One really simple thing we have done this last year is to stop using so many plastic bags. I used to notice on an average trip to the store we would sometimes have thirty or forty bags sitting on the counter after putting everything away. This always seemed like such a waste considering it takes quite a bit of energy to make a plastic bag and them a lot more to get rid of it after.
I didn’t realize we used that many plastic bags until we stopped using them. We use plastic bags for almost everything. At the grocery store we have some need to wrap each kind of fruit and vegetable in a separate plastic bag, some people double wrap them. If you buy bulk items, deli items, any kind of meat, you probably put them all in plastic bags. Then finally everything gets put into even more plastic bags at the checkout. Then since the bags are so thin the store clerk will use more than one with just a couple items in each one.
Do we need so many? I don’t think so. An easy to solution to this is to buy about ten re-usable bags and take them to the store instead. They last a long time and many stored will give you money back for each one they use. For the items purchased in the store, just put them in the cart instead of a bag first. After getting rid of the impulse to put everything in a bag, it’s really easy to see things like apples and oranges are already wrapped 
It’s weird at first but just put it in the cart, even if it’s a little wet. I remember feeling kind of strange doing this but I promise no one will care. This will save hundreds of bags every year from ending up in the landfill, or blowing around wherever.
Every once in a while we will forget to take our re-usable bags to the store, which is fine because we get the paper ones and use them in our kitchen trash as a liner bag. This eliminates our need for trash bags as well. Wow, really? We don’t need to wrap our plastic trash with more plastic? Nope, another big waste. Besides, our trash can lasts a month now since we started recycling. Sandwich bags, just use wax paper. Plastic wrap, don’t need it. Plastic water bottles, tons of trash and bad for you too. Now, don’t get me wrong. Plastic is very handy and I don’t think we can totally eliminate it but I just don’t really like the needless waste.
Also if you end up with a little plastic that is headed for the trash, recycle it instead! You can drop it off in Orem at Dunn recycling on Geneva road between 8th north and 4th north. You just pull up and they will tell you what pile to throw it in. It’s free and will make you feel like you’re a real hippie.
