2 Easy Ways to Reduce Plastic Pollution

Have you wondered where that plastic bottle you use end up after throwing it in the trash? What is the importance of reducing our plastic use? Should you take part in recycling?

Most of the plastic that goes to the ocean is plastic, as 80 percent of marine trash comes from land. Yes, we use our ocean as our trash bin. However, doing so has devastating consequences for the whole planet ecosystem and the marine life.

So why is it important to reduce our plastic use? Simple. We only have one planet. You may think that we have plenty of resources, but we don’t. We also have limited space. As the amount of plastic we generate and use increases, it’s easy to understand why the government and environmentally-minded citizens are strongly encouraging everyone to reduce our plastic use and waste.

In LA, ten metric tons of plastics are thrown into the Pacific Ocean every single day! In the last decade, we used and produced more plastic than in the last century. Unfortunately, 50 percent of that plastic was used once and then thrown away.

So, what can you do to stop single plastic use and reduce plastic pollution? Here are some ideas:

Use a reusable bottle

Each minute, we purchase one million plastic bottles. To cut our plastic use while saving money, consider using a reusable bottle. You can even use an app that tells you places where you can refill your reusable bottle for free.

And if you are fond of drinking coffee at Starbucks, you can opt to use your reusable coffee cup. Keep in mind that Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic beverage cups per hour, and yet less than 25 percent of them are recycled. Starbucks is one of the companies that encourages its customers to use a reusable cup by providing them a discount if they bring their tumblers. If all customers would carry their reusable cup, it would significantly reduce plastic pollution every year.

Use a reusable grocery bag

When you’re out shopping, don’t forget to bring your grocery bag made of fabric. Carry it anywhere you go. In that way, each time you go grocery shopping, you don’t have to use plastic bags for your items.

Conclusion

To significantly reduce our use of plastic, we need to stop and think about how we treat plastic. Use recycling bins in your office or a recycling bin at home. Remember that little changes add up. Make sure to be conscious when consuming and disposing of plastic items.

References:

• www.nrdc.org/oceans/plastic-ocean/
• www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_plastics/
• https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/28/a-million-a-minute-worlds-plastic-bottle-binge-as-dangerous-as-climate-change
• https://www.refill.org.uk/about-refill/
• http://www.carryyourcup.org/get-the-facts