Every single person living in North America or Western Europe on average is responsible for using (and dumping) around a hundred kilograms (220 pounds) of plastic every year. Most of this plastic comes from disposable packaging.
Disposable plastics are the number one pollutant on earth. What people don’t realize is that every plastic bottle, cup, bag, toothbrush handle or container you have ever thrown out is sitting in a landfill or floating in the ocean right now! Just because we throw it out and the garbage people take it away, and you don’t have it so see it ever again, doesn’t mean that it stops existing. Plastic doesn’t decompose and doesn’t just disappear. Plastic is a massive global problem and every one of should do what we can to make a difference.
Here are some easy swaps you can make in your daily routine to reduce your consumption of plastic.
1. SAY NO TO PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS
Plastic shopping bags cannot be recycled and do not decompose naturally. Even if you put plastic bags in a recycling bin, they get separated from bottles and other plastics and still end up in the trash. You can easily reduce your usage of plastic bags by taking your own bags with you when you go shopping. Carry a tote bag, put smaller items in your purse after checkout, or hand-carry your things to the car. In case you forget to bring your own bag, ask if the store has a paper option, or buy an eco friendly bag instead of using plastic.
2. REFUSE TO BUY WATER OR SODA IN PLASTIC BOTTLES.
Bottled water is a scam anyway. Plastic water bottles not only cost too much, they pollute our oceans, and leach chemicals into the water you’re drinking that disrupts normal hormone levels in the body. Buy a glass or stainless steel water bottle, and carry water with you when you leave home. Opt to buy sodas or drinks in cans or glass bottles. If enough people refuse to buy their products in plastic packaging, brands will be forced to adapt as well.
3. AVOID PLASTIC STRAWS
According to research, Americans use up to 500 MILLION drinking straws every day. That is enough straws to fill around 125 school buses every day just in the US alone. Buy a glass, stainless steel, or bamboo straws and keep them with you when you go out. When ordering a meal, decline their plastic option and use your own. Or ask for recyclable paper straws.
4. USE DISPOSABLE PAPER PRODUCTS INSTEAD OF PLASTIC
When you’re throwing a party, think of the environment and purchase recyclable paper cups and plates instead of the typical plastic ones. Better yet, use washable, reusable cups and plates. The most you will have to do is wash a few dishes, ask a friend to help and do it. The world will thank you for your sacrifice.
5. FIND ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC
Use glass containers to store your food instead of Tupperware, beeswax wraps instead of disposable sandwich bags, etc. When you are buying products with plastic packaging, always choose the ones that are packaged in cardboard, or other recyclable packaging. Not only will this be a health win as you won’t contaminate your food with toxins, you’ll be helping the environment too.
Finally, if you must buy something that is sold in plastic, try to recycle and reuse the plastic as much as you possibly can. Plastics fall under seven different recycling categories depending on your location and the recycling service you use. So if you have to buy plastic, choose something that can be recycled.
Go green. Cut out plastic from your life.
