Avoiding Plastic Pollution: Simple Steps For A Better Tomorrow

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses a serious threat to our planet, our health, and the survival of wildlife. With plastic pollution reaching crisis levels, it is essential that we take collective action to address this problem. The plastic we use in our daily lives often ends up in the sea, polluting the ocean, beaches, shorelines, and estuaries. This debris can be ingested by marine animals or entangle them, causing significant harm. Additionally, plastic pollution contributes to climate change throughout its life cycle, as 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels. To combat this issue, we must focus on reducing our plastic consumption, particularly single-use plastics, and adopting reusable alternatives. We can also support businesses that are actively reducing plastic waste and recycle effectively. By making conscious choices and advocating for change, we can play a crucial role in tackling plastic pollution and protecting our environment.

Reduce plastic usage

Reducing plastic usage is key to tackling the issue of plastic pollution. Here are some ways to reduce plastic usage:

Avoid Single-Use Plastics

Single-use plastics are a significant contributor to plastic pollution. These are plastic items that are used once and then thrown away, such as plastic bags, disposable cutlery, straws, and plastic bottles. The simplest way to reduce plastic waste is to avoid these unnecessary single-use plastics. Instead, opt for reusable alternatives like tote bags, silverware, and water bottles. Refuse plastic straws, and if possible, bring your own containers for leftovers when dining out.

Support Businesses Reducing Plastic Waste

Choose to support businesses that are actively working to reduce plastic waste. For example, the National Park Service has eliminated single-use plastic water bottles from their facilities by partnering with concessionaires. Look for companies that offer sustainable alternatives or use eco-friendly packaging.

Reduce Plastic Packaging

Avoid products with excessive or unnecessary plastic packaging. Choose products with minimal packaging or opt for bulk options and eco-friendly packaging. For example, instead of buying multiple small packages, consider buying a larger container or opting for plastic-free packaging like glass jars.

Recycle and Reuse Plastics

Recycling is an important part of reducing plastic waste. Look for recycling labels on products to understand which parts can be recycled. Support container deposit schemes where you can return used containers for recycling and earn money in return. Additionally, adopt a "refuse, reuse, reduce, and recycle" mindset. Reuse plastic items whenever possible, such as shopping bags and storage containers, to extend their lifespan and reduce the need for new plastic products.

Boycott Microbeads

Microbeads, tiny plastic scrubbers found in beauty products like facial scrubs and toothpaste, are a significant source of plastic pollution. They slip through water treatment plants and are often ingested by marine animals. Choose natural exfoliants like oatmeal or salt instead, and opt for cosmetics that are free of microplastics.

Reuse plastic items

Reusing plastic items is an important way to reduce waste and minimise plastic's negative impact on the environment. Here are some ways to reuse plastic items:

Reusable Containers and Bags

Instead of using disposable plastic bags and containers, opt for reusable containers and bags made from materials such as silicone, glass, or stainless steel. Reusable water bottles, shopping bags, keep cups, and travel cutlery are all examples of reusable plastic items.

Plastic Bottle Planters

Cut off the top of a plastic bottle, add soil and seeds, and turn it into a planter for your plants. You can also use plastic bottles to create hanging gardens or mount them on a garden wall.

Plastic Bag Trash Liners

Instead of buying new trash bags, reuse plastic bags as liners for your trash cans. This helps to reduce the amount of plastic you consume and throw away.

Crafts and DIY Projects

Use plastic bottles, straws, and other plastic items to get creative and make DIY projects such as pencil holders, bird feeders, jewellery, or even a plastic bottle chandelier.

Plastic Insulation

Plastic bags, bubble wrap, and other plastic materials can be used as insulation for your home to keep it warmer during the winter months.

Donate Plastic Items

If you have plastic items that are still in good condition, consider donating them to a local charity or thrift store instead of throwing them away. This gives the items a second life and supports local communities.

Remember, reducing plastic consumption and reusing plastic items are crucial steps in tackling plastic pollution and protecting our planet.

Recycle plastic waste

Recycling plastic waste is a critical step in mitigating the environmental impact of plastic. By optimising the lifespan of plastics, we can conserve natural resources, minimise energy consumption, and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and our oceans. Here are some detailed steps and instructions to recycle plastic waste:

Collection of Plastic Waste: The first stage involves collecting discarded plastic materials through various channels, such as curbside collection, drop-off centres, or specialised recycling programs. Efficient collection systems ensure a steady supply of plastic waste for recycling facilities.

Sorting and Categorising: Different types of plastics are separated based on their composition, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Sorting is crucial as different types of plastics require different recycling methods.

Shredding and Washing: After sorting, the plastic waste is broken down into smaller pieces and then thoroughly washed to remove contaminants, ensuring a higher quality of recycled material.

Melting and Pelletizing: The cleaned plastic shreds are melted down and formed into small pellets through extrusion. These pellets become the raw material for manufacturing new products.

Manufacturing New Products: Industries use the recycled plastic pellets to produce various items, including packaging materials, containers, furniture, and textiles. By using recycled plastic, companies reduce their dependence on virgin plastic and contribute to a circular economy.

Distribution and Consumption: The newly manufactured plastic products are distributed and consumed, creating a market demand for recycled plastic products. Increased consumption of recycled plastic promotes a closed-loop system where plastic waste continually circulates through the recycling process.

End-of-Life Options: Recycled plastic products eventually reach the end of their life cycle. At this stage, they can be further recycled, composted, or undergo energy recovery through incineration. Implementing effective waste management strategies ensures that recycled plastic waste is utilised in an environmentally friendly manner.

Some additional tips to improve plastic recycling include:

• Check local recycling regulations and programs to understand what types of plastic are accepted in your area.
• Reduce plastic usage by adopting reusable items, such as water bottles, shopping bags, and containers, instead of single-use plastic.
• Properly dispose of plastic items that cannot be recycled or reused by taking them to a local recycling centre or grocery store.
• Clean and sort plastic items before recycling, removing any labels, stickers, or residue, and sorting them by the type of plastic.

Boycott single-use plastics

Single-use plastics are a huge contributor to the global plastic pollution crisis. These are goods made from fossil fuel-based chemicals and are designed to be disposed of after just one use. They include items such as plastic bags, bottles, wrappers, straws, cutlery, and food containers.

The problem with single-use plastics is twofold: their volume and their longevity. In the last decade, we have produced more plastic than in the whole of the last century. The plastic we throw away each year could circle the globe four times. And it's not going away anytime soon—plastic can take 500 to 1,000 years to degrade.

So, what can we do about it? One of the most effective ways to tackle plastic pollution is to boycott single-use plastics. Here are some ways to do that:

• Say no to plastic bags: Carry a reusable cloth bag when you go shopping or running errands. Over 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide every year, adding to the shocking amount of plastic waste.
• Refuse plastic straws: Americans use 500 million plastic straws every day, which end up in landfills and oceans. Skip the straw, or opt for a reusable metal or glass alternative.
• Avoid bottled drinks: Close to 20 billion plastic bottles are thrown away each year. Instead, carry a reusable water bottle and opt for tap water where possible.
• Boycott plastic utensils: When dining out, say no to plastic cutlery and bring your own reusable utensils. If you run a restaurant, only give out plastic utensils and straws when requested, and educate your customers about the impact of single-use plastics.
• Choose alternatives to plastic packaging: Avoid products with excess or unnecessary plastic packaging. Look for items packaged in glass or metal, or buy in bulk and store food in reusable containers.

By making these small changes, we can significantly reduce our plastic waste and help protect the environment, wildlife, and our own health.

Support anti-plastic policies

Supporting anti-plastic policies is a crucial step in tackling plastic pollution. Here are some ways to do this:

Support Policies and Campaigns

Urge your local and national government representatives to implement and support anti-plastic policies and campaigns. This could include legislation that discourages the use of plastic bags, such as a bag tax or ban. The introduction of such legislation has already been successful in over 500 cities, counties, and states, and your support can help make it a reality in more places.

Advocate for a Global Plastics Treaty

Get behind the Global Plastics Treaty, which has the potential to significantly reduce plastic production and use. This legally binding treaty, currently being negotiated by the United Nations, aims to address the entire lifecycle of plastics and could pave the way for a plastic-free future.

Put Pressure on Manufacturers

While individual actions are important, corporations have a much larger impact due to their massive plastic usage and waste. Use your voice to pressure companies to reduce their plastic consumption and packaging. Write letters, engage with them on social media, and support their competitors who demonstrate more sustainable practices.

Support Charities

Environmental charities, such as the Marine Conservation Society, play a vital role in creating healthier seas and challenging plastic pollution. They work to influence political legislation and fund projects that combat ocean pollution. By donating to or becoming a member of these charities, you can help protect and restore our oceans.

Participate in Beach and River Cleanups

Join local beach and river cleanup initiatives, such as the Great British Beach Clean, to take direct action against plastic pollution. These events are crucial in removing plastic waste from vulnerable ecosystems and can also involve data collection to better understand and address the plastic pollution crisis.

By actively supporting anti-plastic policies and initiatives, you can help drive the systemic changes needed to tackle plastic pollution on a larger scale.

Frequently asked questions