5 Ways to Eliminate Plastic From Your Life

You've stopped using plastic grocery bags and started bringing your own reusable bags to the market. Now, here are five easy ways to eliminate even more plastic from your life:

1. Shower curtains. Rather than buying a plastic shower curtain, opt for one made of fabric, says Kris Bordessa, the blogger behind Attainable Sustainable. Fabric shower curtains are easier to wash and reuse, and they don't emit the toxic fumes that PVC curtains do. Go even further: Eliminate the plastic liner, as well. Bordessa says she doesn't use one and never has splashing problems.

2. Shopping containers. In addition to reusable bags to carry your groceries home, bring small bags and jars for items that need to be packaged as you shop. For instance, bring mesh cotton bags for fruits and vegetables, rather than using the plastic bags provided in the store's produce department. Bring your own bags for loaves of bread and your own glass jars for items you can buy in bulk, such as nuts and seeds. There are many reusable bags available at LifeWithoutPlastics.

3. Compost. When you compost your food and plant waste, you'll decrease the amount of wet garbage and reduce your need for disposable plastic garbage bags, says Jay Sinha of Life Without Plastics. As a result, "most of your garbage will be dry waste, which you may, depending on your municipality, be able to put straight in the garbage can without a bag."

4. Water bottles. Rather than buying disposable water bottles, which consume lots of resources to extract, bottle and ship the water, carry a reusable mug or bottle with you. For best results, choose a glass or stainless steel bottle without a plastic or epoxy lining, says Leeann Brown, press secretary for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, which uses public information to protect public health and the environment.

5. Food storage. Eschew plastic food containers and store leftovers in glass or stainless steel instead. Look for canned goods, such as spaghetti sauces, that come in glass containers, and reuse them. Or simply put leftovers in a bowl and cover them with a plate, Sinha says.

Read more: How to Create a Zero Waste Home and