads com wrapped in plastic that cannot be recycled.

4. Buy toilet paper wrapped in paper instead of plastic

Another way to ditch plastic in the bathroom is to switch to toilet paper that comes wrapped in paper rather than plastic. Even better if you can find toilet paper made from recycled materials.

5. Go for a non-plastic reusable safety razor

Disposable razors are never a good idea when it comes to reusable plastic, and even replaceable blades generate plastic waste. Try a safety razor with a stainless steel handle.

6. Quit plastic toothbrushes

Every plastic toothbrush you’ve ever used is sitting somewhere in a landfill. In fact, one billion are thrown away every year, creating about 50 million pounds of waste.

Just like plastic toothbrushes, bamboo brushes need to be replaced about every three months, but the handle of a bamboo toothbrush only takes only six months to biodegrade.

Author Bio:

Article written for WhosGreenOnline.com by, Matilda Davies

Matilda lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she writes about health and wellness. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, and walking her dogs.