6 Ways To Reduce Your Plastic Waste | The Odyssey Online
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Politics and Activism

6 Ways To Reduce Your Plastic Waste

Six simple changes that can help reduce your plastic waste impacting our planets ecosystem.

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Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash
Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash

In This Article:

There are many easy changes you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. Choose eco-friendly options to help our planet flourish!

1. Skip The Straw

Plastic straws have become a controversial topic because of their impact on marine life. You may have heard that plastic straws have been found in most species of birds and turtles because they misinterpret it for food. Instead of risking the lives of our planets animals, simply choose paper or reusable metal straws if needed, or skip the straw entirely and know you are saving a life.

2. Bring Reusable Grocery Bags

Photo by Soragrit Wongsa on Unsplash

Not only does this save the planet from plastic bags becoming tangled on plants, fences, and even animals, but it also saves you from having a mound of plastic bags that you don't know what to do with. Reusable grocery bags eliminate the hassle of storing plastic bags and sometimes stores will even have a discount when you use your own bags to promote eco-friendly options!

3. Recycle Your Pop Cans and Glass Bottles

Photo by Lacey Williams on Unsplash

Many households drink pop and beverages out of glass bottles. Instead of throwing the remnants away, recycle them to now only prevent unnecessary waste but to also collect a little cash. You can easily store these cans and bottles in a closet until you do your weekly grocery shopping where you can bring them along and recycle them. You can even wait a bit longer to bring them in to collect more cans and bottles to then recycle them for a bigger payout. With all the extra cash, consider putting toward your grocery bill!

4. Switch Out Metal Cutlery For Bamboo

This is a difficult one. Most households love their metal cutlery and that's because they can be very durable. While this is a plus to metal cutlery, you might want to think about when that cutlery becomes gross or you fancy a change and throw it away. Metal takes years and years to compost and it doesn't have a benefit to our ecosystem. With bamboo cutlery, it is still very durable and a clean option, however when thrown away they can compost easily because they are an organic substance.

5. Change To Using Beeswax Wraps

Beeswax wraps are not a widely known item and in most cases, people view them as a gross kitchen item. What people don't know is that they are completely safe for food and they are actually washable. Beeswax wraps come in many sizes and they are a great alternative to plastic wrap and sandwich bags that eventually end up in our environment. A bonus with these wraps is that they come in a variety of patterns and colors to make using these eco-friendly wraps a bit more fun.

6. Choose A Reusable Water Bottle

Photo by Diversity Photos on Unsplash

There are so many water bottles out there that you can choose based on your style. Reusable water bottles are a smart choice to reduce plastic waste littering our planet. Most plastic water bottles are thrown away instead of recycled and this can lead to plastic particles seeping into the soil and breaking down into our oceans. Also, choosing to use a reusable water bottle can save you money in the long run. Who doesn't want to save a little cash?

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