Tag: plastic

4 Ways To Eliminate Plastic From Your Life

 

According to a National Geographic article, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic has been created since manufacturing of the material began six decades ago. The article also estimates that 91% of all plastic consumed around the world is not recycled.

As you may have seen on social media,  many people have attempted to avoid using plastic products completely for the month of July, as a part of Plastic-Free July. Although July is coming to an end, that does not mean that we should abandon the effort to reduce our plastic consumption.

Here are just a few small changes you can make to reduce your consumption of plastic on a daily basis:

Ditch Bottled Beverages and Disposable Cups:

According to a 2017 article, “a million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute.”  That comes down to around 20,000 plastic bottles every second! Not only is using a reusable mug or water bottle a great way to reduce plastic consumption, it may also save you some money. Many coffee shops and other stores offer discounts to those who bring their own bottles and mugs.

Bring Your Own Bag

As with reusable mugs and bottles, bringing your own reusable bag to grocery stores often gets you a discount. To take a step further, you can also purchase reusable mesh bags for produce instead of using the plastic bags available in the produce section of grocery stores.

Buy In Bulk

Buying in bulk is not always feasible if you do not have many mouths to feed in your home. As an alternative, many grocery stores have bulk sections where you can purchase items like grains, nuts, spices and dried fruits from bulk bins in the exact quantities that you need. Bringing your own container and measuring out the exact amount of an item you need is a great way to eliminate both packaging waste and food waste – because are you really going to use up that large container of cardamom you bought to make curry that one time?

Use Reusable Utensils

Whenever possible, try bringing your own utensils and plates to events and meetings where food may be served. For packed lunches, you could invest in a reusable sandwich or snack bag to replace single-use plastic bags. You could even try out beeswax wrap, an alternative to plastic wrap!

Apr 11: “Bag It” Film Screening

When: Wednesday, April 11, 2012

5:30PM, 7:00PM & 8:30PM, Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA

Reserve your seat here – space is very limited!

Please join the Mystic River Watershed Association, in collaboration with Somerville Climate Action, for a free screening of the award-winning documentary film Bag It at the Somerville Theater on April 11th. Space is limited – please reserve your seat today!

Produced by Reel Thing Productions in association with the Telluride Institute, Bag It is a powerful look at the impacts of plastics on society.  The film focuses on plastic as it relates to our throwaway mentality, our culture of convenience, our over consumption of unnecessary, disposable products and packaging – things that we use one time and then, without another thought, throw them away.  But where is AWAY??  Away is over flowing landfills, clogged rivers, islands of trash in our oceans, and even our very own toxic bodies.

Featuring interviews with scientists and experts from around the world, Bag It is a first-person documentary in the style of Michael Moore, asking how we can incorporate healthy, more environmentally friendly practices into our lives, our cultures, and our communities.

“I didn’t expect a movie about plastic bags to change my life in such a deep and profound way.  Gripping, funny, intelligent, and sure to change your life.”  – Louie Psihoyos, Director of The Cove

This event is co-sponsored by Groundwork Somerville, Ocean River Institute, Surfrider Foundation, The Herring Alliance, Preserve, Sustainable Arlington, Mass Sierra Club and Eagle Eye Institute.

Why:  The Mystic River, a beautiful resource for many local communities, faces many environmental challenges.  The Watershed Association is working hard to create a healthier river for the future and presents this movie to alert the twenty two communities in the watershed to potential river hazards. With Earth Day on April 22nd, this film inspires us to look more closely at the use of plastic in our lives, as well as the impact it has on our local waterways. The event is followed by Earth Day cleanups throughout the watershed on April 21st and April 28th (see www.MysticRiver.org for details).

This is the fourth in a series of events to celebrate Mystic River Watershed Association’s 40th Anniversary year – a year to highlight and promote the recreational opportunities of the Mystic, as well as the water quality testing and environmental policy efforts that the Mystic River Watershed Association has led over its forty year history.