Plastic is an essential thing these days. It is needed in packaging of anything It is present in almost everything like our food is packed in plastic boxes, our cars have plastic accessories, our mobiles have plastic parts, almost every industrial device has some plastic in it. It is claimed that plastics are recyclable but the fact is opposite as lower grade of plastics are only recyclable. As plastic cannot decompose so it pollutes environment. These days plastic is boon for us but also it is also a threat for us as there is not way to decompose it if it cannot be recycled. So we should take some steps to save our environment from plastic. Here are few things we can do save our environment from plastic:
- First thing we can do is to limit use of plastic bags. We should try not to use plastic bags when we go to market for shopping. There are jute bags which can be replaced with these plastic bags. I know its not that easy to stop use of these plastic bags but still we can try to limit its use.Plastic bags don't decompose in to soil and release toxic chemicals in the soil and often animals die after eating it.
- Buy things in boxes and not the things packed in plastic boxes and bottles. Card boxes can easily be recycled compared to plastic bottles.
- Re use plastic boxes and bottles then to buy new things packed in plastic bottles/boxes. Empty boxes and bottles of sauce,butter,refined oil etc can reused after washing them instead of throwing them and buying new ones.
- Bottled water is one of the major reason of plastic waste all over the world we should limit its use and try to refill them instead of buying new packed bottles also we should use mugs instead of disposable cups for coffee/tea.
- Always use match boxes to lit candles than using plastic lighters. These lighters are made from very cheap plastic which takes years to decompose one can use metallic lighter than these plastic lighters.
- Try to avoid frozen food. Frozen food is for our convenience but it is packed in plenty of plastic. Yes it is not easy to avoid packaged food but we should try it as packaged food is also not good for health.
- Discard use of plastic spoons,forks, plates etc instead prefer utensils over these plastic kitchen wares.
- Start using cloth diapers as these are cheaper than plastic diapers also it reduces use of plastic. Also cloth diapers are good for baby.
- Discard use of packaged fruit juice instead make your own at home as that will give you more vitamins than those packed in plastic bottles/boxes.
- Stop using disposable plastic boxes for packing lunch instead use reusable boxes.
Plastic definitely is part of our lives now as this is used almost in everything but we can limit it use to reduce pollution created by the waste of plastic. Plastic is dangerous for animals as it effects digestive tract of animals if consumed. Also this is harmful for human beings as the chemical used in making of plastic gets absorbed by human body and may have ill effect.
Conclusion : We should understand it that plastic is not ecofriendly though without it we cannot imagine how life would be but we should try to minimize its use through few small things in our daily life.