Throw It Out!

While plastic being landfilled is nowhere near an ideal situation, it is still preferable to littering. It's so easy to dispose of that cup or wrapper properly instead of just throwing it on the ground - and in a landfill, the plastic is kept in an isolated area and away from the main environment, where it can enter rivers, lakes and other bodies of water or cause harm to wildlife. Keep the plastic with you until you reach a proper receptacle, and make sure it ends up in the right place!

A culvert blocked by various pieces of plastic garbage - taken by MCM

A pile of plastic water bottles, Source: 🌸♡💙♡🌸 Julita 🌸♡💙♡🌸 from Pixabay

Cutting Back on Plastic Use

After single-use plastic is used, most people either throw it out, recycle it, or try to reuse it. However, in the end, reused items wear out, some things cannot be reused, and recycling typically ends up in the landfill anyway. ¹ All in all, out of the saying "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle", only "Reduce" has any real value - and it's a good thing that reducing personal and business use of single-use plastic is fairly easy. There are so many alternatives that are durable enough to be truly reusable or are biodegradable.

Reusable Products

Reusable products are many and varied, and all are great for keeping plastic out of the environment. Almost anything has a reusable option that people can carry with them instead of using the single-use plastic provided by stores: metal straws, reusable water bottles, fabric bags, traditional silverware, and so on. A little effort can go a long way to helping the problem of plastic pollution!

Reusable Water Bottles

One of the most overused sources of single-use plastic is bottled water and other beverages. Carry a reusable bottle or thermos instead of purchasing bottled water at your destination. As a bonus, after a few uses, the reusable bottle becomes less expensive than bottled water, since many places have fill stations and you can refill the bottle for free. Saving money and saving the planet - sounds like a win!

Reusable Bags

Another incredibly common use of single-use plastic is in grocery bags. While the state of Delaware and many parts of Maryland have already banned plastic bags, paper bags are still environmentally damaging despite being biodegradable and are more expensive for retailers. Reusable bags help offset the downsides of paper while avoiding entirely the downsides of plastic. For those who are worried about sanitation, simply wiping out the inside of most bags with disinfectant or running them through the washer kills most germs.

A glass with a metal straw - Source: 7303458 on Pixabay

Other Reusables

Almost any single-use plastic product can have a reusable alternative or be reused itself. Metal straws are available for purchase online, and often come with cleaning devices. Resealable bags can be cleaned and used again for similar items. Instead of using plastic cutlery, carry bamboo cutlery or ordinary silverware with you and clean it when you get home.

Not all plastic is bad - just the plastics that are one use only. Reusable storage containers are a great idea to replace sealable bags, and some kinds of takeout containers can be repurposed into reusable temporary storage. Some single-use plastic - such as packaging for consumer products - is unavoidable for the average individual, but trying to find ways to reuse said packaging is still a contribution to help avoid plastic pollution!

Clean It Up!

A great way to get involved in the fight against plastic pollution is to participate in cleanups. Go ahead - take a bag out and start picking up trash! Every little bit helps the situation, and every piece of trash not at the side of the road or on the beach is a piece of trash that won't end up in the larger environment. Click here for a list of resources and links to group cleanup efforts.

A man cleaning up garbage at the side of the roadway - Image © Bryant Baker

A man writing on a piece of paper - from PICRYL

Civic Engagement

Simply altering your personal plastic use, while well within the realm of possibility and being a great way to help to combat plastic pollution, is not enough. Write to your local and state representatives urging them to vote in favor of and pass legislation about single-use plastic bans and restrictions - in many cases, part of the problem is a lack of legal barriers. It doesn't matter where you come from - plastic affects the environment of inland states just as much as it affects the coast. Plastic is a problem everywhere.

Coastal Businesses

Do you own or operate a business on the coast? There is just as much responsibility on businesses to combat plastic pollution as there is on the ordinary consumer. There are many ways to for businesses to do their part in the fight against plastic. Click below to learn more!

How Can Businesses Help With Plastic Pollution?

How Can You Help With Plastic Pollution?