Stop using plastic

Environmentally, plastic is a growing disaster. Most plastics are made from petroleum or natural gas, non-renewable resources extracted and processed using energy-intensive techniques that destroy fragile ecosystems.  Currently about 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year to make bags, bottles, packages, and other commodities for people all over the world. Unfortunately, only about ten percent of this plastic is properly recycled and reused.  And just because a plastic bottle has recycling arrows on the bottom doesn’t actually mean it is recyclable in a given area. The system is complicated and often comes down to simple economics. Is it financially viable to collect, sort and transport the plastics to markets that can purchase them? A lot of plastics are sent to China to be recycled, but this often isn’t financially viable if there is not adequate demand and therefore an adequate price to justify all the required preparation.
Plastic that isn't recycled ends up as waste in landfills or as litter in our natural environment, where it leaches dangerous chemicals into the nearby soil and water, endangering humans and wildlife alike.  Plastic pollution may not even be visible to the naked eye as research is showing that microscopic plastic particles are present in the air at various locations throughout the world and in all major oceans. Plastic is now ubiquitous in our terrestrial, aquatic and airborne environments.

Switch to sustainable alternatives and reduce the amount of disposable plastic you use!

• Use reusable shopping bags - not just for groceries but for all your shopping.
  
• Don't buy bottled water.  Bring your own refillable water bottle, water bottle filling stations are more and more common.
  
• Keep a set of bamboo utensils in your purse, backpack, messenger bag, car, etc.
• Bring your own container for leftovers when you go out to eat since many restaurants use styrofoam.
  
•  Stop using plastic straws, even in restaurants. If a straw is a must, purchase a reusable stainless steel or glass straw
  
• Use a reusable produce bag. A single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to degrade. Purchase or make your own reusable produce bag and be sure to wash them often! 
  
• Buy boxes instead of bottles. Often, products like laundry detergent come in cardboard which is more easily recycled than plastic.
  
• Purchase food, like cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins and fill a reusable bag or container. You save money and unnecessary packaging. 
• Reuse containers for storing leftovers or shopping in bulk.
• Use a reusable bottle or mug for your beverages, even when ordering from a to-go shop
• Use matches instead of disposable plastic lighters or invest in a refillable metal lighter. 
• Avoid buying frozen foods because their packaging is mostly plastic. Even those that appear to be cardboard are coated in a thin layer of plastic. Plus you'll be eating fewer processed foods! 
• Ask your local grocer to take your plastic containers (for berries, tomatoes, etc.) back. If you shop at a farmers market they can refill it for you.
• The EPA estimates that 7.6 billion pounds of disposable diapers are discarded in the US each year. Use cloth diapers to reduce your baby's carbon footprint and save money. 
• Make fresh squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles. It's healthier and better for the environment.
• Make your own cleaning products that will be less toxic and eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottles of cleaner.
• Pack your lunch in reusable containers and bags. Also, opt for fresh fruits and veggies and bulk items instead of products that come in single serving cups.
• Use a razor with replaceable blades instead of a disposable razor