WHAT IS A SINGLE USE PLASTIC?
A piece of plastic only used once.
Examples include:
Plastic bags
Plastic straws
Water bottles
Zip block bags
Utensils
Glitter
Coffee cup lids
Food wrappers
Plastic take out containers
And much much more!
WHY IS SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAD?
The U.N. Environment reports just nine per cent of the world’s nine billion tons of plastic has been recycled.
Plastics do not biodegrade. Instead they slowly break down into smaller pieces of plastic called microplastics.
The toxic chemicals used to manufacture plastic gets transferred to animal tissue, eventually entering the human food chain.
These toxic chemicals also seep into our ground from landfills and get into our water and oceans
It is estimated that each year eight million tons of plastic waste enters our oceans.
Scientists estimate that plastics could outweigh fish in our oceans by 2050 unless we take serious action
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Email local/government officials to band certain single use plastics
Eat at restaurants with recylable take out containers
For drinks like soda: buy in glass bottles or cans instead of plastic.
Avoid non recyclable materials
Gain knowledge about your local plastics and policies – you can never read to much
Recycle!
Use alternatives to plastics
SINGLE USE PLASTICS AND THEIR ALTERNATIVES (WITH LINKS!)
Plastic straws
Things to use instead
1. Bamboo straw
2. Metal straw (they make cute keychains)
Plastic bags
Alternatives-
Buy a couple of the dollar resuable bags at your grocery store!
Get a 10 pack for cheap on amazon
They even come insulated to keep your things hot or cold
Plastic water bottles
Alternatives
One of these bottles for easy storing after you’re hydrated!
Something to keep you motivated
Or something that will keep your drink cold/hot for way longer than a plastic bottle
Plastic ziplock bags
Alternatives
Or just use a good old fashioned container from home!
Perk: it will keep your sandwhich from getting squished
Produce bags
Use a reusable mesh one!
Plastic utensils
Invest in a reusable small container of utensils to carry in your bag!
(its cute and on sale)
Glitter!
We all love glitter- but it’s not always the best for the environment
Instead use biodegradable glitter!
Coffee cups with plastic lids
It’s collapsible.. It’s recyable.. It’s cute.. Enough said.
There are way more single use plastics and their alternatives so feel free to explore!
Don’t forget to use smile.amazon.com in order to give money to your favorite charity at no additional cost.
Article written by intern Zoe Meyers.