Planet or plastic? Your choice
How many of us have had the distinct displeasure of seeing pictures of the plastic in the ocean?
According to Earth Day Network, there are about eight million metric tons of plastic thrown into the ocean annually, resulting in five major patches of plastic in the oceans around the world.
The one between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii is the size of Texas. It is permeating the food chain, meaning that if you eat seafood, you are most likely ingesting plastic as well.
We as individuals can affect our small corner of the world. As we look around us, first in the grocery store, while we shop, we find many brands of breads and foods with PLASTIC wrap on it, needlessly, when other brands do not.
We find eggs in PLASTIC containers, with others in cardboard. PLASTIC small soda or water bottles. PLASTIC glasses, cups, plates, and so forth and so on.
Then at checkout, we are given PLASTIC carryout bags, when paper is available. All single use, of course. And all recyclable, if we think to bother. It is usually incinerated, but not necessarily.
We can easily choose which items to buy to avoid and to reduce our plastic load. We can easily bring our own tote bags to avoid the carryout bags.
When we go to a restaurant, we are given PLASTIC straws in our water, whether we ask for them or not (You can tell your waiter not to bring straws to your table).
If server portions are too large, as are most dinners, we are given a PLASTIC doggie-bag, often placed in a PLASTIC carry-out bag. If we go to a drive-thru for lunch, we are given PLASTIC silverware with a napkin, with a PLASTIC bag over the lot. Lunch is often placed in a PLASTIC bag for your convenience.
If we mail something, we often use PLASTIC bubble wrap, or Styrofoam packing peanuts, leaving the recipient to deal with them.
When you use something, make sure to put the plastic in the recycling bin. We bring home many PLASTIC containers. If you look on the bottom, you will see a triangle containing a number. If it’s a 1 or a 5, it is recyclable.
In conclusion, just be aware of all the single-use plastic we are being surrounded by, and being forced on us. If you can, refuse to take it, and if not, then recycle all that you can when you get home. Every little bit helps.
Robert A. Schreiber is founder of CommonSense, Inc., in Memphis.