Three Tips Regarding Disposable and One Use Plastics

How to Limit Plastic Waste and Pollution

Think about the amount of plastic used every day.  Grabbing a coffee in the morning and using a straw to stir in cream and sugar.  Enjoying an ice cold water after a work out by using a disposable plastic cup.  Grocery shopping and using the plastic grocery bags to carry purchases home.  Many people use at least one plastic item every day.  But, even though many plastics can be recycled, oftentimes plastic products are disposed of improperly and can create devastating repercussions in the environment.  Plastic bags and straws can harm fish and other animals and destroy marine ecosystems.

It is easy to limit, and even eliminate, the need to use so many one use plastic products.  Learn how in the latest GreenLiving tips blog:

It is first important to identify the type of plastics that can be easily limited during daily routines.  One use plastics are plastic products that are designed to be disposed of after only one use.  A common example is a drinking straw, that are at times automatically placed in drinks and often are found in garbage cans after.  Limiting the amount of one use plastics can help preserve the environment.

Easily limit the amount of straws used by simply drinking beverages without straws.  If in a restaurant or cafe, return the straw unused in its unopened packaging.  Starbucks recently announced that by 2020, the coffee chain will no longer provide straws to customers in their stores.  Other chains have invested in metal straws that can be washed and reused again.

Another simple way to reduce the amount of one use plastics is by limiting the amount of plastic cups used.  Try purchasing and utilizing a durable water bottle that can be refilled and used again.  Trips to the water cooler at work or water fountain at the gym can still be completed using a reusable water bottle.

Limit using plastic bags when completing purchases.  Plastic bags are especially dangerous for the environment as they are often not recyclable and need to be thrown in the garbage.  Some counties, like Montgomery County, charge money for each plastic bag purchased at the checkout from stores.  Remember to bring a reusable, cloth bag to malls and grocery stores to limit the amount of these one use plastics.

Limiting one use plastics is a great and simple way to live a greener lifestyle.

Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.