Use less plastic

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), around 86% of plastic ends up in landfills, and the U.S. alone generates approximately 30-40 million metric tons. That calculates to 88,184,904,874 pounds! In order to reduce this number, we all have to take action and make changes to our routine. By reducing the amount of plastic we use daily, we can hopefully decrease the amount of waste we produce. You could contribute to reducing this number in many ways, for example: 1. Stop using plastic bottles! - 80% of the plastic that ends up in landfills comes from plastic bottles. Instead, opt for sustainable water bottles; they are cheaper in the long run and help reduce waste. 2. Use reusable cutlery and dishes - Next time you are having friends or family over for dinner, instead of reaching for the plastic plates, grab the reusable ones. By switching from plastic dishes to glass (or any other reusable material), you can make a small impact on the number of dishes that end up in landfills. 3. Bring reusable bags when grocery shopping - You may not think about what happens once you throw your plastic bag away in the trash. You may also not realize the significant negative impacts that throwing your plastic bags can have on wildlife and our environment. Millions of marine animals are harmed and suffocated because of plastic bags alone. Not only are they a problem for marine life, but they can also get entangled in birds and be consumed by animals. By switching from plastic bags to reusable bags for simple tasks such as buying groceries, keep in mind that you are helping animals live longer and our earth become greener. Let’s work together and be mindful of the amount of plastic we as consumers use so that we can help clean our planet.