Behavior Changes

It’s important to realize that the famous quote “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” was put in that order for a reason.  Many people think that as long as they put something into their recycling bin, they’re doing a good thing for the environment.  While this may be true in some cases, the reality of the situation is that the vast majority (over 90%) of plastic never gets recycled.  The only plastic items that commonly make it through the recycling process are plastic bottles and some types of cups.  This is why it’s extremely important to reduce the amount of plastic that we use in our day to day lives.  Here’s some simple ideas to help you reduce your plastic consumption:

• Switch to buying soda, juice, and other drinks in metal cans, glass bottles, or cartons.
• Bring reusable bags to the grocery store, and any other retail stores.  Keep bags in your trunk so you remember.  If you forget reusable bags, use paper whenever possible.
• Don’t use the provided plastic bags for produce items.  Most fruits and vegetables can go lose into your shopping cart.
• Ask restaurants if they’ll let you use your own cup for drinks.  Some even offer discounts!
• Request no plastic cutlery when ordering food to-go.
• Switch to reusable containers instead of plastic Ziploc bags.  These will eventually pay for themselves if you’re purchasing Ziploc bags less.
• Don’t bag your recycling, as bagged recyclables have a low chance of getting ripped open and sorted.
• Encourage your workplace to recycle and switch to more sustainable practices. 

 For more help and guidance from our team, visit tinyurl.com/VUplastic