Ways You Can Help Stop Pointless Plastic Waste

If you want to reduce your environmental impact, then there are a few changes that you can make to your lifestyle. Of course, corporations and governments will also need to step up their game if global warming is to be stopped, but we can all do our part to help.

Here, we will provide several easy tips that you can follow if you want to help reduce the pointless use and disposal of plastic products.

Only Use a Reusable Bottle

Instead of carrying around a water bottle as you work or study, make the switch to a reusable bottle. In the United Kingdom alone, over 35 million plastic bottles are used every day, with millions of them ending up in landfills or the ocean.

Reusable bottles also have the added benefit of saving you money. Imagine having to spend hundreds on bottled water every year when you can fill up a single reusable bottle with free tap water.

Or, instead, you can buy a water filter, which only needs to be replaced a few times a year. Even better, there are downloadable apps that will tell you exactly where you need to go to get your bottle filled for free!

Boycott Plastic Straws

There are countries, cities, states, and provinces that have banned plastic straws, but you may not live in one of those places. If you are unfortunate enough to live in a place that still allows for plastic straws to be used, you can do your part and boycott them.

Plastic straws are very bad news for our oceans, so you should avoid using them altogether if you can. You can also ask your local pub to provide you with a paper straw instead of a plastic one if you absolutely need it.

Use Reusable Coffee Cups

North Americans love their coffee, and most people cannot start their day without their daily cup of Joe. However, those on the go may not want to carry around their coffee mug, so what can they do to help reduce plastic use? Well, one easy way is to bring reusable coffee cups with them.

Did you know that the United Kingdom throws out 2.5 billion coffee cups annually? Even worse, only 1 in 400 are recycled. The good news is some cafes will provide you with a discount if you bring your reusable cup, and if they won’t, then find one that will.

Avoid Excessive Food Packaging

We can all do our part by making different choices when we shop at our local supermarket. In some cases, we may need to find a new store to shop at, but the change will help us reduce our carbon footprint.

You will also save some money when you cut back on excessive food packaging, as loose vegetables and fruits cost less than their pre-packaged alternatives.

Use Refill Stations

When it comes to laundry liquids and other cleaning products, you may have trouble procuring one that isn’t contained in plastic. However, some companies have taken the initiative to solve the problem, so you can visit a local refill station to reload your old bottles with cleaning and laundry products.

Avoid Plastic Cutlery

Imagine you have just bought a tasty yogurt treat or a delectable salad at a cafe or a local train station to find that the cutlery they offer is made of plastic.

Now, most people will use what they have available, but why not bring a spoon, fork, or spork with you? Or, you can leave some cutlery in your work desk, so you don’t have to carry utensils around.

Ask for Your Milk to be Delivered

Many people assume that milkmen no longer deliver milk in shiny glass bottles, but some companies will still deliver milk in glass bottles if you know where to look.

Those same companies will also collect and reuse your bottles, so you will help reduce your plastic usage rates while also enjoying fresh and convenient milk in perpetuity.

Avoid Microbeads

While some countries, such as the UK, have banned microbeads, most have not. If you happen to live in a country that still allows for their use, then you will need to check labels and avoid products that contain microbeads (for example, PMMA, nylon, PTFE, PET).

Carry a Shopping Bag with You

While most would agree that carrying a shopping bag can be a nuisance, you can help reduce plastic waste by using a reusable bag. In fact, some countries produce over a million tons of plastic packaging every year, so a small step can go a long way if you stick with the game plan.

Switch to Bamboo

Most toothbrushes are made with plastic, and, if you use a disposal brush, you will need to replace it every 3 months. That’s 4 a year, which quickly adds up over the decades.

The good news is you can cut plastic out entirely by making the switch to bamboo. Yes, this plant is enjoyed by pandas and can also be used to make durable toothbrushes.

Unlike plastic, they will biodegrade in just 6 months (instead of thousands of years) to reduce your environmental impact by quite a bit.

Given that over a billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown out every year in the United States, now is the time to make the change.

Gorilla Bins

If you are worried about your environmental impact, then we can help. At Gorilla Bins, we work hard to help reduce our customers’ environmental impact by providing our junk removal services.

To learn more about us, please visit our website. We can also be reached at 905-230-1300 to request a quote or to book our services.