Reducing Plastic Pollution: Simple Steps For A Better Tomorrow

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to our climate, health, and marine life. While recycling alone cannot solve the plastic crisis, it is still an important part of the solution. To reduce plastic pollution, we can take individual actions such as buying second-hand items, borrowing instead of buying new, and recycling as much as possible. We can also organise community recycling drives and support companies that use recycled plastic materials. By keeping plastic out of the waste stream and reducing our consumption, we can help protect the environment and our health.

Reduce your use of single-use plastics

Reducing your use of single-use plastics is one of the most direct ways to reduce plastic pollution. Single-use plastics include plastic bags, water bottles, straws, cups, utensils, dry cleaning bags, take-out containers, and any other plastic items that are used once and then discarded.

The best way to reduce your use of single-use plastics is to refuse any that you do not need. For example, you can say no to straws, plastic bags, takeout utensils, and takeout containers. Instead, you can purchase and carry reusable versions of these products, such as reusable grocery bags, produce bags, bottles, utensils, coffee cups, and dry cleaning garment bags.

Another way to reduce your use of single-use plastics is to support businesses that offer alternatives to single-use plastic items. You can also help businesses by letting them know that you would like them to offer alternatives. This can create a demand for more sustainable options and encourage businesses to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics.

In addition to refusing and reducing single-use plastics, recycling can also play a role in reducing plastic pollution. While recycling alone cannot solve the plastics crisis, it is still important to recycle plastic items whenever possible to reduce the environmental impact of our waste. You can check the number on the bottom of your containers to see if they are recyclable in your area.

By following these steps and reducing your use of single-use plastics, you can make a significant contribution to addressing the issue of plastic pollution.

Refuse single-use plastic items and ask businesses to offer alternatives

The first step to reducing plastic pollution is to reduce your own use of single-use plastics. Single-use plastics include plastic bags, water bottles, straws, cups, utensils, dry cleaning bags, take-out containers, and any other plastic items that are used once and then discarded. Refuse any single-use plastics that you do not need, such as straws, plastic bags, takeout utensils, and takeout containers. Instead, purchase and carry with you reusable versions of these products, including reusable grocery bags, produce bags, bottles, utensils, coffee cups, and dry cleaning garment bags. When you refuse single-use plastic items, help businesses by letting them know that you would like them to offer alternatives. While we can't recycle our way out of the plastics crisis, recycling is still important to reduce the footprint of our waste stream. To sort through what can and can't go in the bin, check the number on the bottom of your containers. Most beverage and liquid cleaner bottles will be #1 (PET), which is commonly accepted by most curbside recycling companies. Containers marked #2 (HDPE; typically heavier-duty bottles for milk, juice, and laundry detergent) are also commonly recyclable.

Donate to non-profit organisations working to reduce plastic pollution

While reducing our own use of single-use plastics is the most direct way to reduce plastic pollution, we can also donate to non-profit organisations working to reduce plastic pollution. These organisations rely on donations to continue their important work. Even small donations can make a big difference!

There are many non-profit organisations working to reduce and eliminate ocean plastic pollution, including the Oceanic Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 5 Gyres, Algalita, and the Plastic Soup Foundation. These organisations work in a variety of different ways to reduce plastic pollution. For example, the Oceanic Society encourages people to reduce their use of single-use plastics and provides resources to help people make more sustainable choices. The Plastic Pollution Coalition focuses on raising awareness about the impact of plastic pollution and advocating for policy changes to reduce plastic production and improve waste management. 5 Gyres works to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean by conducting research and developing solutions, such as creating alternatives to single-use plastics. Algalita focuses on educating people about the impact of plastic pollution on the ocean and encouraging behaviour change, such as refusing single-use plastics and recycling. The Plastic Soup Foundation works to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean by advocating for policy changes and supporting innovative solutions, such as developing biodegradable plastics.

By donating to these organisations, you can support their work in reducing plastic pollution. Your donations can help fund research, advocacy, education, and the development of solutions to reduce plastic pollution. You can also support these organisations by volunteering your time and skills, such as helping with research, outreach, or administrative tasks.

In addition to donating to non-profit organisations, you can also support businesses that are working to reduce their plastic waste. You can do this by purchasing their products, providing feedback, and spreading the word about their efforts. Supporting these businesses can help encourage other companies to reduce their plastic waste and create more sustainable products.

Learn how to recycle plastic

Recycling plastic is an important way to reduce plastic pollution. While it won't solve the plastics crisis, it will reduce the footprint of our waste stream. The first step is to learn how to reduce your plastic use. Single-use plastics include plastic bags, water bottles, straws, cups, utensils, dry cleaning bags, take-out containers, and any other plastic items that are used once and then discarded. Refuse any single-use plastics that you don't need, such as straws, plastic bags, takeout utensils, and takeout containers. Instead, purchase and carry with you reusable versions of these products, including reusable grocery bags, produce bags, bottles, utensils, coffee cups, and dry cleaning garment bags.

When you're sorting your recycling, check the number on the bottom of your containers. Most beverage and liquid cleaner bottles will be #1 (PET), which is commonly accepted by most curbside recycling companies. Containers marked #2 (HDPE; typically heavier-duty bottles for milk, juice, and laundry detergent) are also commonly recyclable. Containers marked #5 (PP; plastic cutlery, yogurt and margarine tubs, ketchup bottles) also qualify in some areas. For the specifics on your locality, check out Earth911.org’s recycling directory.

You can also help businesses by letting them know that you would like them to offer alternatives to single-use plastic items. There are also many non-profit organisations working to reduce and eliminate ocean plastic pollution, including Oceanic Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 5 Gyres, Algalita, and Plastic Soup Foundation. These organisations rely on donations to continue their work, so even small donations can make a big difference.

Encourage legislation that reduces plastic production and improves waste management

While individual action is important, it is not enough to solve the plastic pollution crisis. We need to encourage legislation that reduces plastic production and improves waste management.

The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021 (BFFPPA) is a federal bill that represents the most comprehensive set of policy solutions to the plastic pollution crisis ever introduced in Congress. The bill phases out a variety of single-use products, such as plastic utensils, and encourages the reduction of single-use products by establishing programs to refund consumers for returning beverage containers and by taxing carryout bags. It also creates a temporary moratorium on new or expanded permits for certain facilities that manufacture plastics until regulations are updated to address pollution from the facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must publish guidelines for a national standardised labelling system for recycling and composting receptacles, and producers must include labels on their products that are easy to read and indicate whether the products are recyclable, compostable, or reusable.

Another legislative solution to combat plastic pollution is encouraging "advanced recycling", a process that strips plastics down to their chemical form for reuse.

On a local level, plastic bag legislation has been successful in reducing plastic bag use and pollution. For example, Washington, D.C. saw an 85% reduction in plastic bag use after a five-cent tax was implemented in 2009, and San Francisco saw a 70% drop in plastic bag pollution following a complete ban on plastic bags with a 10-cent fee on compostable and paper bags in 2007. However, there is a lack of consistency in U.S. plastic bag legislation, and some states have implemented or attempted to implement rules that prohibit legislation regulating plastic bags and other problematic plastic consumer products. This is why proponents of plastic bans are pushing for federal action.

Recycling is also important to reduce the footprint of our waste stream. Most beverage and liquid cleaner bottles will be #1 (PET), which is commonly accepted by most curbside recycling companies. Containers marked #2 (HDPE; typically heavier-duty bottles for milk, juice, and laundry detergent) are also commonly recyclable. Containers marked #5 (PP; plastic cutlery, yogurt and margarine tubs, ketchup bottles) also qualify in some areas.

Frequently asked questions