Animals can get tangled up in this trash or ingest it—either because they mistake it as prey or because the plastic has been broken down into tiny particles by seawater. And we're not just talking about people dumping their garbage overboard. Around 80 percent of marine litter actually originates on land—either swept in from the coastline or carried to rivers from the streets during heavy rain via storm drains and sewer overflows.
So the best thing we can do to protect our waterways is try to keep as much plastic as possible out of the waste stream in the first place. The good news? There are many small ways you can have a big impact. Ninety percent of the plastic items in our daily lives are used once and then chucked: grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, coffee-cup lids.
Take note of how often you rely on these products and replace them with reusable versions. It only takes a few times of bringing your own bags to the store, silverware to the office, or travel mug to Starbucks before it becomes habit. Each year, close to 20 billion plastic bottles are tossed in the trash.
Those little plastic scrubbers found in so many beauty products—facial scrubs, toothpaste, body washes—might look harmless, but their tiny size allows them to slip through water-treatment plants. Unfortunately, they also look just like food to some marine animals. Opt for products with natural exfoliants, like oatmeal or salt, instead.
By continuing to browse this site, you consent to the use of cookies and similar technologies. For further details please visit our. What can we help you find? Filter Your Site Experience by Topic Applying the filters below will filter all articles, data, insights and projects by the topic area you select. Search WRI. More on. Business circular economy coronavirus waste Ocean pollution regulation. Here are four policy and legal approaches from UNEP and WRI's guide that countries can use to reduce their plastic waste permanently: 1.
Single-use Plastic Bans Bans and restrictions on single-use plastic products that directly prohibit their production, distribution or use are some of the most widely used and successful legal mechanisms by governments. The Marshall Islands, for instance, in instituted a ban on the importation, manufacture, sale or distribution of Styrofoam cups and plates; disposable plastic cups and plates; and plastic shopping bags while promoting recycled paper bags and reusable bags. It has been promoted as one of the models to follow around the world.
Panama created a ban on plastic bags in , which came into effect in , but exempted lightweight or thin plastic bags for food handling and safety.
In the Northern Territory of Australia, a ban on thin plastic bags in was linked to an increase in the sales of thicker bags, as well as increased littering of those thicker plastic bags. Plastic bag alternatives may also have higher carbon footprints, be difficult to compost or release microplastics into the environment. Taxes and Economic Incentives Governments can also impose taxes to deter the production or use of single-use plastics, or offer tax breaks, subsidies and other fiscal incentives to encourage alternatives to single-use plastic products.
Similarly, Denmark introduced weight-based packaging tax charges in amended more recently. Different rates apply to different plastic packaging materials, with the lowest rate for recycled plastics and the highest rate for primary plastics.
As you congregate to enjoy this special time of year, remember that our small individual choices will collectively have a big impact on our environment. Celebrate a Green Thanksgiving. You might already have a reusable water bottle, but do you use it all the time?
You can put that reusable bottle to use, save money, and reduce waste. This will eliminate the one-time use containers they come in. While most cans and bottles can be recycled, they require a lot of energy to be produced, shipped to the bottling facility and then to the store for purchase.
Not all plastics are recyclable in Delaware, so check labels before your buy. Resins 4, 5 and 7 are now accepted in most programs in Delaware. Your fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and leaves can all be composted. While composting requires more effort than the previously mentioned lifestyle changes, it will provide you with a beneficial return on your investment of time and effort.
Depending on the conditions, you may have compost in 3 to 12 months to use in your garden. The organic matter will also act as a sponge to absorb more water, meaning you might not need to water your plants as much, saving you money and time. Whenever possible, try to avoid single-use coffee cups, disposable utensils, straws and napkins. Some businesses will even give you a discount on your coffee for bringing your own mug.
Keep a set of silverware at work along with a plate, bowl and cup that you can wash and reuse. Skip the plastic straw altogether or buy reusable metal ones instead. Remember, a lot of these items are made from plastic, had to be delivered by a truck, and will end up in a landfill once we have used them one time. Anything we can do to reduce our use of these products adds up to make a big impact.
Browse Efficient Solutions. Contribute What can you do? Photo by Thomas Richter on Unsplash. Submit your solution As a company, you develop an efficient solution and you would like to get the Solar Impulse label Apply for the label. Recommend a company Do you know an innovative company developing efficient solutions? Let our team know about them Drop us a Note. Photo by Simson Petrol on Unsplash. Definition What is plastic pollution? Photo by rawpixel on Pexels.
Causes Plastic pollution causes Since its commercial development in the s, plastic has been a real success. Effects Plastic pollution effects. Photo by freestocks. On the environment This plastic debris represents a chemical pollution in several ways. Photo by. Shane15 on Flickr. On animals The most direct effect of plastic pollution is the imprisonment of animals in nets or large debris.
Photo by Jan Klocksien on Flickr. On humans Because of the chemical additives used during plastic production, plastics have potentially harmful effects on human health. Prevention Plastic pollution prevention. A challenge, Solutions to change the world A label focused on both the environment and profitability. A chance to be labelled in the solutions portfolio Submit your solution now.
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