World Environment Day 2018

I'm sure by now almost everyone has heard of the term 'Planet Plastic'. Plastic waste has become a morbid disease in which our planet Earth is fighting. It seems to be a losing battle because plastic is so widely used and so easily thrown away.

Click on LINK to read about Planet Plastic.

*picture taken from HERE

*picture taken from HERE

Everywhere you go, you can see plastic litter being thrown away so carelessly. Plastic bags, takeaway food containers, coffee cups, water bottles, disposable spoons and forks and many more.

For many years, I segregated all disposable plastics in one bag to be collected by the garbage truck people when they came to collect the garbage. Unfortunately, many times, the garbage disposal guys either did not take it, tore open the plastic bags and took only certain plastics or just threw the whole bag along with all the other bags of waste.

Malaysia is still very far behind where recycling is concerned. There is no law in our state for separating waste either.

Since last year, I became of aware of the plastics that I dispose off. I've been making it a habit to not use so much plastic. My goal is to reduce my plastic waste to almost zero. It is certainly not easy as everything is either encased, kept, packed and wrapped (sometimes even double and triple wrapped). The organic vegetables are packed in plastic bags everywhere!

*picture taken from HERE

*picture taken from HERE


Here are some of the habits that I have adopted (some are still in progress):

1. No more using plastic straws/disposable cutleries.

2. Slowly progressing to soap bars/shampoo bars instead of bath gels/shampoos/conditioners (which are contained in plastic bottles).

3. Carry shopping bags during grocery shopping.

4. Use glass bottles/containers instead of plastic.

5. Carry own bottled water instead of buying bottled mineral water.

6. Slowly progressing to storing frozen food in reusable freezer containers instead of freezer bags.

7. Use reusable-washable cloth sanitary pads and panty shields.

8. No more using bath gels with microbeads.

9. Pack home cooked food in Thermos/reusable food containers during outings instead of plastic bags/disposable plastic containers.

10. Progressing at a good pace where not buying plastic things is concerned.

11. I give away old plastic containers (which I do not use anymore to people who need/use them). That way they don't end up in the landfill.

12. Buy food that are in glass jars instead of plastic containers/tins. (I'm sure you must be wondering don't I make my own food? Canned chickpeas are lower in FODMAP than cooking raw ones. I don't know why. But that is how it is. So I have to buy canned cooked chickpeas in order to not have a full blown IBS episode. I look for the ones sold in glass jars instead of the tins. Costs a bit more, but I wash and reuse the jars for salt, pepper, baking soda, baked nuts and etc.)

13. Bringing my own food containers out to 'tapao' (take-out) from food outlets for the guys.

You can click on this LINK to read about how this poor whale died from eating 80 plastic bags which is the result of mankind's excessive use/wastage of plastic bags.

Some of you may even think, "This doesn't affect me!". You're dead wrong. The sea-salt that you use has plastic in it!

Click on LINK to read about plastic being found in sea-salt from around the world. And if sea-salt has plastic, imagine the seafood you eat. Imagine how much plastic we are eating everyday.

PLASTIC IS JUNK FOOD FOR FISH

PLASTIC PARTICLES IN OUR DRINKING WATER

PLASTIC IN OUR FOOD

Let today be the day where you start being more environmentally conscious. Here's to a healthier planet Earth and a healthier YOU!

Good luck!

P.s.: And if you're already living a life of less-plastic, do share your tips!