As each week passes as editor of Green Lodging News, I am sent way more article leads or helpful websites that I can write about. I would like to share one of those with you now. Perhaps you too will want to pass the article along.
15 Ways To Reduce Plastic Pollution—This article provides some very good reasons to care about plastic pollution.
From the article: Maybe you don’t understand what the hype about plastic pollution is all about. Laura Parker writes for National Geographic. She reports that “Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms.” Adding, “Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics.”
Parker notes that while plastic can be removed from the oceans, the challenge happens when plastic in the ocean is broken down into microplastics. At that stage, it becomes impossible to recover the plastic.
It is therefore important to ensure that plastic does not escape into the ocean in the first place. This can be accomplished through simple everyday measures like improved waste management, avoiding single-use plastic, using biodegradable plastic, and supporting companies and organizations working to reduce plastic pollution.
Some other snippets from the article:
You can start reducing your use of plastic in small ways. For instance, you can decline the plastic straw when you buy your next drink. If you do that, you will help remove one straw from the 500 million discarded somewhere in the US every day. If you really can’t do without a straw, you could use a glass, stainless steel, or paper one.
When you go out dining, there is always a possibility you will have leftovers you want to take home. In most cases, the waiter will pack your leftover food in a plastic container. You can avoid the use of plastic by always taking your own doggie bag or to-go container with you when dining out.
Participate in recycling activities. This may sound like obvious advice, but if you look at the numbers, you will realize that we all need the reminder because we are not doing a great job at recycling.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “While overall the amount of recycled plastics is relatively small—three million tons for a 8.7 percent recycling rate in 2018—the recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant.” The EPA adds that “The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1 percent in 2018, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3 percent in 2018.”
The numbers above indicate that more needs to be done to ensure that more plastic is recycled. You can do your part by separating plastic from other waste to make the job easier for those who collect plastic for recycling.
Most of the work involved in addressing plastic pollution is done by nonprofit organizations like Plastic Pollution Coalition, Plastic Soup Foundation, and Oceanic Society. To carry out their work, these organizations need money. It doesn’t matter how much you donate because when we put together the small donations from millions of individuals, we can make a difference.
If you know a company or organization using or disposing of plastic irresponsibly, make them aware of your concerns. If they ignore your messages, gather evidence, and post it on social media profiles. You could also come together and have a peaceful demonstration to attract the attention of the company.
Praise organizations and companies that are actively taking measures to reduce plastic pollution—hotels that provide reusable water bottles, for example. Go further and use your wallet to support such organizations.
We are using a million plastic bottles across the world every minute when we drink beverages. A considerable proportion of this figure can be attributed to bottled water. By deciding to drink tap water, you are reducing the amount of plastic you use. If you are worried about tap water quality in your area, you may consider getting a filtration system.
What is your property doing to reduce the volume of plastic it produces? I would love to know. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
