Why won't anyone help me?

DEAR MISS MANNERS >> Living in a city that generates massive quantities of plastic waste on a daily basis, I can't pass an overflowing garbage can or notice litter blowing down the street without thinking about where it will end up.

If I had my way, singleuse plastic would be strictly limited to essential functions, such as in medical equipment or gloves to handle hazardous material. While plastic bag bans and paper straws are great steps forward, many businesses still seem to use way more plastic than is necessary.

I wish more businesses encouraged their staff to ask customers before adding, say, plastic utensils to a food order or a plastic sleeve over dry-cleaned items. While I would like to feel more comfortable asking business owners to consider making these changes, I'm not sure how to do it in a way that is polite and kind.

When I have made requests to people in my own life to be mindful of their plastic consumption, they have responded defensively. As the ocean fills rapidly with our plastic waste, do you have any suggestions for ways to handle these conversations respectfully? GENTLE READER >> We live in a very imperfect world. Fortunately, many people feel compelled to right wrongs — just not always the same ones.

But we can all agree that our cause is too important to give way to others' — or to normal rules of decorum, like not haranguing strangers in the street. Miss Manners would have thought it was self-evident that doing so is counterproductive.

Make your case to people who are able to effect change — at times when they are listening, and using language that will convince, not alienate, them. Such an approach will not improve things as quickly as you want, but it will do so more quickly than arguing over whose injustice is the worst.

DEAR MISS MANNERS >> I found out through social media that my ex-father-inlaw passed. My ex-motherin-law posted a photo from a celebration of life that had been held for him.

My ex-husband's new wife forbade him from having any contact with me, but I am still friends with his mother online (although I am careful not to like or comment on her posts).

Would it be all right if I were to send her a condolence card, or should I just ignore it? There was no post made when he passed, just the one mentioning the celebration of life. Is it too late?

GENTLE READER >> The opinions of current spouses regarding with whom you should, or should not, associate should be heard, if not necessarily always followed. Those of former spouses have no such standing.

Sending a condolence note is a kindness to your former mother-in-law, not an intentional affront to your ex-spouse or his new wife. Explaining any passage of time is as easy as noting that you only recently became aware of her loss.