Half the plastic we use is only used once before being thrown away. Each year, we dump enough plastic to circle Earth four times and around 11 million tons of plastic is dumped in the sea each year.
A lot of energy and resources are used to create plastic in the first place. To produce, fill and transport a water bottle takes 2,000 times more energy than delivery of an equivalent amount of tap water!
Given the amount of plastic waste we generate and how long it sticks around, it’s easy to see why environmentalists want to reduce our plastic waste as much as possible. We can’t eliminate plastic from our lives completely, but there are things we can do to reduce the amount of plastic we use.
1. Carry a reusable bottle
In the UK we use over 35 million plastic bottles every year! Carrying a reusable bottle is a great way to cut your plastic use and save money too! There’s even an app that tells you where you can refill your bottle for free! at www.refill.org.uk
2. Say no to plastic straws
100 million single use straws are used every day in the UK and many end up in the ocean. Next time you order a drink, just say no to a straw! Wetherspoons have withdrawn plastic straws since January and you could ask your local pub or cafe to do likewise or use paper ones instead.
3. Take a reusable cup
2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away
every year in the UK and less than 1 in 400 are recycled. Carry a reusable cup with you. Some cafes and coffee shops like Costa, Starbucks and Prêt a Manger offer a
discount if you use your own cup.
4. Avoid excessive food packaging
Whether it’s making different choices in the supermarket or choosing a different place
to shop like your local greengrocers or butchers, we can all try and cut down the plastic we buy. And as an added bonus, loose fruit and veg is often cheaper than pre-packaged alternatives!
5. Have your milk delivered
Although milk floats are not as common as they used to be, there are still milk rounds delivering milk in glass bottles which are collected and reused. Find a local milk delivery at www.findmeamilkman.net
6. Carry a shopping bag
The plastic bag charge has reduced new carrier bag usage by 85%. Get in the habit of carrying a bag with you and help to reduce this further. Making just a few small changes like this can have a big impact on the amount of plastic we waste.
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