Your plastic ware is lasting longer than glass or ceramic would in my house. Honestly, I'd get more of the ziplock. They work great, are clearish so you can see the contents, last a long time, stack, and don't break when you drop them off knock the stack over.

Hi! Don’t really have an alternative for you, but wanted to say that our household does exactly as you’re doing - using the Ziploc containers (or similar) for years. We’ve replaced Ziploc BAGs, though, with compostable zip-close sandwich bags, and plastic trash can liners with compostable bags. We tried the silicone bags, but they are a bit messy - plus, can’t stack. I think you can use your Ziploc containers with a light conscience— just be sure to recycle them when you refresh your stash. No need for them to end up in the trash! :-)

and then we periodically replace them as they break down.

Or are given to a friend with no expectation of return -- that's another benefit of those semi-disposables.

I’m due to refresh my supply, and feeling bad about buying more plastic products that eventually end up in the trash.

Yes, plastics are a huge problem for the planet, and we all need to try to decrease our plastic usage.

Your plastic ware is lasting longer than glass or ceramic would in my house.

Glass lasts essentially forever, and often you get it for free (in the form of salsa jars, etc.) It washes in the dishwasher, doesn't retain odors or stains, and it is see-through.

I vote for giving glass a try.

For a while I collected vintage Pyrex refrigerator boxes, which are made in what I consider one-serving sizes and four-serving sizes. I loved those little things because they stack nicely, the lids are interchangeable, and they have all the benefits of glass (except see-through-ness). Then I found out old Pyrex contains lead, which read upset me because I paid a lot for those cute little storage dishes, and I have probably 20.

Anchor-Hocking makes a new all-glass product that's similar, and I'm thinking of starting to add them to my kitchen. I do not actually own the Anchor-Hocking refrigerator boxes, so I am not endorsing them.

I think you can use your Ziploc containers with a light conscience— just be sure to recycle them when you refresh your stash. No need for them to end up in the trash! :-)

Not really. Most of the plastic that we "recycle" is actually sold to third world countries, where it's just stored. This practice is about to bite us in the butt because those countries are "filling up", and they're going to stop accepting our trash. Realistically, we have to say no to one-time plastics (seriously, who thought disposable water bottles are a good idea?) and commit to keeping our plastic long-term. This is not an easy thing to do because plastic is so ingrained in our food system.

A couple years ago I went to a teacher in-service program on this topic that was very informative. We visited the recycling plant, which was a big eye-opener, and since then I have made a concerted effort to buy less plastic.

A couple articles:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/17/recycled-plastic-america-global-crisis

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/12/climate/plastics-waste-export-ban.html 

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/03/13/702501726/where-will-your-plastic-trash-go-now-that-china-doesnt-want-it 

Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers. They are the best. Airtight. Easy to clean. Easy to open and close. A ton of different sizes. They come in either "Rubbermaid Brilliance Stainshield" which means they are made of BPA-free plastic, or in "Rubbermaid Brilliance" made of glass. I have several of each.

Sistema

Available on Amazon.

We use glass, almost exclusively. The lids don't stack, but I have them sorted by size. The bowls stack pretty well. We don't put hot food into plastic, and we don't heat up food in the microwave if it's in plastic, so glass works great for us. It's not cheap, but we built it up over time.

That size, yes, but we have lots of very large bowls for soups and stews, and shallow rectangular containers for marinating.

The thing is, @Mrs Pete, most leftovers require rectangular containers, with wide openings…leftover lasagna, burritos, chicken, pasta, Chinese food, etc. Jars, with narrow openings, are just not conducive to most leftover food storage. Plus, jars take up much more space on the shelves. What you’re showing in the picture above, are dry goods…nuts, beans, grains, dried fruit (I think I see figs in one?). Jars are perfectly suitable for those items…non of which need to be refrigerated.

We also use the ZipLoc containers. Have them in multiple sizes and shapes, and have 2 lower drawers devoted to them. They last a very long time. And, as they’re cost effective, I can give away my brownies and cookies, without asking for the container back.

About plastic bags…I try to use as few as possible. My DH, on the otherhand, will often stick leftovers in bags, and it just drives me nuts.

Also, packaging figures into my shopping decisions. There are foods I like but won't buy because of the packaging.

We use anchor hocking glass food storage containers. They some in a set of four sizes and you can buy new lids when the old ones break after 5+ years of service. We cook and eat a lot, and these containers have been with us for more than a decade of use! They wash up easily in the dishwasher, and they also have the added bonus of not leaching anything into our leftovers. The only downside is that they are heavy if you are going somewhere (like a picnic), but we have a few plastic containers for outings. They also stack nicely together so they don't take up much room. They have been the perfect solution for us!

You may consider the Rubbermaid Brilliance (Suzanne_WI above) or Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids. The EFLs are a little sturdier plastic than the ZipLocs, so should last longer, but do cost a little more. One thing about the EFLs is that they nest and that some sizes use the same lids.

Ultimate Pyrex glassware.

Ikea has an 8x6x3" high glass with plastic lid for $5 or $8 with a bamboo lid.

A 6x6x3 with plastic lid for $3. Link. Bamboo for $6. And others. Link.

More expensive borosilicate from the Container Store. Link.

Less at $1 with lid for 5" round at the Dollar Tree. Link.

The thing is, @Mrs Pete, most leftovers require rectangular containers, with wide openings…leftover lasagna, burritos, chicken, pasta, Chinese food, etc. Jars, with narrow openings, are just not conducive to most leftover food storage.

I hear what you're saying, but living in a planet we've destroyed with plastics won't be all that convenient either.

It's true that not every glass jar is well-suited to left-overs, but you don't need to save every glass jar that comes into your house. Short-fat salsa jars are great for storing a single serving of most any dish.

“Short-fat salsa jars are great for storing a single serving of most any dish.”

I would not want to be squishing leftovers into a salsa jar. The ”short fat” ones are still too small. And, who wants to be emptying multiple jars at lunch or dinner to feed a family, even if that family is just two people.

The fact is, I can’t remember the last time we had to dispose of a ZipLoc container. We’ve learned not to take one out of the freezer, and open it immediately, because the frozen lid gets too brittle, and can crack. The corners of the container will crack, too, if dropped…especially when cold. That hasn’t happened in 15 years, since our son graduated college, and left the roost.

Plastic does have its place. My husband saves yogurt and sour cream containers, for his homemade ice cream. Same goes for deli containers in three sizes, which he uses for ice cream give-aways. He also makes vast quantities of guacamole, stored in plastic. We have neighbors who share their delicious homemade ethnic meals with us, in plastic containers saved from takeout. We always return the containers, to be used again. They do the same with the ice cream and guacamole we share with them.

There is a responsible way to use plastic. Reusing, and not discarding after one use, is the key.

I use glass. I have a collection of Frigoverre storage containers and Fido storage jars, pick them up at TJ Maxx or overstock when I see them, but you can get them on-line other places. Both are same company -- Bormioli Rocco, made in Italy and thick, hefty glass.

Frigoverre - Containers (bormiolirocco.com)

I use glass snap ware containers. Hand wash the lids. I limit to the three sizes that are useful to me, and always square or rectangular for storage and stacking. Ditto, except canning jars in two sizes for pantry storage. I’ve found I really don’t need more than 4 snap ware containers of each size for refrigerator needs.

Pyrex with the plastic lids. I have had mine at least 10 years, none have broken. A few of the lids are going to need to be replaced soon. The glass containers look as good as new. I own three sizes, they somewhat nest/stack but will take up more space the ziploc containers. They are also great for reheating/cooking food and the glass can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

That said it is interesting to me that the ziploc will last 5 years. I used them to send things with kids to school or leftovers home with family. I never would have guessed they were that sturdy.

Just buy glass. Ikea has a lot very reasonable price or I buy Italian glass whenever I can.

Can have plastic lid, it wouldn't touch the food.

Jars can be reused...even saw in videos the millionaires reuse jars. Olive jars, almond butter, etc.

I soak sun-dried tomatoes in water glass in the refrigerator...delicious. It mimics ham, with olive oil or braggs amino acid/soy sauce.

Some might be old enough to know when single-use products came into use (I am not; I was born in 1974). Some might have been around when the Keep America Beautiful campaign featuring Susan Spotless and then later the 'crying Indian' (who is actually Italian). The food beverage and product manufacturing industry turned littering and single use product disposal on the American public and away from the problem they are creating. They gaslit us, 'Dear American, you're the reason why the country is filling up with trash. You're responsible now."

"in the 1950s, it became US Government policy to stimulate consumer purchasing to boost the economy, and that could be encouraged by replacing reusable things with throw-away things.

Led by beer manufacturers, refillable bottles started to be replaced by ‘throwaway containers’ and ‘many of them were ending up as roadside trash’.

In 2017 scientists from several US institutions calculated that since the 1950s ‘humans have created 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics …  and most of it now resides in landfills or the natural environment’. The biggest use of plastics is packaging. Roland Geyer, lead author of the study and associate professor in University of California Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management said:  “Half of all plastics become waste after four or fewer years of use.”

A Beautiful If Evil Strategy https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2017/10/26/a-beautiful-if-evil-strategy

I only use glass to store my food and glass or ceramic to cook items in my microwave. I am a collector of glass refrigerator containers and have lots of antique Pyrex ones. I also have several modern ones too❣️1st picture are some of my antique Pyrex containers ; 2nd picture are some of my modern ones. I even use my glass containers to take my lunch to work, I put them in my insulated lunch bag,

Thanks for all these incredibly helpful comments! Glad to see so many people have great solutions that work for their needs.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen any solutions that address the fact that we use so many of these at once. I just checked my fridge and we currently have 10 same-size ziploc containers in use - 5 are holding cheese, and the other 5 are holding, half a tomato, half an avocodo, some smoked salmon, beans and some leftovers. We have around 10 currently unused and stacked in a drawer. I'd say around once every 6 weeks, we end up with all 20 in use and every couple months we end up having 18 in storage. With the glass options listed above, since none nest perfectly, I don't see how we have room for 18 same-size glass items where 10-18 are potentially in storage at any time. I would need 2 or 3 drawers just to hold them all.

Reality is that the waste produced every 5 years through this 'habit' is probably the equivalent of one family take-out meal, or a week of starbucks.... which, for the record, I actively avoid doing - other than our amazon habit and regular grocery store packaging, we produce very, very little waste in our home. So ziploc container it may continue to be for the near future!