Stop The Oppression Save the Oudoors Project
the TRUTH about Plastic
Did you know, plastic can take 20 to 1000 years to decompose! When you throw away plastic, it can sit in a landfill for centuries, and end up in the ocean. This can lead to harming animals, and filling our beautiful sea with trash. Here are 5 different ways to swap out plastic for an earth-friendly solution! *We'll add links to some of our faves*
Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic water bottles take approximatly 450 YEARS to decompose! Studies show that people around the world buy a total of one million plastic bottles per minute. That's almost 1.5 billion plastic bottles per day!
Solution: Taking the extra step to buy a reusable water bottle. Americans end up spending $5 a week on plastic water bottles. That is $260 a year! Saving you money, and saving the earth some trash!
Get your reusable water bottle today!
2. Plastic Grocery Bags
Plastic grocery bags take over 500 years to decompose.
Q: Yes, the plastic bags don't decompose quickly, but still, they aren't going in the ocean, they stay at the landfills. So, what's the big deal?
A: IF the plastic bag didn't end up in the ocean (in most cases it will), the plastic bag won't break down completly. It will photo-degrade, that will become microplastics! These tiny chemicals absorb toxins and harm the soil as well as pollute the earth.
Solution: Buy a reusable grocery bag! It saves you money from those extra cents they charge you for plastic ones! They will last you a long time, and will ensure you one step further to nursing our earth back to health.
Did you know? A sea turtle's main source of food is jellyfish. To them, a plastic grocery bag looks like a jellyfish! They eat these bags, and then they die! One less bag, is one more life to save!
3. Plastic Sandwich Bags
Plastic bags also photo-degrade, but there are some more options to use instead. We'll highlight some of our favorites!
Silicone Reusable Sandwich Bags:
BLUE AVOCADO: We use these in our lunches everyday. They seal tight, and come in all sizes!
STASHER: These awesome bags come in all sorts of colors and measurements.
Compostable/Recyclable Sandwich Bags:
RESPONSIBLE: This company is filled with lots of plastic-free items. Check it out!
LUNCHSKINS: You can find these bags at your local grocery store! These bags are so cute: you can write a note, and peel off a sticker! You can compost or recycle these bags.
If you ask one of my family members, specifically my sister, they will tell you I have yelled at them at least twice for using a plastic straw. Here's why. A plastic straw that you put in your mouth is then put in the trash. That trash either goes to the landfill and photo-degrades and pollutes the soil OR gets into the ocean and gets stuck up a sea turtle's nose. They die. If we keep using plastic straws, sea turtles will go extinct. It's not funny. So the next time you are about to use a plastic straw, try swapping it out with something like this:
Plastic Milk Jugs/Plastic Yogurt Containers:
These bulky jugs will take CENTURIES to break up, and still pollute the earth! And yogurt containers will also fill our soil with microplastics.
Solution: When you finish with your milk jug, poke holes in the top of the cap to make it a watering can! And with a yogurt container, put a little dirt, a seed, and watch your plant grow!
We hope you enjoyed these tips and facts! Remember: next time you go to grab something plastic, you must think before you act. Every action makes a big difference!
John 15:12 :)