|
|
|
Newsletters >
March 2018 More on Plastic Waste
March 2018 More on Plastic Waste
Mar 13, 2018
The Earth Day network states that plastics have been produced since 1907 and there is something like 6 billion tonnes of plastic waste in the world. I frequently find plastic bottles on the street. As I live near the ocean many of these bottles could find their way there if not picked up. I also frequently find plastic bags on the street. These come from the grocery store fruit and vegetable department or are single use plastic bags available at check out for shopping.
The other plastic items I frequently find on the street are lunch bags and glad wrap from children's lunches at the local school and drink lids and cups. Some times I find plastic toys or other small items made of plastic. I am happy to pick up these items as I know that reduces the threat to marine life. Every bit helps.
It also makes me realise the importance of spreading the message of the Spruce Initiative which is that the Spruce Initiative is a daily walk practise aimed at cleaning up the planet one piece of rubbish, one day at a time. Every day when you are out on your daily walk pick up just one piece of rubbish and dispose of it appropriately. That way you become part of the solution not part of the problem. People who are prepared to pick up just one piece of rubbish a day don't drop rubbish so it is a self correcting solution to the problem of rubbish on the streets and in our parks and beaches.
I must admit that I don't use gloves to pick up rubbish very frequently. I do carry hand sanitizer and I use that after I have picked up rubbish. Of course washing your hands is preferable but that isn't always an option.
At home I reuse the fruit and vegetable bags from the grocery store and use the shopping bags for my rubbish. To cut down on my use of plastics I have started to look for options for grocery items that don't use plastic. For instance I buy the natural peanut butter in a glass jar with a metal top instead of a plastic jar.
I started buying milk in cardboard cartons and the juice I like was also in a cardboard carton. However in just the space of a few weeks the milk i was buying in cardboard cartons is now in a plastic bottle as is my favourite juice. I have written to the juice company to object and I will also write to the milk company to object. This is a real step back. Hopefully this year's Earth Day theme of ending plastic pollution will make people aware of the need for society to cut down on plastics.
To cut down on my use of plastic I have gone back to using soap instead of body wash and I no longer use daily shower cleaner. I try to choose fruits and vegetables with minimal plastic wrap and when i buy fish I try to avoid fish that is packaged in plastic. I know these are small sacrifices but if only a small percentage of people would do the same we would save a vast amount of plastic every year.
Following an email from the Earth Day Network I watched a video on zero waste featuring Lauren Singer. This young woman kept her waste to one small jar over a three year period by making her own cleaning products and cosmetics. While I wouldn't go to that extreme I know I can cut down on my use of plastics as I suggested above.
I am very happy when I come across a fast food outlet or cafe that uses wooden utensils instead of plastic for take away meals. This is good for the environment. There is a very nice outdoor cafe in Ettalong near the waterfront which adopts this approach. The council has also provided a bin for recycling along with the regular rubbish bins and this is very good to see.
We have a lady who cleans the streets in Woy Woy. Sometimes I see her when I am on my daily walk and you can tell the days when she has cleaned as the streets are free from rubbish.
We congratulate the Earth Day network on their theme for this year of cutting down on plastic pollution and we hope you will give their message serious consideration.
Cheers,
Felicity
Clean and green is our motto. Remember: one piece a day sends the rubbish away! Don’t just clean let’s Spruce.
www.thespruceinitiative.info
|
|
