Maybe some day, we’ll be able to jet away to a new island in the Pacific called GGP. It will be known by its initials rather than its full name (The Great Garbage Patch) to make it sound more exotic. It’s just a mass of debris now, but ocean currents and tourist-seeking businesses may be able to pull it together to make an island destination in the future. (Just don’t order the salmon.)
Sound outlandish? Not so much when you consider that Americans use 720,000 plastic bags every minute. Seventy-one million plastic water bottles are trashed daily. Only 3% of plastic waste is recycled. And it takes 400 to 1,000 years for it to degrade. Although plastic may seem impossible to remove entirely from our lives, here are six ways to start cutting back.
Wean off the bottle. Sure, plastic water bottles are convenient, but they’re not cheap, the bottles themselves may leach harmful chemicals, and—get this—25% of that bottled water is just purified tap water. For water that tastes just as good, invest in a home water filter. If you like bottles for the convenience, try a reusable Nalgene container.
Bag the bags. BYOB when you shop. Plastic bags are the biggest source of plastic waste. Either reuse the ones you have (keep a stash in your trunk) or buy some eco-friendly sacks.
Stock up on reusable containers. Whether it’s traditional Tupperware or newer options from Ikea or Crate and Barrel, invest in an assortment to pack lunches or even pick up take-out. And try to avoid plastic cutlery.
Buy used toys. If little Brendon is insisting on a turtle sandbox or other giant plastic toy, don’t buy new. These items are usually available at a fraction of their original price at yard sales and secondhand shops.
Lend your voice. If a product is ridiculously overpackaged, don’t be afraid to e-mail the company and encourage them to look for less-wasteful options. Most manufacturers read, value, and respond to customer feedback.
Get resourceful. A big part of becoming a plastic surgeon is becoming more aware of what you’re using. One example: Milk and orange juice are available in cartons instead of plastic jugs. Another: Stainless steel cups (look for them at camping supply stores) are great nonbreakable, nonplastic options for kids.
Comments from Members
great tips!
Interesting & unbelievable that we haven't learned much about what we are still doing to our planet. I'm glad to report that our local stores are offering reuseable bags now & expanding the recycle programs to collect some of the local garbage.
Very interesting. I'd already decided to try and get better about plastic and use the recycle bags. I will definately do it now. It doesn't take much and it's actually more convienient. Sometimes we just need a reminder. Thank you
If everyone would try just a little bit harder to implement these changes, it would make a huge impact.
WONDERFUL TIPS!!! IF YOU ARE CRAFTY AT ALL YOU CAN MELT SOME OF THOSE BAGS TOGETHER AND CREATE YOUR OWN REUSEABLE BAG OR THEY CAN BE CROCHETED TOGETHER-LOOK FOR INFO ON WEB- THERE ARE OTHER GREAT IDEAS TO TURN GARBAGE INTO ART AND OTHER REUSEABLE ITEMS...SOMETIMES IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE TIME AND SLIGHT AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT!!!! THANKS FOR TTHE TIPS!!!
Like the suggestions, i am going to get busy making calls to those companies that over package, especically those who use the big hard plastic boxes.I carry little cloth bags that tuck into tiny pouches in my purse. When i make a purchase i reach for my wallet and they are right there, no more excuses.I also refuse bags if i only have a few items and can easily carry them or tuck them in my purse. I was amazed how many times I could skip the bag. It feels really good!
We also save all aluminum cans, which some cat food and dog food cans are recyclable. For all that mail I get that is not wanted like from credit card companies, etc., I put "RETURN TO SENDER". I figure why should I fill up my trash can with unwanted trash. It does'nt cost me to send it back, it costs them, so maybe they will get the message and stop sending me junk. lol And with recycling, after I get a few extra large trash bags full, I gain alittle pocket change, maybe enough for lunch or a new nightie. hehe 
Don't forget that many stores give you an incentitive for bringing your own reusable bags. Not so much in my area (SE USA) but I know many folks that get 3-5 cents per bag. Every little bit helps: the purse and the planet!
penny I loved your idea of "returning to sender" for the junk mail, I will be trying this grannysecnarf
when I was younger, my mother gave me some throw rugs made out of plastic bags I still have one I'v had for 35 years and it can be washed and dried in the machine.
Put any open container of HOT water on the kitchen counter overnight by morning...clorine free drinking wter, (I then pour mine on clean milk jugsThat I save for this purpose)extra ,clean jugs I store in the garage, and always keep one in the fridge!
Great information......also watching "Planet Green" is very informative. I am old but learning much about living in a 'green' planet.
Recyle your Ziploc or other brand of bag. Extend the life of the product. Instead of tossing out a used ziploc or other brand bag, re-use it. Example: if the bag was used for cookies and is now empty re-use it. How? Place the used bag in the left side of the sink. While you are preparing breakfast, lunch or dinner used it as a mini-trash bag. Place egg shells, or non-eatable pieces of vegetables,etc. in the bag. After dinner, zipl the bag up and disgard the trash. It saves you time during food preparation, energy and keeps your trash bin a little cleaner for pick-up.
I have made my oun pattern to crochet plastic bags into totes that we use for swimming. My city is not big on recycling plastic, they will not pay like for cans but we can recycle #1 and #2 plastic at one placewhich my family does. What a difference in my garbage cans.
Nice ideas! thanks everyone.
some stores (in Michigan) are accepting plastic grocery bags for recycling too. I always have a bag of bags going in my house. They are also useful for mini garbage cans (bathroom) and to have one in the diaper bag to somewhat "seal" in the stink of a number 2 diaper if no trash is available.
I found it curious that the organic eggs I want to buy at the store are covered in three sides with plastic -- the bottom and two tops! What were they thinking? I guess I thought organic AND going green sort of were a no-brainer combination.
I hope people are becoming more aware and following more green practices. We are doing terrible things to our planet!
The amount of thrown away plastic is an absolute shame. Its just unbelievable how long it takes for most of it to break down in the landfills and, unfortunately, the ocean. I try to cut back on my personal use whenever possible. I use a Pur or Brita pitcher (Tip: Fill your pitchers after you've showered, the water will not have sat in the pipes so long. Especially helpful if you live in an older home with galvanized pipes.) to filter my tap water and usually have a couple of "reused" bottles in the freezer to grab on my way out. One of the local grocery stores will take used plastic bags: I always have to or three "return bags" collecting. I don't do as well as I should on the reuseable bags; I've bought them with the best of intentions, but I usually remember them when I get to the checkout. I have tried to recycle all the other plastic I use, but there isn't any place in our local area that will even take it. I wash and reuse my plastic storage/freezer bags several times (unless they have been used for raw meat, then they can be used for scraps or garbage). One caution about the "Return to sender" or "Refused" mail: Unless the mail piece is first class or has an endorsement (return service, etc) the post office will just have to dispose of the mail piece. You can "opt out" on those offers and it will greatly reduce the amount of unwanted offers.
I do my best to reuse my plastic bags. I also use the cloth bags for my groceries (they are stronger and hold more products). I take the bus so the plastic bags are not very helpful. In terms of plastic bottles, I recycle them along with the lids, not much money , but every little bit helps. i also recycle aluminum cans for cash. cardboard and tin cans are recycable in my area, so i make sure they go into the recycle garbage can. Some glass bottles i will rinse out, clean off the labels and paint on flowers to use as vases or pencil holders. i also take empty ice cream containers, wash them good, and either paint or contact paper them for banks for the kids or for yard sales!
Its great to hear so many ideas on how to go green and save the planet! This conversation is truely an inspiration. I'm a university student and I was on a team the recycled plastic grocery bags into shoes for children in less developed countries that can afford shoes. Also, we learned to make sandals and blankets out the plastic bags. Below is the video my team and I made about the plastic shoes. We won the innovation competition from California State University and received letter from California State Assembly men and women congradulating us on our environmental ideas!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdYsoBFNK2E
I use my own tote bags at the grocery store and we collect soda cans to recycle. We will also keep anything with metal in it- old bbq pits, some lawn chairs, etc and take them to recycle too. I have to admit though, I never knew it was possible to make blankets or shoes out of plastic bags! That's pretty neat!
I once knew someone who worked at a dump. They sort through and separate all the trash, and all recycleable things are separated and recycled. So for those who don't recycle, the dump does it for you, including plastic and metal (at least that place did). I think it's dumb that trash companies charge you a fee for a recycle bin with weekly pickup. They should offer a discount instead and more people would be recycling their milk jugs, #1 and 2 plastics, cans, glass, etc.
Where I live they do not charge for the recycling bin and therefore I recycle everything the city allows. I live in a small town though and they do not accept card board or cereal boxes. We do use plastic bottle for water as we are always on the go, but we re-use them before we recycle. I have no problem with using the cloth bags to go grocery shopping but it bothers me that I have to pay for them. And, with the down turn in the economy we cannot afford anything but bare necessities right now. I wish there was a way to get them free somewhere. I recycle paper at my daughters school, most schools here offer bins to recycle paper instead of filling the trash can.
My Mother was right again. She always saved the Glass jar's and used those for leftovers. And to think I use to tease her about saving all those jars. So I have now taken to saving jar's just like mom. Got to Love her. She was the best......
