Research shows that the average American consumes more than 70,000 doses of microplastics per year. Microscopic pieces of plastic enter the body with food and air. The animals that suffer the most from excess plastic on the planet are the ones that get trapped in used bottles, bags, and tubes and then can’t get out.
In fact, to be eco-conscious, to sort the rubbish is quite burdensome and difficult to fulfil even in Kiev or Lviv. Ukrainian society is gradually moving in the direction of environmental protection, but now it is very time-consuming and energy-consuming to recycle anything but batteries and light bulbs.
Buying food for goods without packaging is almost unrealistic. And separate waste collection is not available in every neighbourhood. Yes, and in fact it can be only two containers: one for mixed waste, and one for plastic bottles.
But you can do your part to save the planet in another way. If you can’t sort and deposit your waste properly, you can reduce the amount of waste.
Replace plastic bags
Instead of plastic bags , use a fabric shopper bag. It is more durable, will last longer, and is not too harmful to the environment. However, the point of such an ecotorbinka is to use it all the time, so do not forget it at home, but always take it with you.
Small transparent cellophane bags are also covered by this advice. Make your own or buy cloth bags for weighing fruits, vegetables, grains and more. You won’t be refused to weigh the food in your bag, and you can do it yourself at the supermarket.
Not accumulating new bags is good, but what to do with the old ones? Everyone has a bag of bags at home, a drawer of bags. Use that polythene a couple more times, don’t throw it away immediately, but extend its life. When the bag is already completely worn out, then you can throw out rubbish in it, so that you do not have to use special rubbish bags.
What do you do if you forget your cloth bag? Many shops sell alternatives to plastic bags: recycled, cardboard, reusable and the like. One such bag can replace 170 plastic bags.
Not just bags: how to fight plastic every day
Water bottles also cause considerable damage to the environment. Considering that a person should drink more than 2 litres of water a day, it is not difficult to calculate how many plastic containers we use. Buy a reusable bottle . It can replace more than 167 ordinary bottles, which we immediately throw away. It’s even more convenient and cheaper to get water from vending machines than to buy it in a shop.
Coffee “to go” also applies. We drink the drink, and the pot goes straight to the bin. There is an alternative – a reusable glass or thermos . It will replace 500 disposable Pots.
Cocktail tubes have the shortest life cycle. Nobody uses them a second time. It’s the little things like this that are most harmful to the environment. Animals swallow such tubes and suffocate. You can replace them with reusable tubes: metal, bamboo, glass, etc. One such tube will replace 540 plastic ones.
shoe covers and mackintoshes are also made of plastic. Modern technology has also created their reusable alternatives.
Foodcontainers , disposable forks and spoons . Now you can buy bamboo cutlery and containers in a few clicks online. They are more environmentally friendly and last longer. There are also metal options.
Takeaway food. Supermarkets and meal delivery places food in plastic containers. There are several options to solve this problem. Firstly, you can carry your own container and ask to be put in it. Second, you can find outlets that pack in eco containers. Thirdly, it is more complicated, but you can cook only at home. You’ll also save money.
Toothbrushes are plastic, too. Get a bamboo one, which will replace 4 regular ones. It’s also environmentally friendly.