Plastic is everywhere. It surrounds almost every product we buy, from food and drink to shampoo and toys.
Hundreds of millions of tonnes of plastic waste are produced each year, with cigarette butts (which contain tiny plastic fibres), plastic bottles and plastic bags being some of the most-commonly discarded items.
Many of these plastics can be recycled – but the sad truth is that they more often end up in landfill or the sea. In fact, according to the UN Environment Programme, of the seven billion tonnes of plastic waste generated globally so far, less than 10% has been recycled.
In landfill, it can take up to 500 years for plastic objects to break down. And when plastic ends up in the ocean, the impact of plastic pollution on marine wildlife is devastating.
Marine animals swallow plastic debris, and can suffocate or become entangled in it, causing injury or death. More than a million seabirds and some 100,000 marine animals die each year because of plastic waste in our seas and oceans.
One of the most shocking results of this is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, between Hawaii and California. This is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world – it covers an area of around 1.6 million square kilometres. It's estimated that by the year 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea.
To tackle this problem, we can all help by reducing or eliminating our use of single-use plastics. Here are a few ideas.
Shop in zero-waste stores
Zero-waste stores offer unpackaged products, from lentils and pasta to dried fruit and porridge oats. The products are sold by weight, and you transport them home in your own reusable container. They also offer a range of eco-friendly items such as natural soaps, toothbrushes and washing-up brushes. Zero-waste shops are usually small independent businesses, and often sell locally produced goods too – so by shopping in this way you're supporting the local economy.
There are several zero-waste stores in and around the Peak District, including in Buxton and Wirksworth. There’s also a mobile zero-waste shop – a van that serves rural areas of the Peak, and visits Matlock’s market each Wednesday. To find a store, search 'zero-waste shop near me' on Ecosia.
Switch to refillable bottles and cups
Switching to a reusable water bottle is easy – and could also save you a lot of money. To minimise environmental impact further, choose a high-quality plastic-free bottle that's sturdy and designed to last.
If you enjoy a takeaway hot drink from time to time, it’s also worth investing in a reusable coffee cup. Around 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are used in the UK each year, and many are lined with plastic – so are hard to recycle. Most cafés will happily serve you a hot drink in a reusable cup – and some actively encourage it, offering discounts or points towards a free drink if you bring your own cup.
Plastic-free shopping
When food shopping, choose loose fruits and vegetables instead of pre-packaged items. Most fruits and vegetables don't need to be bagged at all, but for smaller items, such as mushrooms, choose a paper bag or bring a reusable cloth bag. Loose produce is often cheaper than the pre-packaged stuff too!
Remember to use reusable shopping bags – as it costs money to buy a plastic bag, this makes economic sense too. If you do need to buy a carrier bag when out shopping, choose a strong one that can be reused multiple times and then be recycled.
Choose refillable products
Many eco-friendly companies have come up with innovative ways to reduce plastic pollution, from refillable pouches to paper-wrapped tablets or powder that can be dissolved in water. Most household and hygiene products consist of up to 95% water, and bottles of liquid are heavier and bulkier to transport – so the environmental impact of shipping products can be greatly reduced if you choose dissolvable granules or tablets, or dilutable concentrated formulas. For ideas visit www.littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/refill-revolution.html.
Download the Refill app
The free Refill app from refill.org.uk offers information about a growing global network of places to reduce, reuse and refill. It currently lists around 300,000 Refill stations, including water, coffee, food, and plastic-free shopping. The app also tracks the pieces of plastic pollution that have been prevented by its users – with 100 million pieces of plastic avoided to date.
Choose bars
Plastic bottles containing shampoo, hand soap or body wash can often be recycled. But to reduce your plastic use even further, choose bars of soap wrapped in recyclable packaging. There are lots of natural, plastic-free soaps available – and look out for locally made bars, to support small businesses.
There are solid shampoo bars for your hair, too. These are often made from natural, vegan ingredients, and tend to be free from harsh chemicals or parabens. They’re also long-lasting and great for travelling.
Reduce kitchen plastics
If you want to achieve a plastic-free kitchen, there are many eco-friendly versions of kitchen equipment and accessories. When it’s time to replace equipment, look out for glass, wood, stainless steel, ceramic or bamboo alternatives.
You can swap your plastic washing-up brush for a bamboo one. Disposable wipes and cleaning cloths can be replaced with cotton dishcloths for wiping surfaces and general cleaning.
Many kitchen sponges (those yellow ones with the green or white scrubby layer) are made of plastic. They have a short lifespan, and as they degrade, they release microplastics that end up in the sea. These sponges can't be recycled so will remain in landfill for hundreds of years. There are eco-friendly, compostable versions available – see littlegreenspace.org.uk for ideas.
Recycle
It’s best to avoid buying plastic whenever possible, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. However, almost all plastic can be recycled. Plastic bottles and food trays can be put into your household recycling bin for kerbside collection. Plastic bags – this includes any flexible plastics such as bread bags, crisp packets, wrappers, and clingfilm – can be taken to the recycling point at most large supermarkets. And anything else made of plastic – from broken coat hangers to old toothbrushes – can be taken to the hard plastics bin at Darley Dale Recycling Centre.
Penny Bunting
Twitter @LGSpace
Comments