Level 1 Reading 11B

Ch.22 Reading 11B

FIVE TIPS FOR USING LESS PLASTIC The world has a plastic problem—and it is increasing. Scientists are working to find a long-term solution by making plastic more biodegradable. But in the meantime, here are five things you can do to reduce plastic waste now. 1. Quit using plastic bags. Instead, take your own reusable shopping bag to the store. People use a trillion plastic bags worldwide every year. Roughly 10 percent are used in the United States alone. That's almost one bag per American per day. In contrast, the average Dane uses four single-use bags per year. In 1993, Denmark was the first country to place a tax on plastic bags. Today, other countries (such as Chile, Kenya, Indonesia, Germany, and New Zealand) either make customers pay for plastic bags, or have banned them completely. 2. Skip the straw. Today, around 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world's beaches. When you order a drink, say no to the straw, or bring your own reusable one. In 2018, Seattle became the first major U.S. city to ban plastic straws, and many other cities are set to follow its example. 3. Don't use plastic bottles. Buy a reusable bottle and fill it with any type of beverage you like. Some cities, like Bundanoon in Australia and San Francisco in the U.S., have completely or partially banned bottled water. Globally, however, people still buy nearly a million plastic bottles every minute. 4. Avoid plastic packaging. Buy bar soap instead of liquid soap in plastic containers. Don't buy fruit or vegetables in plastic packaging. In the United Kingdom, leaders are calling for supermarkets to have plastic-free areas. They also want to tax plastic take-out containers. 5. Recycle. We can't recycle all plastic items, but it is possible to recycle most bottles and milk or juice cartons. Today, Norway recycles 97 percent of its plastic bottles. How? Machines at most supermarkets take the bottles and give a refund of up to 2.5 kroner (32 cents) per bottle.

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