Lately I have been reading quite a lot about plastic, and the problems it is causing. Yes, this wonder-compound that was invented a mere 150 years ago or so is causing a huge share of environmental woes. We are surrounded by plastic, from our foods to what's in our wallets and our children's toys. Even clothing items are made from plastic compounds. As I type this, I'm using a plastic keyboard. Overall, it's a very versatile substance. But here's the thing- plastic never goes away. Never. In fact, there is a swath in the Pacific Ocean that scientists refer to as the Eastern Garbage Patch, that is made up of plastic garbage, and it is approximately twice the size of Texas. Chances are high that this will certainly get larger, not smaller, because aside from the very small percentage of plastic that has been incinerated (a process which releases toxic fumes), every bit of plastic that was ever made is still around. It just doesn't biodegradable.
So what does that mean for the average person? Sure, we like the fact that the Tupperware we bought 10 years ago is still going strong. In fact, I think my mom has Tupperware still that she bought in the 1970s tucked away in her kitchen cabinets. We like the idea of Barbie's smile never fading, even when her hair has been cut to resemble a rabid wildebeest, but do we really want her to be around when our own hair has gone completely gray? Do we really want our children's children to vacation on Plastic Island because it's the last coastal region not under water?
I have heard the argument time and time again that there is nothing that one individual can do to undo this mess. While that is true, my mind holds to the faded (biodegradable) poster that was on my Sunday School wall growing up. It said “Bloom where you're planted.” While it is true that no one person can do much to impact it by herself, when we work together and take care of our own backyards (our own small area of influence), we can make a serious impact on our environmental crisis.
For starters, we can buy more things at the grocery store that are not wrapped in plastic. Some things are unavoidable, but produce doesn't have to be wrapped up in non-biodegradable chemical laden cling-wrap. For that matter, why not shop at a farmer's market, where the fruits and vegetables weren't shipped all over the country, but fairly locally. This also supports the community financially and helps ensure that farmers here in the United States can survive.
If you do buy things wrapped in plastic (which we all pretty much do), then perhaps a quick check of the kind of plastic container it comes in is in order. I recently read that only plastics labeled 1 or 2 tend to get recycled. It isn't that the others (aside from 7) aren't recyclable. It's that there is little market for recyclable plastics that aren't 1 or 2, so companies tend not to bother with it. We take a moment to check food labels. Why not our plastic labels too? And once that item is used, don't throw the plastic container in the trash-- put it in the blue bucket, the recycling bin.
While you're out shopping, what kind of bags are things being put into? I bring my own cloth bags to the grocery store. At first, they looked at my strangely, but they are getting used to it as more and more consumers are refusing to allow those annoying (and un-recyclable in my community) bags into their homes.
If you have kids, going back to wooden and fabric toys is a good alternative, though I'd steer clear of toys made in certain countries, due to their nasty habit of using lead-laden paints to cheaply achieve brighter colors. With certain kinds of toys, it's unavoidable. After all, when was the last time you saw anything electronic that promised no plastics? But we are looking to do what we can. Beyond that, we become so weirdly separated from our culture that our kids begin to resent us for being “that Tree-hugger family”.
How about buying things made from recycled materials? If you are purchasing new stuff, then isn't it better that you purchase something that is ecologically responsible? A lot of the stuffing in upholstered furniture is made from plastics. When something is recycled, those materials stay out of the landfill.
For that matter, why buy new? Buying used items is a great way to shrink your environmental footprint. Years ago, people didn't buy new furniture on a whim. They repurposed something they already owned, or they passed things down to younger generations. My home is furnished with second-hand furniture that I have recovered or repurposed when it didn't suit my needs in one way.
There are small steps that each of us can take to cut down on our plastic use, thereby cutting down on our negative environmental impact. Small things add up quickly. A torrent is started with a single drop of rain, or perhaps in this case, a Plastic Island is formed with a single plastic grocery bag.
