Refuse or Recycle Overwrap

Overwrap? Until a couple of years ago I had never heard this term. But it makes sense: it’s the plastic wrapping that’s on the outside of products that is usually used to hold them together. Think toilet paper, bars of soap, bottled water. It’s not the same as cling film: the shrink wrap - stretchy type plastic, but has a more rigid feel.

When shopping for any kind of product, one thing that you can do is evaluate if there is an acceptable buying option that doesn’t include extra plastic packaging. By refusing to buy these products, you’re reducing the amount of plastic in your life, and also reducing the amount of waste that you have to deal with at home.

If you do need to purchase items with overwrap, recycle it right after use. This type of plastic can be placed with other plastic bags and recycled at local retail stores like Target or grocery stores. (Please don’t place it in your recycle bin - it clogs the sorting machines!)

By making more thoughtful purchasing and waste decisions, we can make a small difference in the amount of plastic that remains on the planet each day.