Sunday, April 11, 2010

Parting with the plastic: ISO home for kitchen containers

A silent weapon resides next to our fridge: Open the cabinet, and you'll be attacked by a sea of plastic containers.

Plastic food containers have taken over my life. OK, at least one kitchen cabinet. But I admit I'm at a loss of what to do with them.

I'll be the first to admit that our consumption of those Ziploc lunch containers has dropped considerably the last two years. Eliminate one full-time job and invest in a few glass containers to take your meals to work, and you suddenly burn through a lot less plastic. (And yes, burn is an appropriate word, considering how many of them have warped and melted in the dishwasher over the years.)

I've gotten more glass bowls of varying sizes to use for prepping veggies, and rarely get out my mixing bowls. Yet I've got container after container of these storage boxes, and no idea what to do with them.

It's not like you can casually say, "Hey, would you like some used plastic containers for your lunches? You know, because we don't use them anymore on principle." And donating them seems awkward, as you're essentially giving chemical-leaching things to others in need.

Sure, some of them become temporary homes for Goldfish crackers, or other small snacks for my rambunctious toddler. And I can use a few of them for random storage in the garage or other areas. But, really, I'd like to part with them as quickly as possible and reclaim my home! Any great ideas?

4 comments:

Erin aka Conscious Shopper said...

Do you know what number plastic they are? I have a couple semi-melted and deformed containers that are number 5 that I'll be taking to Whole Foods to recycle through Preserve's Gimme 5 program.

Robbie said...

I'm pretty sure they are #5, which means we're not able to recycle them around here. I may have to remember Whole Foods the next time I make the trek!

LacyHolly said...

I actually did give away all my plasitc containers to someone when we switched from plastic to glass... www.freecycle.com is a great website for that type of thing! I posted them on there and immediately had a response for them.

Unknown said...

I save, wash and use every disposable container for feeding stray cats -They get another day or three's use in the street. (and I discard them when I can find them again). Perhaps some feeders/rescuers in your areas can use them.