by Earth Day Festival Bismarck
Most
of us want to go greener than we are, but often we get so overwhelmed by the
big changes we want to
make that we forget about beginning the little changes we can make. The impact of small changes can
be big too! Just like pocket change, it all adds up.
Here
are six small ways you can lose the plastic right now to begin reducing your environmental
impact at home, work, and school.
1. Stop using plastic
(and paper) store bags. Buy some canvas shopping bags. Yeh, yeh, you keep
meaning to get some, but somehow you have still not gotten around to it, right?
They are inexpensive, have a long life, are often made from recycled materials and
they are biodegradable. This is such a simple swap why wouldn't pick some up
today?
2. Stop using plastic
produce bags. Really. You don't need them. In fact, most people throw them away
as soon as they get home and put their groceries away. Your lettuce leaves are
not going to contaminate your tomatoes. Put a handheld grocery store basket into
a cart. Use it to store all of your veggies while you are shopping and then
have them put into your canvas bags at the check-out.
3. Stop
buying excessively packaged products and don't forget to write to the
companies and tell them why you are no longer buying their products. From toys
to electronics -- and every day consumables, companies use way too much
packaging. Especially plastics which contain known carcinogens.
4. Stop using
disposable plastic storage bags (or at lease reduce your use of them) for
lunches, snacks, left-overs, etc. Instead invest in multi-size sealable and
reusable containers. So what if you have to wash them out? Your food stays
fresher and intact longer. How many Zip-locks do you use in a week?
5. Stop using plastic
straws. Don't buy them and use them at home and whenever you are out, simply
tell your server you do not want one. Keep a reusable stainless steel straw in
your purse or glove box to use if you happen to go through a drive-thru and
order a drink.
6. Stop buying
disposable water bottles. Get yourself a good reusable water bottle that you
like both the look and feel of. Our addiction to plastic water bottles alone amounts
to about 1.5 million tons of plastic waste each year!
In 2012, 31 million tons
of plastic waste was generated. Almost 14 million tons of it was containers
and packaging. Only 8 percent of that was recovered and recycled. Recycling and
reusing has come a long way however, not far enough. You too have a
responsibility in this process. The suggestions above are easy, inexpensive (or
free), and really don't require much more of your time or effort. The best part
is you can start today!
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