Kermit says … learn about all the damage plastics can do!
Second Installment of Three-Part Plastics Article for Kermit’s Corner
Last month we began our coverage of the global plastics problem. We began with the over 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean which are killing sea life, contaminating the seafood we eat, polluting the air we breathe, the products we make and the water we drink. We need to continue contacting local, state and national governments to demand more effective regulation of the plastics industry and plastic products, better clean-up programs for polluted areas, and more broad-based, effective, and better supported recycling programs. In addition, we need to speak out in public arenas such as community forums, newsletters and newspapers to share information with other people who might add to our efforts to make change.
We can make sure to vote for candidates who understand the plastics problem and whose platforms include pledges to make measurable and sustainable improvements in this area. We can help more candidates who are similarly aligned with addressing our concerns to get elected.
As consumers we can use “the power of the purse” to only buy products and support companies which make environmentally conscious products via environmentally conscious means. The majority of plastics submitted to be recycled are never recycled but only dumped into the trash. We need to change our habits and use less plastics. We can look for the plastics in our households and research ways to substitute non-plastic products or use plastic containers less frequently. A cost accrued in one area might be made up for in money saved in another. For example, one may spend a bit more to buy laundry detergent sheets which come in a small cardboard box instead of using liquid detergent which comes in a huge plastic jug, but then one might make up that cost by watering down hair conditioner and hair detangler sprays to make them last twice as long. Some products such as the bar shampoo sold in a small cardboard box at Trader Joes are inexpensive and only require trying a new thing. It works great!
Those with more time might make up their own laundry detergent and shampoo from simple recipes found online. Alternatively, some stores such as Debra’s Natural Gourmet in West Concord allow one to bring in glass containers from home to fill with detergent, shampoo, spices, nuts, or other bulk items. The container is weighed upon arrival and again at checkout to determine the cost of the item.
Some companies such as Loop sell products in reusable containers which the consumer returns empty to the store to be cleaned and refilled. Participating stores include Walmart and Walgreens. Loop products are not yet in the Boston area, but we could start a campaign to bring them here.
Meanwhile, let’s stop using single use plastic bags. We already bring cloth bags into the grocery and other stores, but what about all those small plastic bags? Making an initial investment in waxed cloth wraps or silicone bags saves money in the long run. Heck, making your own waxed cloth wraps is even less expensive and not difficult to learn. We can do it if we try, and try we must. Don’t be overwhelmed, just pick one thing and try it, one day at a time!
From the Green Team
By Ronda Yeomans