I pledge to reduce single-use plastic waste by not using cling wrap and sandwich bags during the challenge and replacing them with reusable containers.
Half of the world’s produced plastic is designed to be used once and then thrown away. Single-use plastics like cling wrap and sandwich bags support a throwaway culture and are a significant source of waste that ends up in the landfill. Producing single use plastic requires oil, natural gas and coal — all fossil fuels that are harmful to our climate. Plastic pollution threatens ecosystems on land and in water. This is especially important in Washington as a coastal state and a part of the Columbia River watershed. Some single-use plastics, such as plastic bags and plastic packaging, contaminate recycling facilities by getting tangled in the machinery. Removing the tangled plastic can be dangerous to workers at these facilities and slow down the entire recycling process.
Tips for reducing use of single-use plastics
Reduce your use of single-use plastics by using durable options such as bees wax wrap and reusable food storage bags, containers and stretchy lids. Here are some ways to reduce your use:
- Use reusable shopping bags. When you go to the store, bring reusable bags with you so you don’t need single-use plastic shopping bags.
- Bring a reusable container for food or drinks. When you go to a restaurant or coffee shop, bring a reusable container and/or thermos with you. This will eliminate the need for to-go food containers and to-go cups. Similarly, carry around a reusable water bottle wherever you go. Doing this will prevent you from needing a single-use plastic water bottle.
- Pack your lunch in a reusable container for work or school instead of using a plastic sandwich bag or cling wrap for your food.
- Use your own reusable produce bags or skip bags completely when shopping for produce at the grocery store.
- Recycle single-use plastics when possible. Some retailers will take certain plastic items and recycle them. Check out “Learn what’s recyclable” for more information on recycling plastics.
More resources
- Plastic use reduction tips
- What plastics can you recycle?
- Reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic bags and wrap
- Learn what’s recyclable
