Reduce Plastic Waste 

The ACT Government, along with other state and territory governments, is taking steps to ban some single use plastics. This will not be enough to stop the waste caused by single-use plastics and the ongoing problem of plastics in our rivers and oceans. Below are 31 tips on how to reduce single-use plastics. 

SEE Change does not endorse specific suppliers. Under several tips below, the names of suppliers are provided as a guide to help you places the specific identified items. 

Tip 1: Buy from a bulk food store

Buying from a bulk food shop is a great way to reduce single use plastics.

You can take in your own containers and fill them or you can fill with the provided paper bags or other containers. The process is simple: the filled container is weighed and the weight of the container deducted to work out what you have to pay. You can buy many items in bulk: not only flour, sugars, dried fruit, nuts, oats and chocolate, and also oils, cleaning products and soaps. There are many bulk food shops in Canberra: Food Co-op (Civic), The Source Bulk Foods (Dickson, Belconnen), Naked Foods (Braddon, Woden) and Scoop Wholefoods (Kingston).

Tip 2: Drink coffee/tea in a café

Instead of getting your coffee or tea in a single use cup, drink your coffee or tea at a café which uses crockery to serve its hot drinks. The coffee or tea tastes better in a crockery cup or mug. Don’t have the time to sit in a café? Use the time to catch up on emails or send messages. Alternatively, take a coffee/tea break with a friend or work colleague – great opportunity to catch up or hold a meeting.

It is estimated Australians use 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year, many of which end up in landfill. Every time you drink your coffee or tea using crockery cups in a café, it is one less cup that ends up in landfill. It is estimated that reusable cups and mugs use seven times less water to wash in their lifetime, than the amount of water used in factories to make disposable cups.

Tip 3: Use a reusable drink bottle

A great way to reduce single use plastics is to use a reusable drink bottle instead of buying bottled water.

Water from the tap in Australia is great to drink - just fill your reusable water bottle. If you are out and about, the ACT Government provides water filling stations in parks and other public places across Canberra where you can easily fill up your water bottle. You can also go into many businesses that will allow you to refill your water bottles – Refill Canberra is a scheme to encourage businesses to offer this service – look up 'Refill Canberra' online for details and a map of businesses supporting water bottle refills.

Tip 4: Refuse a plastic carry bag

The number of plastic bags in circulation in Canberra has dropped significantly since all plastic bags with handles have been banned in the ACT. It is pleasing to see that some retailers have taken steps to further reduce the use of plastic bags by, for example, replacing with paper bags. However, you may still be offered plastic bags to carry your shopping at some stores.

You can help reduce the amount of single-use plastic in Canberra by politely refusing a plastic bag. You can carry a foldup bag that can be used to carry the items you have purchased.

Tip 5: Buy clothes made with natural fibres

Did you know that the majority of the clothes currently available contain plastic in the form of polyester, nylon and acrylic? As a result, our clothes are shedding tiny bits of plastic that escape into the ocean, creeks and lakes, where they are eaten by fish and other aquatic animals. No one knows the damage we might be causing by eating fish which contain micro plastics.

One way we can all help reduce the amount of single-use plastics in clothing is to buy clothing made of natural fibres, some examples being wool, linen, cotton and bamboo.

Tip 6: Shop at a farmers market

Shop at a farmers market and meet like-minded people who also want to reduce their reliance on single-use plastic and minimise waste from their home.

Waste reduction is helped if you take your own produce and carry bags and paper bags and reusable clean jars.

The produce is sourced as locally as the traders can provide, which means it’s fresh and wholesome.

Most markets have café stalls, and sitting a while to chat gives the shopping event a village atmosphere. By shopping locally at farmers markets, we are supporting hard-working families and our local community.

Tip 7: Use a sparkling water maker

Do you like drinking sparkling water? Most people get their sparkling water by buying it in plastic bottles at the supermarket. This results in the use of a lot of single use plastic bottles.

There is an alternative: a sparkling water maker. These have a cylinder containing carbon dioxide (CO2), which can be replaced when it is empty – simply take it back to your local supermarket and buy a replacement cylinder which is full. Your original cylinder is then sent back to be filled again – no waste. The sparkling water is created by infusing the CO2 into water in reusable bottles.

The end result is a lot of single-use plastic bottles being saved from landfill!

Tip 8: Carry a reusable bowl for leftovers

Carry a reusable bowl for leftovers in your car or from work for when dining out.

Collapsable bowls are available in various sizes and fit easily into a hand or shoulder bag. This way, we don’t need to ask for a ‘doggy box’, which even if made of cardboard, invariably ends up in a waste stream after only one use. Leftovers are tasty the next day, sometimes more so, and are easily built into meals. Using all food served to us is a great way to budget and reduce the amount of money we spend on food which we don’t eat.

Tip 9: Use a keep cup

It is estimated Australians use 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year. Using a reusable coffee cup will reduce the number of disposable coffee cups that end up in landfill. Just remember to take your reusable coffee cup with you when you get your morning coffee. During COVID, many coffee shops stopped allowing the use of reusable coffee cups but most have now returned to allowing reusable coffee cups. You might find that your local coffee shops supports one of the swap and go reusable coffee cup schemes, like Green Caffeen or HuskeeSwap, where you can borrow and return a reusable coffee cup.

Tip 10: Use a stainless steel or glass straw

Use a stainless steel, silicone, bamboo or glass straw, which can be carried in the cutlery set in your bag. Like all single-use plastic items, plastic straws are designed to be used once then discarded.

It is estimated that Australians use 10 million plastic straws a day, all of which are thrown into landfill, or are dropped onto streets where they wash into creeks, lakes and the ocean. They cannot be recycled in our domestic bins, and plastic does not break down for hundreds of years, if ever. The ACT Government banned plastic straws from 1 July 2022, with exemption for those who need them, and now many businesses choose not to automatically include them with every drink order. Many of our drinks away from home don’t require a straw, so why not try not to request one.

Alternative materials for straws available now have features which mean that they are reusable and dishwasher safe, and straw sets or those with cutlery sets often include a straw-cleaning brush.

Tip 11: Use a reusable bread bag

One place you will still get a plastic bag is when buying bread. You can avoid this single use plastic by taking in your reusable bread bag. You can buy reusable bread bags, often made with recycled plastic, from a number of retailers.

Alternatively, you can make your own reusable bread bag with cotton or linen offcuts. If you haven’t eaten all the fresh bread, you can leave it in the reusable bread bag to put it in the freezer.

Every time you use your reusable bread bag, it is one less single-use plastic bag in circulation.

Tip 12: Carry a cutlery set

Carry a cutlery set in the car or your shoulder or hand bag, and keep a set in a drawer at work for lunchtime take-aways.

Sets of knife, fork and spoon are now available made from metal, starch, bamboo and durable plastics, and are often sold in an attractive, compact pouch or tin. Some sets include a metal, glass or reusable plastic straw and straw cleaner – see Tip 10. Cutlery sets make attractive gifts and help spread the movement to reduce single-use plastics.

Tip 13: Use eco dental floss and a bamboo toothbrush

Most of us rely on plastic dental floss and a plastic toothbrush, but there are alternatives. The Mi Eco dental floss for example, is made from corn starch and comes in a reusable, glass bottle. Plastic free dental floss can be purchased from several online shops, and is 100% biodegradable and compostable.

The bamboo toothbrush has a 100% biodegradable handle and when its use as a brush is over, it can be used as a plant tag in the garden. The bristles may be plastic and not biodegradable. Pulling the bristles out and disposing in the red (landfill) bin.

Tip 14: Line your rubbish bin with newspaper

Most people line their inside rubbish bin with a plastic bag. However, it is not difficult to make a rubbish bin liner from newspaper.

A newspaper bin liner works best if you can avoid placing wet items into the bin. Many wet items belong in a compost bin (or Bokashi bin if you live in an apartment). Hence, have a newspaper-lined bin for the general rubbish and a separate compost bin. By using a newspaper bin liner, you can reduce the amount of single-use plastic bags you use.

Tip 15: Choose foods without plastic packaging

Choose foods without plastic packaging and this may have the added advantage of helping you reduce food waste.

Choosing loose fruit and veg rather than pre-packaged, can reduce plastic waste, reduce clutter in your fridge and reduce food waste. With your own produce and shopping bags, loose produce is easy to bag and sort out once home. Fruit and vegetables are exempt from GST in Australia, so buying only the amount you think you’ll use can be very helpful for the grocery budget.

Tip 16: Use loose leaf tea

Did you know that tea bags have a small amount of plastic? By using a teapot or tea infuser, you can ensure those plastic microbeads don’t go into the compost or landfill, and importantly, not into your stomach. Many tea drinkers will say that you get a better and more refreshing taste by making tea in a teapot or tea infuser. Catering for more than one tea drinker is easy with a teapot - just add more tea to the pot.

Tip 17: Use a metal razor

Millions of disposable razors are used every year, which represents a significant waste of single-use plastics, both in the razor itself and its packaging. The alternative is a metal safety razor, which reduces the amount of single-use plastic wasted as well as being less expensive and provides a better shaving experience. Most metal safety razors can be used thousands of times – the blades can be recycled with other metals.

Tip 18: Use reusable produce bags

Use reusable produce bags instead of the plastic produce bags at the supermarket.

Many gift shops, department stores and some supermarkets sell light-weight reusable bags of different volumes for your grocery produce. It’s also easy and quick to make your own bag: a couple of metres of cheesecloth or organza will make several bags and you don’t need to worry about drawstring tops if you don’t fill the bags. All these materials are so light, it isn’t necessary to empty the bags at the checkout – they add virtually nothing to the weight of the produce. Several bags will fold into one holding bag, so keep a collection of bags in your car, a couple in your bicycle pannier or pouch, and in a drawer at work.

Tip 19: Use biodegradable glitter

Do you currently use glitter in your craft projects, children’s play activities or as makeup? Did you know that most glitter is made of plastic? But there is an alternative – biodegradable glitter. Biodegradable glitter is made from plants. Some Australian glitter is made of cellulose from eucalyptus trees. There are multiple suppliers in Australia – search Google to find a supplier. Look for one that distributes glitter in biodegradable packaging.

Tip 20: Use shampoo and conditioner bars

Using a shampoo and conditioner soap bar is a better alternative than using a single-use plastic bottle containing liquid shampoo. It is best to get it without any packaging at a bulk food shop, making it truly a zero waste product!

Shampoo bars are typically available in a variety of options and ingredients. For example, the shampoo bar may contain rosemary, shea butter and olive oil. Another bonus is that a shampoo and conditioner bar typically works out cheaper than using shampoo in a single-use plastic bottle.

Tip 21: Make your own lip balm

Make your own lip balm from easy-to-source ingredients, such as beeswax, cocoa butter, high-quality edible oil, and optionally, various essential oils. Commercial lip balms may contain a mix of petroleum compounds and unspecified flavours, and are frequently imported from distant countries. The little tubes and tubs which they often comes in have little re-use potential, and are not suitable for our recycling bins. There are many websites which provide directions for making lip balm, including the attractive Homestead and Chill site: https://homesteadandchill.com.

Tip 22: Give up chewing gum

Did you know that chewing gum contains plastic? An ingredient listed as “gum base” in many gum formulas is plastic, and it’s the aspect of the gum that gives it its chewiness. Most supermarket chewing gum base is a mix of plastic and different chemicals, including polyethylene. Unsurprisingly, the plastic in gum can have a negative impact on the environment. The small stains left from gum which sticks to the footpath contain micro plastics that can then end up in drains that filter into the ocean.

Fortunately, there are eco-friendly alternatives for gum-lovers who don’t want to chew on plastic. Honest Gum https://www.honestgum.com.au/ is one example of plastic-free chewing gum.

Tip 23: Use refill stations for cleaning products

Bulk food shops - see Tip 1 - don’t just sell nuts, dried fruit and cereals. They also sell detergents and other liquid cleaning products used in the kitchen and the bathroom. Typically, you might buy the first supply of detergent in a plastic container provided by the shop, and then you bring it back each time it is empty to refill again. They automatically know how the big the container is (200ml, 500ml or 1 litre) and charge you accordingly.

You can also purchase dishwasher powder and washing machine powder from bulk food shops, further reducing the amount of single use plastics coming into your house.

Tip 24: Make your own yoghurt

You can avoid single-use plastic containers for yoghurt by making your own – it is not hard. You can use a yoghurt maker or your oven. If you don’t have a yoghurt maker, follow this recipe.

Heat 500mls of milk in microwave oven to 82C degrees, then let it stand to cool to 43C degrees. Add 3 tablespoons of yoghurt from a viable culture to the milk. The yoghurt then needs a warm spot to set. Heat the electric or gas oven to 55C degrees, turn it off and place the milk mixture within. Leave overnight, and place in refrigerator when set. If not set enough, heat oven to 55C degrees again and leave for further hours.

Tip 25: Use reusable shopping bags

The ACT banned lightweight plastic bags at supermarkets years ago. You can purchase reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags, and you can also buy reusable bags made from cloth. You can make them in a variety of sizes for use for major shopping or loose vegetable shopping e.g. French beans, carrots, apples. Reusable carry bags can also be made of hessian, which is a strong, coarse fabric made from hemp or jute, not likely to fall apart.

Tip 26: Buy milk in glass bottles

One way to reduce single use plastics is to buy milk in refillable glass bottles. Several places are now selling milk this way, including the Cook Grocer, IGA Dickson, IGA Ainslie and the Food Co-op. It is easy – the first time you buy the refillable bottle and fill it with your desired milk, clean it and take it back each time to refill it. 

Tip 27: Use bars of soap

Instead of buying liquid soap in a plastic bottle, buy soaps in bars. Soaps typically come in paper or cardboard that can be put in the compost or recycling bin. In a bulk food shop, you can even purchase soap bars without any packaging at all. Soap bars have the added advantage of requiring less energy to produce and less energy to transport because of their lighter weight. Soap bars also last longer than the equivalent liquid soap and people use less water when washing with soap bars. Lots of good reasons for using soap in a bar instead of liquid soap in a plastic bottle.

Tip 28: Use tiffin boxes

Tiffin boxes are metal, usually three-tiered containers with a carry handle, which many restaurants will accept. The idea originated in India, where cooked meals were delivered to offices. Tiffin boxes are available in some Asian produce stores and on-line, and some have an insulating cover to keep the food warm. 

Tip 29: Use bunting instead of balloons

Balloons are made of plastic. Replacing balloons reduces the amount of single-use plastic in our society. Balloons end up creating litter when they eventually come back to earth on land or on waterways. They are harmful for wildlife – balloons can look like jellyfish to a sea turtle.

With a little bit of creativity, you can easily plan a party that’s free from balloons and other harmful single-use plastics. Popular decorations that can be reused time and time again include bunting and banners, paper chains, streamers, paper flowers, pinwheels, tassels, pom poms, lanterns, fresh flowers, bubbles, kites and more. You can make decorations out of paper, fabric or wood.

Tip 30: Use a non-pod coffee making system

Use a non-pod coffee making system to help with the daily grind. Australians consume 3 million coffee capsules and pods daily, with only 10% of these capsules being recycled. This equates to an estimated 8,500 tonnes of aluminium, plastic and used coffee grounds going to landfill every year (source: Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 2023). It has been estimated that they take 500 years to decompose.

Despite the fact that some of them are now made of aluminium or compostable fibre, the only recycling option is by returning them to retailers who are willing to accept them for bulk recycling. They are too small, and with their plastic cap which is a different type of plastic to the pod, they are not acceptable items for our domestic recycling bins. Also, considerable energy and resources are required to manufacture these single-use products. By not purchasing coffee-pod machines, we are helping reduce consumption of waste products, plastic or otherwise, which are resource-intensive to make. Freshly-ground coffee and beans are available in many flavours and strengths from niche brands, supermarkets and coffee shops, and they make excellent gifts

Tip 31: Use reusable beeswax wrap or a lunch pocket

Use reusable beeswax wraps and lunch pockets for a multitude of purposes, and you will replace hundreds of metres of single-use cling wrap and aluminium foil, and thousands of clip-lock bags which are tossed out after only one use. Wax wraps can be used over the top of containers in the fridge and pantry; wrap your sandwiches, cake and biscuits for school, work, picnics, bushwalks and travel. If you make a sandwich in the morning from fresh or frozen bread, by lunchtime it will be ready to eat and as fresh as if just made. It can be satisfying and creative to make your own wraps: the Canberra Environment Centre https://www.canberraenvironment.org/ runs workshops from time to time. Wraps are available at some markets, in many stores and supermarkets, online, and they make attractive gifts. 

Reusable lunch pockets can be used for sandwiches, cake and biscuits. As with beeswax wraps, they replace single-use cling wrap, aluminium foil, and clip-lock bags which usually end up in landfill. Pockets are likely to be made of a durable waterproof material, and may have a velcro fastening. With a gentle wash or wipe between uses, they can be kept clean and hygienic.