apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm going to chime in and remind people that, when all is said and done, it's probably worse for the environment for you to chuck all your tupperware into a landfill.

These are great, but you should really approach this as a gradual thing as you need new containers, not "throw away what I have and replace it".

I'm switching gradually, as the plastic containers die off (at that point, I recycle them if possible).

Opo, if I were going to do a mass replace, I'd probably freecycle the usable ones for just that reason. That's what I did with my teflon pans, and the recipient said that even with the possible problems from Teflon, they are better than what she was using before. We both benefit and kept usable stuff out of the landfill too.

These glass containers also look like they will stack better than my plastic. Bonus!

Have there been posts on non-plastic water bottles? I need a couple for DD to take to school...

Kyrdissa, we've blogged a couple options that might work for you. Do a search for "water bottle" in the upper right hand corner of the page. The second post, which starts "It's Complicated," has a couple non-plastic options.

I find it kind of weird that you'd freecycle something you've deemed too harmful for personal use.

Why? It's a personal preference. People will still use plastic storage containers, so instead of throwing it away, give it away so someone doesn't have to pay for another and then your container gets a longer life instead of ending up in a landfill.

Right...just cuz you didn't get cancer from it, doesn't mean someone else can't....spread the love.

I can see where this would be a little disturbing. I'd rather just chuck the stuff in a landfill then risk the chance of someone getting sick from something toxic. These things affect people differently. Someone can eat something and get e.coli where your friend who shared the food at teh table with you is left unbothered and fine.

It's not so much that I think it's unsanitary to freecycle something you've eaten from (I've had my share of thrifted dishes over the years), but that if you're so worried about pthalates leaching into your food from tupperware that you've decided you need to get rid of all your tupperware postehaste, then why are you willing to pass it off to someone else, who will be just as affected by the pthalates as you are?

I don't see the logic in saying "well it's people's choice to take it or not", because A) you're banking on people not knowing or needing the containers too badly to care, and B) if nobody on freecycle wants it due to the pthalates, you can't exactly freecycle it, then, can you?

It's the same logic that enables people to sell their bedbug-ridden furniture on craigslist.

We've been using glass storage containers from Crate & Barrel for a few months now. For some reason the small cube-shaped ones with glass lids aren't featured on the C&B website, but they only cost about $5. What's nice is that they don't stain like Tupperware does. Never been a fan of Tupperware... though my husband would at times secretly buy and hide it.

Why don't you use your old tupperware containers to store something you won't eat, like... nails! That way you don't get cancer and the people who would buy them off of freecycle won't either

BlindCaveFish, that's a really good idea!

I don't generally buy containers. I used to use my old plastic bins from yogurt, sour cream, etc. When I stopped eating dairy I began to use the glass containers from jam, mustard, pickles, etc. for storage. Free, less in the landfill and no more plastic. Lacks a wee bit on the aesthetic end, but full of beans, grains, pastas, and other wonderful foods, they end up looking a whole lot better than anything plastic ever did.

I realize this post is old but wanted explain something. The lady I gave the Teflon pots to: I discussed my concerns about the Teflon with her. She stated she understood that, but would accept the risk based on the pans she currently had were worse. Having had little choice at one point but to cook on old pans that were burning through the bottom (until I was gifted a better set), I can understand her point and she is aware of my concerns. I did not post the pots open to freecycle; I gave them directly to someone I know from the list who asked for them.

jonathonb - thank you for the items you found.