14 actionable ways to reduce plastic pollution
How to reduce plastic pollution
Plastic is the most used material in our daily lives most of the thing we use is made up of plastic. Foods that we eat comes in the packaging of plastic. Inspite of plastic being a non biodegradable material, toxic to our earth we can't resist it's use due to its versatility and ease of use. Each year plastic is manufactured and thrown in billion. This plastic doesn't biodegrade in the soil and pollute it releasing microplastic into it. Pollution that is prevailing due to use of plastic is called plastic pollution. In this article we are going to see how to reduce plastic pollution. There would be some easy to tips to reduce plastic pollution.
Plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is the harm to the environment due to excessive use of plastic. A large amount of waste with plastic wrappers are present in the landfills that do not biodegrade in soil for million of years and release micro plastic in the soil. Plastic is bad for our plants if it mixes with soil, become harmful to the aquatic animal if thrown in oceans contaminating the water. Plastic 's disposal becomes a big problem for us.
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| How to reduce plastic pollution? |
Harmful effects of plastic
- Burning of plastic releases toxic gases in the environment that become harmful for our environment.
- Plastic that we produce in a large amount of number doesn't biodegrade in soil for millions of years. Plastic contaminates the water releasing microplastic in the water that becomes toxic to the aquatic animals present in them.
- Plastic is made up of microplastic that goes into the soil causing soil pollution and harm plants .
- Plastic thrown at roadside is harmful for stray animals. They eat them up to due to food particles attached to them in many cases.
Approach of zero waste lifestyle
Zero waste lifestyle is the lifestyle when no waste is produced. In practical life it's not easy to resist the waste completely but surely we can minimise it. It's called low waste lifestyle. In which the we try to minimise the waste production from where we can.
How to reduce plastic pollution?
1. Avoid using balloons
Balloons that we use for decoration and parties are thrown after being used. They are thrown away in trash what's then? These are made up of plastic and never biodegrade in soil. These are small in sizes and difficult to pick up. That's why they easily get mixed with soil and in ocean harming them.
2. Use reusable bottles
Plastic water bottles are used and thrown in tonnes every day. Instead one should use reusable water bottle that can use many times.
3. Use refillable pens
Pens are used in large quantities by students ,office workers and so on. These are made up of plastic and thrown after being used every time. There are so many reusable pan that can be fill up again after being used. So go for fountain pens or other eco-friendly pen options in the market.
4. Take your clothe bag
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| Take your own clothe bag: how to reduce plastic pollution |
In our everyday life we always forget to take our reusable backs and take a new polythene bag to our home. Develop a habit to take reusable bag that would reduce your plastic waste.
5. Take your own cutlery
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| How to reduce plastic pollution: take your own cutlery |
When we go for eating outside we take plastic cutlery to eat in them. Taking our own cutlery reduces plastic in our environment. Also go for a steal lunch box instead of a plastic in school or offices.
6. Buy things in bulks
Buying things in bulk reduces the overall plastic wrapper waste at our home. It's also easy to pick and dispose of instead of a small packets size it. Sachets of shampoos, toothpaste ands face creams etc are small in sizes and never picked by rag picker and mix with soil or ocean water.
7. Shop local
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| How to reduce plastic pollution: shop local |
Buy the things at local reduces the packaging cost of the thing. Things that come from far are packed in plastic covering increasing plastic waste at our home. Go for shopping at local stores and offline rather than buying online.
8. Say no to straw
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| How to reduce plastic pollution: say no to straw |
Straws are made of plastic and used in thousand. So it's better to drink without a straw or taking your own reusable straw with you.
9. Avoid plastic covering
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| How to to reduce plastic pollution: avoid plastic covering |
10. Don't tear it carelessly
When we buy a packet of chips what we do to open it? We cut a small side from it to open it. This is so small to pick and disposed properly and end up mixing with soil or water. Therefore next time when opening a packet of chips open it without cutting a piece from it.
11. Try to make things at home
Things that we can try to make at home reduce the wrapper waste from our home. Use baking powder with a pinch of salt as a toothpaste, gram floor as scrub and multani mitti as a face pack can use easily at home saving our earth as well our money.
12. Use biodegradable pads
Pads are used in large number of quantities by women. Plastic pads become major plastic waste in the landfill . Using eco-friendly biodegradable pads are best for our environment to reduce plastic pollution.
Check out my blog on eco friendly reusable pads: Biodegradable eco friendly pads that are affordable and easy to use
13. Snacks at home
Don't snacks on chips, biscuits and kurkure rather eat a fresh fruit or make something tempting at home. This would not only good for health but also reduces plastic waste at our home.
14. Reuse plastic
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| Reuse plastic: how to reduce plastic pollution |
Say no to single use plastic whenever possible. Buy only recyclable plastic that after being used not go into waste. Reuse and recycle plastic waste of your home as much as you can. Broken plastic furniture can send for recycling. Empty plastic containers can use to store something else.
Conclusion
Plastic pollution is a big problem in today and are that our responsible for air pollution water pollution pollution and soil pollution. We can't totally resist the use of plastic but can minimize the use of it adopting a low waste lifestyle. It can reduce the effect of plastic pollution. Saying no to single use plastic and following tips to reduce plastic pollution and adopting habits of low waste lifestyle can help to reduce plastic pollution.
References:
https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/how-to-reduce-plastic-waste
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution
https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/how-to-reduce-plastic-use
Read more:
Climate change in India with its solution
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