Did you know that 65% of Canadians buy a bottle of water every day? And that bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year? Plastic that requires up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce, according to Food and Water Watch. And unfortunately, 80 percent of those plastic bottles are just tossed into the garbage.
We’re producing so much waste – and not disposing of it correctly – that vast collections of plastic trash are being dumped into the world’s oceans, killing birds and fish that mistake it for food and disrupting plant life and coral reefs.
I think we all want those cute little otters and Nemo-fish to stick around! So, what can YOU do to help? Here are some quick and easy ideas:
- Reusable Bottles! Buy a reusable stainless steel thermos from Starbucks or a drug store; they’re super cheap now. Fill it up before you leave and toss it in your bag on the way out instead of grabbing a new plastic one every time.
- Recycle, Recycle, Recycle! Fun fact: Recycling just 1 plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for SIX hours!
- Tap Water! Try drinking it straight from the tap. If you don’t like the taste, ask your parents about water filters like Brita.
- Reusable Mugs! Bring your own cup or mug to coffee shops and work or school. The average person uses roughly 500 disposable cups/year, so you’ll be making a big difference.
- Fewer Bags! There are other ways to reduce plastic waste, and that includes nixing those plastic bags you get at the grocery store. Stock up on those cheap (we’re talking $0.99!) reusable cloth bags instead!
These are just some of the ways you can help out the environment and create a little less plastic waste. Get your friends involved – every little bit counts!