You have heard it constantly; "Reduce the use of plastic bottles, bags, properly recycle". "Think about the fishes!" Yes, the world needs to reduce the use of plastic pollution and to dispose waste properly. Although we are not
superheroes who can end all plastic pollution, we can reduce it in our neighborhood and daily life. This way, we contribute to saving the world and as others join together; the cause will be very significant.
Bring your own shopping bag or any reuseable bag you own. Most of us own reusable bags, but never really know how to utilize them. An easy way is using them everyday not for shopping purposes but for everyday use. For example,
use it to store your reuseable bottle, books, laptop, etc. this way, you are using it every day in your life and taking the first step in reducing plastic bags in your life. Most importantly, having a storage bag allows you
to store more storage bags; making it more convienient when shopping several items. According to 4ocean, "More than 1 million bags are used across the globe every day and annually, about 500 billion plastic bags are
produced." Most reusable bags are only $1 dollar; a very small investment to a very lanrge contirbution to our planet.
Use wooden or metal utensils as not only do you save the use of plastic utensils, but plastic utensils are cheap and usually do not last very long. Always make sure to decline the offer of plastic utensils when ordering food.
Not only do plastic water bottles cost too much and pollute our oceans when not disposed properly. Invest in a glass or stainless steel water bottle that will last you a lifetime and money. Most stores and many companies make
a variety of reusable water bottles that come in all sizes, shapes, and materials. According to 4ocean, "A single person using a reusable, refillable water bottle instead of single-use plastic water bottles can save as much as
170 bottles from being produced each year. If a family of 5 all hopped on board with this greener practice, that means as a family they would stop about 850 water bottles from having to be produced."
The boxes and containers that packaged foods or other products can be reused too! For example, large jars (not made of plastic) are capable of storing your items. Glass is a very safe food storage option such as leftover food.
Reuse containers for storing leftovers or shopping in bulk. Food storage containers made of glass or metal tends to be safer and more versatile than plastic varieties. Glass and metal also do not age or stain like hard plastic
will, so you can save them over time.
Stop using plastic straws, even in restaurants. If a straw is a must, purchase a reusable stainless steel or glass straw. According to the US National Park Service, Americans use 500 million drinking straws every day. This is
equivalent to 125 school buses with straws every day. Invest in a glass, stainless steel, or bamboo straws at home. They are inexpensive and pretty to look at. When dining out, decline the straw. Or, use recyclable paper straws
if you need a disposable straw. The UK just banned the use of plastic straws, and I hope the US and other countries aren’t far behind.
Give up gum. Gum is made of a synthetic rubber, also plastic. Think of it this way, you are chewing a plstic garbage bag filled with sugar; and gum practically has zero health benefits. Does that sound convincing enough to make
you reduce your use of plastic and sugar in your life?
