We should all be worried about how plastic is polluting our environment.
- 100,000 marine mammals are killed each year by plastic pollution
- There are approximately 5,000 pieces of plastic pollution for every mile of beach in the UK
- 8 million pieces of plastic end up in the ocean every single day
- Plastic has been found in 100% of marine turtles
It is predicted that there will be 12 billion tonnes of plastic waste in landfill by 2050.
“With such frightening plastic pollution statistics, it’s time to take action,” says Roger Green from Brightwaste Recycling, a firm that provides recycling for offices, including plastics recycling, across Central Scotland.
Earth Day Network used Earth Day 2018 as a driving force to change our attitude and behaviour towards plastic. With their campaigning, activities and information, Earth Day is inspiring organisations, teams, schools and individuals to tackle plastic pollution in the world’s largest environmental movement.
The key components of the Earth Day End Plastic Pollution campaign include:
- Supporting a global network that can regulate plastic pollution
- Working with educators to inspire teachers and students
- Activating communities for people to take personal responsibility
- Helping journalists report on plastic problems and solutions
- Promoting effective strategies to tackle plastic pollution
What can we do to end plastic pollution?
To help end plastic pollution Earth Day encourages us to consider acting on the five Rs:
- Reduce – Before creating plastic waste, you can ask yourself whether you really need to use it and whether you can use something else instead. By thinking before using, you can significantly reduce the amount of plastic you use absentmindedly.
- Refuse – Refusing plastic is making a conscious effort to prevent the waste of plastic. For example, when ordering a drink, ask staff not to add a straw. When food shopping, always refuse plastic bags, you can purchase mesh bags for fresh produce and canvas bags to carry your items home.
- Reuse – If you do use plastic items, consider ways to reuse the product and think of ways it could be useful to you. Food containers, for example, can often be used multiple times in your store cupboard.
- Recycle – Once you have plastic products that are no longer fit for purpose, make sure you recycle them to reduce your plastic consumption. It is essential to check what items can be recycled as you do not want to slow the recycling sorting process down.
- Remove – Getting involved in a local clean-up event is a great way to remove existing plastic pollution. These events can also help you to make new friends and get fit and active as well as making your local area a nicer place to live.
If your business wants to do its bit to help make a real impact on plastic pollution, you could speak to Brightwaste Recycling which provides recycling for offices across Central Scotland.
“We’re not the traditional ‘bin lorry’ company that clogs up city centres in rush hour – our model is eco-friendly and nimble,” says Roger Green. “With our office recycling services, we like to keep it simple and cost effective, compliant with Scottish Waste Regulations.”
You can contact Brightwaste Recycling for some recycling advice or for a fully specified quotation with client references at 0330 022 5998 or info@brightwaste.com
