Recycling is great, but it is not enough. Unfortunately, a sustainable solution for waste management is far more complex. But don’t worry, you can still contribute to saving our ocean from plastic by just quitting these little habits:
Quit chewing gums
It is not food. Originally, chewing gums are made from tree sap or natural rubber, but as scientists discover synthetic rubber, polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate starts to replace tree sap as the major ingredient of gums. Yes, it could be possible to recycle chewing gums, but it is best to quit it since it is technically chewing on plastic slash toxic.
Quit using plastic straws
This one can be hard for many, but it is harder to decompose straws. You can help keep plastic out of the ocean and our landfills if you just say no to straws today. If it is really unfathomable for you to live without straw, purchase one of those stainless steel or glass drinking straws.
Quit buying bottled waters
You will save many marine critters if you just bring your own water container everyday. Millions of bottled beverage containers are dumped in landfills every year. And yes, your bottled juices also floats in our oceans. Message in a bottle days are over. Don’t throw your bottles out at sea.
Quit using products with microbeads
Microbeads are found in most of our beauty products, household cleaners, and even on sunscreens. They are too tiny so filters at water treatment plants can’t capture them. And where do they end up? In our oceans and waterways, which then ingested by the marine creatures including fish and oysters that are later served on your dinner table.
Quit packing your food with plastic bags
Switch to reusable snack bags or stainless containers instead. Example, instead of buying a fruit in a cup, you can opt to cut your fresh fruit at home and then packing it using your reusable food boxes.