WorkingSolutions
Themostimportantthingabouttheplasticproblemisthatpeoplearestartingtopayattentionandtakeaction.ThecountryofKenyajoinedagrowinglistofnationsthathavebannedplasticbags.Thosethatbreaktherulegetfinedorsenttojail!Francesaiditwouldbanplasticplatesandcupsby2020.BansonplasticmicrobeadsincosmeticstakeeffectthisyearintheU.S.,Canada,theU.K.,andfourothercountries.Theindustryisphasingthem out.
Corporationsareresponding,too.Coca‑Colaalsoproducesbottledwater.It’sannouncedanewgoal.Ithopesto“collectandrecycletheequivalentof” 100 percentofitspackagingby2030.Othercorporations,suchasPepsiCo,Amcor,andUnileverhavepledgedtoconvertto100 percentreusable,recyclable,orcompostablepackagingby 2025.
ThesebalesofplasticwerecollectedbyItalianfishermen.They areontheirwaytobe recycled.
System001,createdbyBoyanSlat,is a floatingcleanupsystemdesignedtocollectocean plastic.
Individualsaremakingadifference,too.EllenMacArthur,aBritishyachtswoman,hascreatedaspecialcompany.It’sbasedontheideaofa“circulareconomy.”Allmaterials,includingplastics,aredesignedtobereusedorrecycled,not dumped.
BoyanSlat,24,fromtheNetherlands,ischargingaheadwithhisvowtocleanupthelargestgarbagepatchintheNorthPacific.Hisorganizationhasraisedmorethan $30 million.Theyareworkingtobuildanocean‑sweepingsystemtocollect trash.
Solutionscanbefound.Peoplecanmakeadifference.Youcanhelp, too.
SanFrancisco’slargestrecyclingplanthandlesupto600tonsofmaterialsa day.
TenThingsYouCanDo
1
Giveupplastic bags.
Takeyourownreusablebagstothestore.Atrillionplasticshoppingbagsareusedworldwideevery year.
2
Skipplastic straws.
Americanstoss500millionplasticstrawseveryday,orabout 1.5per 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.
Gowithoutplasticspoonsandcupsandhaveyouricecreamina cone.
10
Pickupwhatyou can.
Grabanadultandpickuptrashnearalocalriver.Becareful:Neverpickupanythingthatlookssharpor dangerous.
