Invest in a zippered fabric bag and request that your cleaned items be returned in it instead of sheathed in plastic. Bring your own garment bag to the dry cleaner. Single-serving yogurts, travel-size toiletries, tiny packages of nuts-consider the product-to-packaging ratio of items you tend to buy often and select the bigger container instead of buying several smaller ones over time. Urge your elected officials to follow the lead of those in San Francisco, Chicago, and close to 150 other cities and counties by introducing or supporting legislation that would make plastic-bag use less desirable. For the specifics on your area, check out ’s recycling directory. Containers marked #2 (HDPE typically slightly heavier-duty bottles for milk, juice, and laundry detergent) and #5 (PP plastic cutlery, yogurt and margarine tubs, ketchup bottles) are also recyclable in some areas. Most beverage and liquid cleaner bottles will be #1 (PET), which is commonly accepted by most curbside recycling companies. Confused about what can and can’t go in the bin? Check out the number on the bottom of the container. For example, less than 14 percent of plastic packaging is recycled. It seems obvious, but we’re not doing a great job of it. Search the shelves of thrift stores, neighborhood garage sales, or online postings for items that are just as good when previously used. New toys and electronic gadgets, especially, come with all kinds of plastic packaging-from those frustrating hard-to-crack shells to twisty ties. For those times when you do order in or eat out, tell the establishment you don’t need any plastic cutlery or, for some serious extra credit, bring your own food-storage containers to restaurants for leftovers. Not only is it healthier, but making your own meals doesn’t involve takeout containers or doggy bags.
Opt for products with natural exfoliants, like oatmeal or salt, instead. Unfortunately, they also look just like food to some marine animals. Those little plastic scrubbers found in so many beauty products-facial scrubs, toothpaste, body washes-might look harmless, but their tiny size allows them to slip through water-treatment plants. If you’re nervous about the quality of your local tap water, look for a model with a built-in filter. Carry a reusable bottle in your bag, and you’ll never be caught having to resort to a Poland Spring or Evian again. Stop buying water.Įach year, close to 20 billion plastic bottles are tossed in the trash. It only takes a few times of bringing your own bags to the store, silverware to the office, or travel mug to Starbucks before it becomes habit. Take note of how often you rely on these products and replace them with reusable versions. Ninety percent of the plastic items in our daily lives are used once and then chucked: grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, coffee-cup lids. The good news? There are many small ways you can have a big impact. So the best thing we can do to protect our waterways is try to keep as much plastic as possible out of the waste stream in the first place.
Around 80 percent of marine litter actually originates on land-either swept in from the coastline or carried to rivers from the streets during heavy rain via storm drains and sewer overflows. And we're not just talking about people dumping their garbage overboard. Plastic, of course, is uniquely problematic because it’s nonbiodegradable and therefore sticks around for a lot longer (like up to 1,000 years longer) than other forms of trash. Animals can get tangled up in this trash or ingest it-either because they mistake it as prey or because the plastic has been broken down into tiny particles by seawater. This constant barrage (the equivalent of 136 billion milk jugs each year, estimates a study published in the journal Science) poses a serious danger to marine life.
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