8 Ways To Get Start For Plastic Free
You may not know how you can reduce plastic waste. In fact, everyone can get involved in plastic-free. Start out small with some tips here:
Polystyrene trays – meat, fish and deli
Polystyrene trays are a type of plastic that difficult to recycle. It also contains a chemical that is harmful to human health. Meat, fish and deli products sold on polystyrene trays in the supermarket.
Plastic is also fatal for animals who mistake it for food or become entangled in it.
What can you do:
Shop for the local market or deli-counter who sells unpackaged items. Remember to bring your own reusable container along when you go shopping.
Plastic bags – fruits and vegetables
Plastic is fatal for animals who mistake it for food or become entangled in it. Fruits and vegetables pre-packed in plastic and offer plastic bags for loose items.
What can you do:
Find plastic-free alternatives when buying fruit and veggies. Look out for loose fruit and vegetables in the grocery store or local market. Choose lightweight, reusable produce bags. Refuse the plastic bags that are usually provided by the counter.
Plastic bag – At the bakery
Avoid pre-packed bread, rolls and baked goods.
What you can do:
Bring your own reusable bread bag or containers to avoid single-use plastic packaging. You can also ask for a paper bag if you forget to bring your own or you do not have any.
Plastic bag – shopping bags
Bring your own reusable shopping bags and help reduce plastic waste.
What you can do:
Keep your reusable bags somewhere where you’ll remember them; like in the car boot or by your front door. There are even pocket-sized reusable bags that you can keep on hand for emergencies.
Plastic straws
Refuse plastic straws when buying a drink & bring your own reusable alternative. Avoid a plastic straw can reduce plastic waste and protect wildlife.
What you can do:
It’s important that you request without a single-use plastic straw when you order your drink. If the straw is already in there when it’s brought to you, it’ll likely become plastic waste anyway.
You can also bring your own sustainable alternatives. There are stainless steel, bamboo, and glass options available on the market.
Plastic bottles
Reduce the pollution produced by plastic water bottles. Plastic water bottles end up in landfills impact millions of animals and habitats.
What you can do:
Bring your own reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic ones. Choose a socially-responsible and alternative. Reusable bottles made from stainless steel, glass, or safe aluminum.
Take away coffee cups
Coffee cups are not recyclable in most locations. Bring a reusable coffee cup or dine-in at your favorite café, you can make a huge difference.
What you can do:
Avoid takeaway coffee cups by bringing along your own reusable alternative. Keep your reusable coffee cups in your bag or on your desk at work; wherever you’ll remember to use it.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
By following the 3 R’s help create a better planet.
What can you do:
Reduce what you buy. Ask yourself if you need it or can repurpose other items that you already have before buy. You can shop for secondhand clothing and products to help contribute less waste.
Reuse plastic items as much as possible or take to a secondhand store where possible so they don’t end up in a landfill.
Recycle and choose to buy recycled products to close the loop.
Tips for recycling :
Find out what’s recyclable in your area
- Check the rules for recycling in your area
- Ask what can and can’t go in your recycling bins. Old toys, clothing, scrap metal or some types of plastic can’t take into the recycling system.