7 Easy Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

7 Swaps To Reduce Plastic Waste That Are So Easy You Can Start Today

Let's do our part to make the world plastic free again.

80
7 Swaps To Reduce Plastic Waste That Are So Easy You Can Start Today
Brianna Farr

We can't all be eco-warrior princesses or zero waste nerds, but we can all do something to make the world a more beautiful place. Below are 7 ways to exchange plastic for purpose in the fight for our planet!

1. Switch to a reusable straw.

https://unsplash.com/photos/qimP2FJyTfU

According to the LA Times, more than half a billion plastic straws are used and thrown out every single day. In recent years, some people and businesses have switched to paper straws, but we all know that paper straws make for nasty margaritas! The best thing we can do to save both the sea turtles and cocktail hour is to switch to a reusable straw, or go strawless! From stainless steel and glass to bamboo, there are tons of options when it comes to choosing a reusable straw, so just pick one and stick with it! After a while, you won't feel weird about pulling a straw out of your purse anymore, I promise.

2. Bring your own to-go box.

https://pixabay.com/photos/lunch-box-lunch-dishes-korean-749367/

The Plastic Pollution Coalition states that takeout orders alone make up 269,000 US tons of oceanic plastic waste. Yep, you read that number correctly. That's 538,000,000 pounds of plastic in the ocean because of our to-go eating habits. A simple solution is to bring your own to-go box to dinner and carry your leftovers home that way. Bento boxes, Tupperware, and reusable ziplock bags are great for taking food to-go!

3. Carry travel cutlery with you.

https://www.netzerocompany.com/products/bamboo-cutlery-set

Plastic forks, spoons, and knives can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, not to mention the toxic chemicals they release into the earth as they break down! A better alternative is to carry reusable cutlery with you to use when you visit food trucks or go on a picnic. You can buy bamboo cutlery sets online, or you can just pack some of the stainless steel cutlery you already have in your kitchen!

4. Change to cotton grocery bags.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/596867506/reusable-grocery-bag-cotton-grocery-bag

According to the Earth Policy Institute, single-use plastic bags are used at a rate of nearly two million per minute! Plastic bags often kill sea life and land animals and even pose danger to children and household pets. Reusable cotton grocery bags are a total game changer for everyday tree huggers like me! Reusable shopping bags eliminate the need for plastic grocery bags, and are much sturdier too!

5. Utilize reusable water bottles and coffee cups.

https://pixabay.com/photos/coffee-mugs-coffee-to-go-coffee-1727057/

16 billion disposable coffee cups are used each year, on top of 480 billion plastic water bottles and 500 freaking billion plastic cups! Why are we doing this to our planet when many coffee shops will give us a discount for bringing in our own travel mugs and we have access to water bottle filling stations? Don't get me wrong, we should definitely be sending water bottles to people experiencing water crises, but on a daily basis, we should not be using so many single-use bottle and cups. Grab a reusable water bottle and coffee cup today and change the world one drink at a time!

6. Get a bamboo toothbrush.

Plastic toothbrushes are manufactured from non-renewable materials and take at least one hundred years to break down! Interestingly enough, bamboo toothbrushes take only 6 months to compost and are Eco-friendly! So once your current toothbrush is three months old, consider getting a plastic-free bamboo toothbrush to replace it! Once you're done with your bamboo toothbrush, you can use it as a plant marker or compost!

7. Make use of what you already have.

https://unsplash.com/photos/atzWFItRHy8

The best advice I've ever heard about producing less waste is to simply use what you already have. If you already have plastic Tupperware, use it until it's worn out, then buy something more sustainable. Reduce the amount of plastic you purchase, reuse what you already have, and recycle when you can't reduce or reuse! With that philosophy and these seven easy swaps, you'll be producing less plastic waste in no time!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

45339
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

28679
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

953221
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

160119
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments