Reduce Plastic Waste

Plastics play an important role and they are used to manufacture everyday products such as beverage containers, food, toys, appliances and furniture. Plastics make up more han 12 percent of the municipal solid waste stream, or 31 million tons. A fraction of only 8 percent of the total plastic waste generated was recovered for recycling.

• Reducing the amount of plastic and other packaging you buy helps reduce the amount of energy and water used in manufacturing and recycling. This also helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill.
• You might already be recycling hard plastics in your recycling bin. In some areas, plastic bags can be recycled at supermarkets. Most other types of soft plastics are not recycled and end up in landfill.
• For most situations, the best solution to reducing plastics and packaging is to choose re-usable options as much as possible.

[edit] Why is plastic bad?

The immediate harms of plastic are few. The long term damages of small toxins in plastics are being researched.

• Plastics are created with the help of chemicals, and some are dangerous to us. Two in particular stand out: Bisphenol A, used in polycarbonates and resins) and phthalates (used to make plastic soft and pliable).
• Both chemicals upset the way some hormones function in our bodies. They are both now the subject of fierce scientific and public scrutiny. Many scientists have discovered a connection between plastic and human development.
• So much so that the European Union has banned phthalates in children's toys.
• The effect of plastic on the environment is much easier to see. The trash island in the middle of the pacific ocean, named the pacific garbage patch, is an alarming result of our use of plastic. It is everywhere and it is slowly collecting in the middle of the ocean. Plastic cannot biodegrade.
• It is estimated that 10 percent of the world’s plastic waste finds its way into the sea and slowly but surely most of it ends up in the Pacific Ocean.
• We have to save ourselves and the planet!

[edit] Tips in reducing plastic use

• Bring your own mug to the coffee shop.
• Make your own Frozen Dinners.
• Recycle or reuse everything imaginable.
• Buy bigger containers, avoid single serve packaging.
• Find ways to reuse before recycling.
• Shop at Thrift Shops and Yard Sales.
• Donate objects you no longer need.
• Filter your water.
• Bring your own reusable bags to stores.
• Buy durable, quality products.
• Bring your own cloth bags to the grocery store (or any store!).
• Don't buy beverages bottles in plastic. Glass is great.
• Carry your own reusable steel or ceramic beverage container. If they're too pricey, use a glass mason jar! Heavy, but cheap.
• Don't get to-go coffee or hot drinks. Your drink lid and cup will live on for over 100 years! The lids and lining are plastic. Bring your own or ask for a ceramic, reusable cup.
• Go to the farmer's market and purchase fresh fruits and veggies (not packaged in plastic).
• Don't buy convenience foods packages in plastic.
• Make your own bread.

• Buy bread from bakeries that package in paper.
• Clean with baking soda and vinegar instead of cleaners packaged in plastic.
• Buy laundry detergent in boxes, not liquid in plastic containers.
• Buy farm fresh eggs in reusable paper containers.
• Get your cheese from the deli and place it in your own container (glass or a plastic one that you already have, don't waste what you already have!) or get it wrapped in paper.
• Buy your meat from the deli and have it wrapped in paper.
• Package your leftovers in corningware.
• Bring your own containers to restaurants to package leftovers.
• Use bar soap to wash your dishes. Dr. Bronner's is perfect.
• Stop using deodorant or antiperspirant. It's not natural to prevent yourself from sweating. Use perfume in a glass bottle if you want a nice smell.
• Do not use air fresheners. Light a candle or incense instead.
• Store all your food in glass containers. If you purchase something bottled in glass, clean it and reuse it!
• Compost your trash, reduce your use of plastic trash bags.
• Line small trash bins in your house with paper bags.
• When ordering drinks, say "no straw please!"

• Buy toilet paper that is wrapped in paper, not plastic.
• Don't use ziploc. If you need to keep things like half an onion (happens to us all the time!) use aluminum or waxy paper.
• Use cloth rags for clean up around the house, no paper towels - reduces your trash and need for trash bags.
• Use matches instead of plastic encased lighters. They usually give them to you for free at the liquor store.
• Use cloth napkins. They feel nice and reduce your waste and use of plastic trash bags.
• If you want a fun drink, buy chocolate milk in a carton or apple juice in glass bottle. You can also ferment your own drinks in glass mason jars.
• Bring your own bag to all stores you shop in and say "no bag needed, thanks!"
• Put empty cardboard boxes in your car to transport heavy items to and from your car without a bag.
• Say "paper not plastic" at the grocery store.
• Don't use plastic cutting boards. Use wood or glass.
• Use baby bottles made of glass.
• Use stainless steel sippy cups for kids.
• Use cloth based toys for your pets, like catnip mice and soft squishy balls.
• Buy cloth diapers. Many great varieties available and better for your baby. We fill a super bowl size hole every day with disposal diapers that will leach toxins into the environment for centuries to come.
• Buy CDs packaged in cardboard sleeves or buy your music online.
• Use junk mail and other paper to stuff into big packages to ship instead of bubble wrap or air filled plastic.
• Use real silverware for parties instead of plastic.
• Use rechargeable batteries to reduce buying batteries packaged in plastic.
• Make a compost heap to reduce your food waste and put it back into the earth.
• Use a reusable cloth bag or old fashioned steel lunch box to carry your lunch to work or school.

[edit] Solution to reduce plastic waste

We can begin to reduce our plastic waste to not wear it but replace it.

• Do not use plastic bags for shopping. Bring your own shopping bag that can always be used again.
• Do not just throw away plastic bottle after drinking. Fill with water again and again, although not too many refill. Approximately 5 times disposable still okay. For the usual drink in the car, prepare a bottle is always fully charged.
• It’s better to buy a drink bottles that can be refilled and do not always have to buy another bottle of mineral water.
• In western countries many cafes like Starbucks have started to allowban the bottles customers to bring their own mugs or better to fill a coffee Thermos. Plastic bags can still be used again. But if the plastic glass can only once.