North Georgia Conservation Coalition ● Checklist for Reducing Plastic Waste
We have been recycling now for years, but 90% of plastic is not recycled. Plastic is not biodegradable. It will remain in our landfills and oceans for more than 1,000 years! Plastic has entered our food chain; this affects our health. Managing our plastic use will not be an easy task, but it is one we must tackle.
Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Refurbish, Repair, Repurpose, Recycle. We conscientiously recycle or refuse water bottles and reuse or even refuse plastic grocery bags, but we all use other plastics daily without giving it a thought. We often throw away plastic items without thinking about it. Listed below are some of the items in daily use that we should, but may not have considered. Look over this checklist and decide which items you can take action on.
Plastic Item | Reduce | Refuse | Reuse | Recycle | How? |
Example: Bottles | X | X | Buy reusable water bottles and pitchers. | ||
Bottles | |||||
Cups | |||||
Straws | |||||
Cotton swabs w/ plastic sticks | |||||
Cigarette butts | |||||
Disposable Lighters | |||||
Resealable bags (like sandwich bags) | |||||
Cling wrap | |||||
Utensils | |||||
Plastic / styrofoam plates | |||||
Food containers | |||||
Food packaging | |||||
Grocery bags | |||||
Milk/juice containers | |||||
Cleaning containers | |||||
Toothbrushes | |||||
Toothpaste tubes | |||||
Kids’ toys | |||||
Shampoo/body wash bottles | |||||
Laundry/dish detergent bottles | |||||
Lip balm/deodorant containers | |||||
For more ways to reduce your plastic footprint, go to: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/get-started-living-plastic-free | |||||
Connect with North Georgia Conservation Coalition!
Email: ngcc2035@gmail.com Facebook: @NGAConservationCoalition