Change Your Perspective
Plastic often ends up in the environment when proper management systems do not exist, and it has nowhere else to go. Around the world, three billion people lack access to waste disposal facilities. Though collection and recycling are only part of the picture, we can't begin to start reducing mismanaged waste without these critical activities.
Waste management efforts will need to be tailored to each place, and innovative work is being done around the world to achieve those solutions. Sometimes this means lobbying officials for stronger collection and processing programs. In other cases, it means working with local citizens and existing collectors to create systems that will work for the community.
Regardless, one key to improving disposal and collection of plastics is to recognize their worth. "Plastic has value and industry wants it back," Steve Sikra, Vice President, Alliance to End Plastic Waste. "The best way to look at plastic is as a feedstock [that] has multiple lives."
metric tons of plastic enter the ocean globally each year
of plastic flow into oceans can be avoided in the next 20 years with existing solutions
million tons of plastic went into U.S. landfills in 2018
Make Your Impact
See Everything as a Resource
The more we can recognize plastic as a valuable material, the more creative we can be about finding ways to repurpose it. "I think we need to begin looking at no longer calling [plastic] waste," said Annette Synowiec, director of policy, planning and outreach solid waste management services for the City of Toronto. "Everything comes into our lifestyle for circulation." That might mean reusing plastic containers at home a few times before recycling them, for example, or donating toys and other items that are still usable instead of sending them to a landfill.
Go Beyond Recycling
"Access to waste disposal and recycling facilities is important, but it is only one aspect of preventing plastic waste. Buy materials and products from companies you trust are doing the right thing", said Steve Sikra, vice president of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. "Those that are designing for minimization, designing for recyclability, and then, in turn, using that recycled content."
Seek Local, Repeatable Solutions
In addition to your municipal waste programs, many local businesses are coming up with innovative and useful programs to reduce waste. Many grocery stores, for example, collect plastic bags and other items that would not typically go into a recycling bin. Other shops are reducing waste at the source by composting or allowing people to use their own containers. Actively look for these solutions and encourage them in your community.