By Abigail Lyon
You may have heard that this month is Plastic Free July – a global movement that inspires millions of people to ditch single use plastics (and all plastics, really) and be part of the solution of reducing plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is one type of marine debris impacting our waterbodies, beaches, estuaries, rivers, and more. Single-use plastics, similar to pet waste, litter our favorite beaches, hiking trails, sidewalks during our lunch breaks – it’s just all over. (Learn more about impact of single-use plastics and other marine debris). As someone who previously worked for a marine conservation nonprofit, reducing plastic has been an ethic I’ve been working on for many years. I think it’s important to recognize that changing these behaviors can be difficult, and we all could use a reminder now and again. Every small step we take adds up to a larger impact – every drop matters.
Recently I finally got into the habit of “skipping the straw” and instead, carry my own packable aluminum straw or I opt for no straw at all. It is no longer an inconvenience (especially when skipping the straw altogether) and in fact it’s just become a way of life. Now that #PlasticFreeJuly is here, it’s got me thinking about other ways I can make the more permanent switch away from some of the pesky single use plastics in my life. What are some ways I can work to protect clean water in my everyday life? Here are a few things I’m working on this month – and into the future – in case you also need a little inspiration.
Carrying my own cutlery
My inability to bring my own cutlery has always baffled me, mostly because I bring my own for lunch every day and usually have two (re: three) forks or spoons in any given bag I carry (purse, laptop bag, even gym bag… It’s a problem, I know). But for whatever reason this hasn’t translated into carrying cutlery so I’m prepared to not take plastic or even compostable cutlery when I’m out and about. This month I’m going to work on replacing the fork in my bag after taking out my dishes from lunch so I’m not stuck reaching for plastic.
Carry my own bag/box – or go without!
Fortunately, over the years my habit of grocery shopping every few days has morphed into a once a week (on a good week) schedule. Purchasing my groceries one time limits the amount of single use plastic bags I might be tempted to use, and reduces the number of times I need to remember to bring my own bags. While this is a behavior I’m doing fairly well at, there are some times when I simply forget. In those instances, I try and carry what I’m going to purchase without any bag (this sometimes feels like cheating because I carry a large purse) or ask if there are cardboard boxes in the store I could use. Although the cardboard boxes still need to be recycled my cat at home, Stumpy, assists me in the reuse of the box until he tears it to shreds.
Beeswax Wrap
We’ve never been a family that uses cling wrap – instead favoring plastic containers to keep the remaining half of an onion from last night’s dinner. But those containers are still plastic, and while I’m working on replacing some of those more worn pieces over to glass, I’ve been intrigued by the use of beeswax wraps to keep food fresh. My ceramic bowls could serve the same purpose as the plastic containers and will likely last much longer in my kitchen. This is a place where I plan to stretch and flex my environmental muscles and try a completely new behavior in favor of our environment. I’ve seen plenty of tutorials on how to make your own beeswax wraps and have found them in my local farm stands – so not having access is no longer an excuse for me. Now I’m hoping this month is just what I need to try this at home!
This month has really put into perspective all the little changes I can make in my everyday life to reduce my need for plastic. And along with the millions of others taking the pledge for a #PlasticFreeJuly, I know that I can make a real difference! Who’s with me?
This blog post was provided by the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, a proud partner of the Every Drop Alliance.
#EveryDropMatters
