WorkingSolutions
Today,peoplearestartingtopayattentiontotheplasticproblem.KenyainAfricajoinedagrowinglistofnationsthathavebannedplasticbags.Thosethatbreaktherulegetfinedorsenttojail!Francesaiditwouldbanplasticplatesandcupsby2020.Bansonplasticincosmeticswilltakeeffectthisyearinseven countries.
Corporationsarealsoresponding.Coca‑Colaproducesbottledwater.It'sannouncedanewgoal.Ithopesto“collectandrecycle”allofitspackagingby2030.Other companies,likePepsiCo,Amcor,andUnileverhavepledgedtoconvertto100percentreusableorrecyclablepackagingby 2025.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273413/bales.480_0_1.jpg)
ThesebalesofplasticwerecollectedbyItalianfishermen.Theyareontheirwaytobe recycled.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273414/boyan_slat.480_0_1.jpg)
System001,createdbyBoyanSlat,is a floatingcleanupsystemdesignedtocollectocean plastic.
Individualsaremakingadifference,too.BoyanSlat,24,fromtheNetherlands,intendstocleanupalargegarbagepatchintheNorthPacific.Hisorganizationhasraisedmorethan $30 million.Theyareworkingtobuildanocean‑sweepingsystemtocollect trash.
Solutionscanbefound.Peoplecanmakeadifference.Youcanhelp, too.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273415/recycling_plant.960_0_1.jpg)
SanFrancisco’slargestrecyclingplanthandlesupto600tonsofmaterialsa day.
TenThingsYouCanDo
1
Giveupplastic bags.
Takeyourownreusablebagstothestore.A trillion plasticshoppingbagsareusedworldwideevery year.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273421/bag_plastic.240_0_1.png)
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273422/plastic_reuseable.240_0_1.png)
2
Skipplastic straws.
Americanstoss500millionplasticstrawsevery day,orabout1.5per person.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273423/drink_plastic.240_0_1.png)
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273424/drink_reusable.240_0_1.png)
3
Passupplastic bottles.
Investinarefillablewaterbottle.Aroundtheworld,nearlyamilliondisposableplasticbottlesaresoldevery minute.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273425/bottle_plastic.240_0_1.png)
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273426/bottle_reusable.240_0_1.png)
4
Avoidplastic packaging.
Buybarsoapinsteadofliquid.Buyinbulk.Avoidproducecoveredinplastic.Andwhileyou’reatit,giveupplasticplatesand cups.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273427/soap_plastic.128_0_1.png)
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273428/soap_reusable.240_0_1.png)
5
Recyclewhatyou can.
Globally,18percentofallplasticisrecycled.Europemanages30percent,China25percent,andtheUnitedStatesonlynine percent.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273430/recycle.400_0_1.png)
metal
plastic
paper
6
Don't litter.
![Please do not litter. Keep this area clean](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273429/dont_litter.320_0_1.png)
7
Snackon fruit.
Insteadofsnackpacksthathaveextrapackaging,packanapple,banana,or orange.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273431/fruit_plastic.240_0_1.png)
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273432/fruit_reusable.320_0_1.png)
8
Useabetter bag.
Packsandwichesandsnacksinreusablecontainersorclothsacksinsteadofplastic bags.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273436/sandwich_plastic.240_0_1.png)
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273437/sandwich_reusable.320_0_1.png)
9
Choosea cone.
Gowithoutplasticspoonsandcupsandhave your icecreamina cone.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273468/NGX0519_EE_15d.240_0_1.png)
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273469/NGX0519_EE_15c.240_0_1.png)
10
Pickupwhatyou can.
Grabanadultandpickuptrashnearalocalriver.Becareful:Neverpickupanythingthatlookssharpor dangerous.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_may_2019/working_solutions_and_ten_things_you_can_do/273435/pickup.400_0_1.jpg)