Terri Ramsey Beavers Plastic is a major pollutant that is harming the environment in different ways. From the plastic bags that you use when grocery shopping to the plastic straws used when drinking a drink, there are many ways in which we can reduce our use of plastic. Everyone should be making a commitment to live a lifestyle that is eco-friendly and consider cutting down on their usage of plastics.
What should you know before committing to plastic reduction?
There are over 300 million tonnes of plastic produced each year and 14 million of this ends up as waste. While much of this can be recycled, not all of it is recyclable or is recycled. Even the smallest changes can add up. For example, a typical household will use around 24 bottles of shower gel each year potentially producing plastic waste. Switching to soap bars can reduce this waste altogether. Using soaps can be even more cost-effective yet just as efficient as bottles of shower gel.
Reducing Plastic Usage at Home
Avoiding single-use plastics is not an easy task. These items are often disposable, difficult to recycle, and prone to end up in our oceans. With this in mind, there are ways that you can reduce your family’s plastic usage by half. Here are some steps that you can take to reduce plastic use at home.
- 1) Bring your own reusable water bottle
- 2) Say no to plastic straws and utensils when dining out or ordering food delivered at home
- 3) If you need a straw for your drink, use a metal one instead of a plastic one
- 4) Use refill stations where possible
- 5) Avoid products with microbeads
- 6) Use reusable coffee cups
- 7) Avoid single-use food packaging and use reusable containers at home
Some Common Questions about Plastic Reduction
This post looks at some common questions about plastic reduction and how to answer them.
- 1. How much will I save if I reduce my family’s plastic usage by 50%?
The answer to this question varies depending on what type of plastics you are reducing your family’s usage of. If you are only cutting down your family’s plastic use by 50% in one category, you could save roughly $4,000 per year, but if you cut it by 50% across the board, you could save anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 per year.
- 2. What should I do to implement a successful plan for cutting my family’s plastic usage in half?
Be patient! Making a change late in the game can sometimes be for the best, other times it won’t work so well. Make small changes often for the best results so they will be sustainable.
- 3 How many changes should I make?
Any changes you make should be in accordance with your family and lifestyle. For young children at school, using drinks bottles is a good change that can be sustainable. For adults going to a place of work, taking a collapsible coffee cup can help to reduce single-use takeaway cups from coffee shops. Buying in bulk for regularly used items such as cleaning products or toiletries can help you support changes for longer and help you to avoid going back to old habits.