Plastic, probably the largest point of oil usage on a daily basis behind heating and fueling needs, stands out in my mind when I think of oil. The practicality of it is beyond any material humans have ever used, which ends up being a double edged sword. On the one had you can make almost any material out of plastic, this refers to excellent products like static proof sleeves for computer parts and medical supplies, as well as waste products like plastic bags or wrappers that are meant to be thrown away. Plastic is great, except for the fact that it is usually thrown away. Sometimes it makes it to the recycling bin, but even if it does, it can only be down-cycled, meaning it cannot be made back into the original product.
This calls for a change, but more importantly a consumer driven change, in which we buy products and containers that can be reused well past its intended use. Buying things that can be reused in a similar way to its original use, or for a completely different use can save money and waste, which are pretty standard excuse for doing certain things differently these days.
For example, glass jars can be cleaned, striped of labels, and used for drinking glasses or storing perishables. Another example is a washable drinking container and mug.
I see a lot of people buying a single plastic bottle during the day. You need water everyday, so why not save yourself the time and money and get a reusable water bottle. (Or you could also buy a drink in a glass bottle and try to reuse it later or at least recycle it. Glass is much easier to recycle than plastic.)
When it comes down to it, plastic bottles far out number glass bottles in the market place. I have no numbers to back that statement up, but its very obvious to see this in any store. This is probably due to the cost of a plastic bottle versus a glass bottle, as well as other factors including the weight of each, and the fragility.
These factors aside, I have come to the conclusion that reusing a glass bottle for drinking purposes instead of buying a new bottle of water every time you run out of water will save you money, period. The glass bottle is very easy to clean, it can be hand washed or put in the dish washer. Plus, glass unlike plastic, loses the smell from the previous liquid that inhabited it. The only problem is, if it breaks, you might be in a tough spot because it is glass and will cut you/other things and the liquid you had in it will be all over the place.
Recycling can be a good thing, but it usually entails the downgrading of the material being recycled. The best form of recycling is up-cycling, or reusing the original object in a similar way, or something close to it to become a better product or give it a higher environmental value. An example of this is of course a glass jar being reused as a drinking glass. It can also be used for storing things that need a tight seal, like jam. (mason jars are best for this)
I also use glass jars for storing fat and grease from cooking pans. It is very bad to pour grease or fat down the drain because it can clog your sink, but if you put it in a glass bottle or jar that has a top it can be sealed and filled to the top with that liquid and reused for other cooking purposes, like making soap, or thrown away in the trash.
It is hard to change a habit when there is no pressure to do so, but when money, time, and common sense become factors in decisions that are made everyday, it becomes easier to reason with yourself why you should or should not do something.
