WorkingSolutions
Today,peoplearestartingtopayattentiontotheplasticproblem.KenyainAfricajoinedagrowinglistofnationsthathavebannedplasticbags.Thosethatbreaktherulegetfinedorsenttojail!Francesaiditwouldbanplasticplatesandcupsby2020.Bansonplasticincosmeticswilltakeeffectthisyearinseven countries.
Corporationsarealsoresponding.Coca‑Colaproducesbottledwater.It'sannouncedanewgoal.Ithopesto“collectandrecycle”allofitspackagingby2030.Other companies,likePepsiCo,Amcor,andUnileverhavepledgedtoconvertto100percentreusableorrecyclablepackagingby 2025.
ThesebalesofplasticwerecollectedbyItalianfishermen.Theyareontheirwaytobe recycled.
System001,createdbyBoyanSlat,is a floatingcleanupsystemdesignedtocollectocean plastic.
Individualsaremakingadifference,too.BoyanSlat,24,fromtheNetherlands,intendstocleanupalargegarbagepatchintheNorthPacific.Hisorganizationhasraisedmorethan $30 million.Theyareworkingtobuildanocean‑sweepingsystemtocollect trash.
Solutionscanbefound.Peoplecanmakeadifference.Youcanhelp, too.
SanFrancisco’slargestrecyclingplanthandlesupto600tonsofmaterialsa day.
TenThingsYouCanDo
1
Giveupplastic bags.
Takeyourownreusablebagstothestore.A trillion plasticshoppingbagsareusedworldwideevery year.
2
Skipplastic straws.
Americanstoss500millionplasticstrawsevery day,orabout1.5per person.
3
Passupplastic bottles.
Investinarefillablewaterbottle.Aroundtheworld,nearlyamilliondisposableplasticbottlesaresoldevery minute.
4
Avoidplastic packaging.
Buybarsoapinsteadofliquid.Buyinbulk.Avoidproducecoveredinplastic.Andwhileyou’reatit,giveupplasticplatesand cups.
5
Recyclewhatyou can.
Globally,18percentofallplasticisrecycled.Europemanages30percent,China25percent,andtheUnitedStatesonlynine percent.
metal
plastic
paper
6
Don't litter.
7
Snackon fruit.
Insteadofsnackpacksthathaveextrapackaging,packanapple,banana,or orange.
8
Useabetter bag.
Packsandwichesandsnacksinreusablecontainersorclothsacksinsteadofplastic bags.
9
Choosea cone.
Gowithoutplasticspoonsandcupsandhave your icecreamina cone.
10
Pickupwhatyou can.
Grabanadultandpickuptrashnearalocalriver.Becareful:Neverpickupanythingthatlookssharpor dangerous.
