Ever since we were little kids, we have heard the phrase “reduce, reuse and recycle.” Plastic use is constantly increasing, but what’s worse is that only a small portion of it is being recycled. The biggest problem is that many of the plastics we use are for single-use only and quickly add to the already large amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills. This pollutes our environment with plastic, harming human and animal life.
Sea life is largely impacted by plastic pollution because it can become immobilized or choke on the plastic. Additionally, plastics are detrimental to the environment because they give off toxic chemicals. Plastics can also threaten the lives of turtles. So, if you want to save the turtles, keep reading for ways to cut down plastic in your life.
Reusable containers
As a college student, there are numerous ways to reduce the amount of plastic you use in your daily life. Kylie Wilkinson, a member of Nature Club at NSU, said, “Most of the plastic waste is for to-go food containers and cups, so if it’s possible, bring your own to go containers to restaurants and reusable cups if the place allows it.”
BYO Straw
One of the biggest ways to reduce plastic on this campus starts at Starbucks. Iced beverages require having a plastic cup, lid and straw. This can all be replaced by bringing in your own tumbler and reusable straw. Straws are one of the most frequent items people find during a beach cleanup. Buying a multipack of reusable straws on Amazon can be an inexpensive way to make a large impact. Similarly, people also buy a travel size cutlery kit so they don’t use plastic forks and spoons.
Shopping bags
Another simple way to cut down on your plastic use is to bring your own shopping bags when grocery shopping. In California, if you don’t bring in your own shopping bags, then you have to pay for shopping bags. Coral Gables in Miami has a ban on plastic bags in general, and Pinecrest has banned the use of plastic straws. If these bans were implemented in the rest of the U.S., then it could lead to major change.
Reusable water bottle
Plastic bottles are another big contributor to plastic waste in landfills. According to Ban the Bottle, in one year, the U.S. produces 50 billion plastic bottles. Wilkinson also said, “By 2050 there will be a ton of plastic for every ton of fish.” By using a reusable water bottle, you can help to decrease this number.
