The following article has been contributed by Wilton Go Green.
Take a moment to think about the world’s relationship with plastic. From the time people wake, life is intertwined with polymers — the nylon rug on the floor, the phone on a bedside table, the knob on the bathroom door and the countertop crowded with every bathroom product imaginable. Looking around from start to finish, the majority of things we are dependent on to get through the day are made of plastic.
What Happens To Plastic When It’s Thrown Out?
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, nearly one-fifth of plastic waste that’s not acceptable for recycling gets burned, releasing harmful CO2 gasses that pollute the air. The rest ends up in landfills or leaks into the environment — namely the land, food and ocean.
With our reliance on plastic, it’s not hard to see why the world produces about 400 million metric tons of plastic waste each year, according to a recent United Nations report. To put this in perspective, every year eight million metric tons of plastic end up in the oceans and by 2050, by weight, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
One might say that plastic in the ocean eventually breaks apart into small particles and that would be correct. But at what cost? Once discarded, the plastic cup of iced drink from a local coffee shop that takes five minutes to drink takes 450 years to break apart — it’s never gone. And those microplastics in the ocean eventually get consumed by fish and end up as food on our plates.
The circle of life for plastic is preventable. While the plastic problem is not just a consumer problem, the first step is being more mindful of our plastic consumption and the little things we can do to make a big impact on a healthy and sustainable planet. It’s important to also make sure the plastic items brought home are recycled right. Not every type of plastic is an acceptable item in recycling. The community can learn more online.
Breaking Up with Single-Use Plastic
Over half of the plastic discarded is used only one time, so relying less on single-use plastic will lessen the entire lifecycle of plastic production and consumption. While the business of plastic may be overwhelming to tackle, the everyday practicalities of breaking up our toxic relationship with single-use plastic is manageable and can even be rewarding. Celebrate Plastic Free July by taking any of these small steps to swap out single-use plastics and choose better habits for a reusable lifestyle:
Make a travel mug your new favorite partner: Forgoing plastic shopping bags isn’t the only way to make an impact. Rethink your drink routine for the next visit to a favorite coffee shop. Stainless steel mugs or bottles keep beverages hot and won’t burn any hands. These reusable cups are just as good at keeping drinks cold. Hot or cold, most coffee shops are happy to fill personal cups and some retailers, including Starbucks, offer discounts and rewards with every purchase.
Get friendly with eco-friendly online companies: Reusable and plastic-free products are everywhere. For example, Blueland has starter kits for laundry, household cleaning and beauty products with easy refills.
Step out of a food storage routine: Reusable containers, storage bags and wraps are versatile for any meal or occasion. It’s great to even bring a reusable container to restaurants for leftovers to avoid adding more contaminated plastic to landfills. Reusable storage bags and beeswax wrap are affordable gifts for the holidays — a gift that keeps giving back to the planet throughout the year!
Swap out straws and plastic utensils for the real thing: What’s better than creating a smart travel pack for the next eco-friendly meal? Say no to plastic straws and utensils and replace them with stainless steel sippers and bamboo forks and knives. Both are easy to clean and can be reused hundreds of times with zero carbon footprint.
Reusable produce bags for the win: The community has learned to bring reusable bags to the grocery store, so why not add reusable produce bags to the car?
Think about taking to heart one or more of these tips for the month of July. Forming these healthy habits will last a lifetime and help the world move away from an unhealthy reliance on single-use plastics.
For more ideas on taking steps towards a sustainable planet, and some local shops to find items, visit Wilton Go Green’s Plastic Free July website.
Have a great story to tell on breaking up with single-use plastic? Email Wilton Go Green about great swap ideas.
Stop by the Wilton Go Green table at the Wilton Chamber of Commerce Sidewalk Sale & Street Fair this Saturday, July 20, to learn about simple swaps and pick up some plastic free items.