Plastics

The Bottom Line: Reduce Your Use of Plastic

Have you heard about the huge field of plastic that is floating in the ocean? There are certain areas where because of currents, garbage accumulates. There are five such high-pressure zones in the oceans: North Pacific, South Pacific, North and South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. Together these areas cover over 40% of the sea; that corresponds to 25% of the earth's surface.

The North Pacific Gyre is only one of five such high-pressure zones in the oceans. Off the coast of Hawaii, plastic garbage is damaging to sea life and litters the beach.The North Pacific Gyre is about the size of Texas. We all need to cut back, only using recyclable plastic, find and use alternatives in cooking and storage.


For more information about the effects of plastics on humans check out this article from the Earth Resource Foundation.

We could all do with a little less plastic in our lives, no matter the type of resin. All plastics are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource, and produced under extremely energy-intensive conditions, so here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping:

-Always opt for plastic containers that are accepted for recycling in your area.

-Avoid single-use, non-recyclable disposable packaging, such as Styrofoam meat trays, and clam-shell containers.

-Buy food in glass or metal containers

-Bring your own containers to restaurants, if you suspect you might have leftovers.

-If you do get takeout you'll be eating at home, don't take plastic cutlery or condiment packets.

-Avoid plastic cooking tools; use stainless steel or wooden utensils instead.

-Replace your plastic cutting boards with wood. You can spray wooden boards with a mist of vinegar, then with a mix of hydrogen peroxide, to kill bacteria.

-Take your plastic grocery bags to a local grocery store to be recycled.

Check out alternatives to using plastic an excellent article by Paul Goettlich, August 3, 2005.

According to Mindfully.org:

The plastics industry should be made to be responsible for their products, byproducts, and waste throughout the lifecycle of the material. The creator should bear all liability. A great percentage of the plastic that private researcher, Captain Charles Moore has found is made up of preproduction pellets, called nurdles. Moore believes that if the industry were completely responsible for their products, that none would be made.

For more on the safer plastics see The National Geographic Green Guide