Feb 20, 2017

Less Waste Car Travel

Zero Waste Car Travel

We needed gas, had to go to the bathroom, and were hungry. Naturally, the gas station is the place to stop. Unfortunately the gas station can also be the source of a lot of garbage. They have walls of plastic bottles filled with every color liquid imaginable. There are aisles upon aisles of packaged junk food. The fountain drink stations have cups, lids, and straws. Everything in the gas station is meant to cater to convenience. To be consumed and discarded. What is someone who is trying to minimize her waste supposed to do? 

Thanks to the Navy I've been on my fair share of road trips. Primarily it has been called "moving" rather than "vacation," but those are technically just semantics. We drove from Oregon to Florida, from Florida to Maine, from Texas to Florida, and the length of the Florida Panhandle more times than I can count. 

Looking back on those pre-zero waste days I can see how much waste was created without even realizing it. However now I've got some tricks that would help minimize the amount of waste created. Typically you have a lot more space and fewer restrictions when traveling by car then you by traveling by air

Water and Drinks:

  • Bring your own water. Bring a reusable water bottle (or multiples if it is a long trip). You can refill it from water fountains or in restaurants. 
  • Bring a large water jug. I know sometimes the water in other places tastes weird or there isn't easy access to water fountains, so by carrying a large supply of water you can easily refill your water bottle. 
  • Buy glass. If you must buy water (or any drink) be sure to buy it in glass and not plastic. Remember glass is fully recyclable whereas plastic can only be downcycled.  
  • Use a reusable coffee mug.  At the gas station fill up your own mug rather than use one of their own. When passing through a town local coffee shops may be more willing to let you use your own mug rather than a disposable one. 

Snacks and food:

  • Buy unpackaged food. The last time we were on a trip the gas station they had apples and bananas available. 
  • Pack a cooler. If you've got room you can bring all sorts of food from home or get some along the way.
  • Shop at grocery stores not gas stations. The grocery store is far more likely to have package free good. 
  • Hit the bulk food section. The bulk food section is usually perfect for road trip snacks: nuts, yogurt covered pretzels, trail mix and candies all come to mind.
  • Bring your own silverware and straw. When eating out many places want you to have disposable silverware. By bringing your own you can refuse them.
  • Eat at a local restaurant not fast food. Sit down restaurants are more likely to serve food on plates with real silverware. Fast food restaurants tend to give disposables. 

Planning ahead, by bringing your reusable products will help eliminate a lot of waste, but even if you end up on an impromptu car trip there are choices you can make that will limit the environmental impact.

So the next time you end up hungry, thirsty and out of gas look to see what choices you can make to limit the trash that is created. 

How do you limit waste on car trips?


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15 comments:

  1. These are some great tips to help cut down waste and save the environment.

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  2. These are some great ideas. Thanks for sharing

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    1. Thanks! It makes me sick to think of all the packaging I could have avoided if I adopted a zero waste/ less waste lifestyle earlier.

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  3. Great ideas. I love the one on bringing your own mug. Our local donut shop has a wall full of their regular customers mugs. I think if I one there though it would have my name on it.

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    1. What a great thing for the donut shop to do! It helps remind others to use their own too.

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  4. Hi Katy,
    Great tips. I hate going into gas station bathrooms - most of them are scrumpy but sometimes you don't have much choice. I always take my own water and keep utensils in the car. I really like your suggestion about eating at a restaurant instead of fast food - so much healthier as a rule. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day. Sharing on twitter & pinning.

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    1. Yes, gas station bathrooms leave much to be desired! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. These are great tips. Love the bulk section aisle!

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  6. I also hate the fact that so much of the food available in petrol stations etc is so unhealthy. I always take my own for this reason, as well as keeping waste down. Thanks for hosting #WastelessWednesday and sorry I have taken so long to pop back after linking up! 💚

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    1. Glad to have you back! Yes, there are a number of reasons why we should avoid the food in gas stations.

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    2. ... and thanks for linking up with #GoingGreenLinky 💚

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  7. Great tips! But I am curious why you advise buying drinks in glass but not aluminum. Aluminum recycles even more efficiently, and because it is lightweight, less energy is burned transporting the beverage from factory to store. The only disadvantage I can see is that an aluminum can can't be closed again after you've opened it.

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    1. Great thought! I guess it's because of what is in the glass versus aluminum. Most of the drinks that come in aluminum I rarely drink (soda and energy drinks). So things I would normally think to drink, juice or tea, rarely come in aluminum. Also at gas stations, they often are selling the plastic containers and not the aluminum cans. You are absolutely right that cans are a better options.

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