Do one more thing.
I have this little thing about plastic – one may call it an obsession.
I hate the stuff !
- Plastic ain’t so fantastic.
This toxic material is suffocating the planet, and nowhere more insidiously than in our oceans. Between 60 and 80% of ocean pollution is plastic. It is wrapped around our sea life, stuck down their throats and lining their stomachs. There is 3 million tons of it alone in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
So, I am making a stand and saying no to plastic wholeheartedly. Everyday in every way. Like many of us, I usually say no at shops and supermarkets when offered plastic but I reckon I could do a lot, lot more.
I’ve decided to ramp it up.
Here’s 3 things that I’ve instigated.
1. This morning (after a 40 minute wait) I finally got onto our paper delivery company to ask them not to wrap our daily Age newspaper in plastic. The woman on the phone said she would ‘see what I can do’. Not really good enough. So I gave her the spiel, and I hope she listened. If the paper is still being delivered in plastic wrap next week I will unsubscribe and then write a letter to The Age. Okay, a little inconvenient but there are other options open to me to get my daily news.
2. Next up, my canteen lunch order. I order a sandwich on most days and it comes in a nasty pyramid style plastic container. From now on, I’m going to take a reusable plastic (I know, I know) container and give it to them on the mornings I buy my lunch. They can pop my sanga into that. And I wont be buying that donut (wrapped in plastic) either, couple of wins there.
3. I’ve got heaps of reusable shopping bags that I always forget. So here is my pledge – I will keep buying these bags until I remember to take them with me. That should get me remembering the buggers.
Plastic is so nasty and we could so easily eradicate a lot of it from our lives with just a little foresight and planning.
It all seems insurmountable particularly when you see those around you putting their plastic wrapped items into plastic bags. But I’d love to hear what sustainable things you are doing out there.
Slainte – Colleen
