Surah Al-Kahf – Verses 107-108 Jannat ul firdus

Plastic should be banned

             part-5

HERE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

BRING YOUR OWN SHOPPING BAG

The usefulness of these thin and easily ripped bags is extremely limited, yet according to one estimate, somewhere between five billion and one trillion plastic bags are used each year around the world. Although free to shoppers, these bags have a high environmental cost and are one of the most ubiquitous forms of garbage. Bringing your own plastic bag is common but good environmental advice, such good advice that some governments implement policies to encourage more people to do it.
STOP BUYING BOTTLED WATER


Unless there’s some kind of contamination crisis, plastic water bottles are an easy target for reducing waste. Instead, keep a refillable bottle handy.
BRING YOUR OWN THERMOS TO THE COFFEE SHOP

GreenCup Bamboo Eco Reusable Coffee Cup Travel Mug with Screw Lid and Silicone Sleeve. Plastic Free Packaging

Speaking of refillable, bringing your own thermos for to-go coffee is another way to reduce your plastic footprint. Disposable coffee cups might look like paper but they’re usually lined with polyethylene, a type of plastic resin. In theory these materials can be recycled, but most places lack the infrastructure to do so. Then there are lids, stirrers, and coffee vendors that still use polystyrene foam cups—which can all be avoided with your own mug.
CHOOSE CARDBOARD OR PAPER OVER PLASTIC BOTTLES AND BAGS

Generally speaking, it’s easier to recycle cardboard than plastic, plus paper products tend to biodegrade more easily without adding a lot of weight to the product the way glass or aluminum can. So, when you have the choice, pick pasta in the box instead of pasta in a bag, or detergent in the box instead of the bottle. Even better would be to check for companies that source their cardboard sustainably or have a strong stance on deforestation.  
SAY NO TO PLASTIC STRAWS
Whether for home use or when you’re ordering a drink at a bar or restaurant, plastic straws are often a single-use item that's just not necessary.

GET THE PLASTIC OFF YOUR FACE
Much of the plastic that’s polluting the oceans is microplastics, tiny chunks that are next to impossible to filter out. These plastics can come from bigger items breaking down, but they are also commonly added to consumer products like face wash and toothpaste. These little beads are intended to be exfoliators, but many wastewater treatment facilities aren’t able to stop them. There are many biodegradable alternatives, so avoid items with “polypropylene” or “polyethylene” on the ingredients list or consider making your own.  
SKIP THE DISPOSABLE RAZOR
Instead of tossing a plastic razor in the trash every month, consider switching to a razor that lets your replace just the blade or even a straight razor. 
SWITCH FROM DISPOSABLE DIAPERS TO CLOTH  
If you’ve got a young baby, you know how many diapers can end up in the trash each day. We are pretty big fans of the the reusable cloth option.
MAKE YOUR PERIOD WASTE-FREE  
There are a number of non-disposable options out there to cut down on period waste, from the Diva Cup, to the Ruby Cup, to DIY-with-pride reusable pads. All these choices reduce incredible amount of packaging that most pads and tampons are encased in. If you’re not in a situation where giving up tampons is an option, consider skipping brands with plastic applicators.
RE-THINK YOUR FOOD STORAGE  

 Plastic baggies, plastic wrap, and plastic storage containers are worth re-evaluating. Instead of sandwich baggies, why not pack a bento box or a cute tiffin for lunch? Instead of throwing away plastic zipper bags or wrapping things in Saran wrap, why not use jars or glass containers in the fridge? When it comes to carryout, these types of containers be used instead of disposable ones—although it can definitely take a bit of courage and some explaining to help your local restaurants to understand.
SHOP IN BULK

For many households, the majority of plastic waste is generated in the kitchen. So one of the best ways to reduce the packaging waste madness is to bring your own bags and containers and stock up on bulk foods. Shopping with jars is a great option, and keep your eye out for brands with refilling stations.

Recycle Everything

Try and select items that come in non-plastic recycled and recyclable packaging, to do your best to properly handle items that can’t be reused. Check everything before you put it in the trash, as more and more items are able to be recycled these days.

Remember that because plastic doesn’t break down easily (if ever), recycling plastic means that it is still plastic, just being used for a different purpose. Therefore, you’re not actually reducing plastic amounts or exposure, even in the recycling process.

General information about plastics that can be recycled:

Deciding which items to recycle is not always easy and intuitive. It requires looking at the product and making a decision based on the instructions given by the waste management department that serves your community. If you live in a place that does not have a formal system to deal with waste and plastics, it can be even more complicated. Recycling rules vary from place to place. Before recycling it is important to understand your local recycling programs, what can and can’t be recycled, how you should sort your recyclables, and which plastics to leave out and throw in the trash.

A point of contention is the benefit of recycling food containers that need to be washed before they can be placed in the recycling bin. The general wisdom is that you should first check if your community requires that you wash those containers. If yes, try to use as little water as possible because using tap water has its own economic and environmental cost, and you do not want to waste resources.

One recommendation is to collect some of the water used to wash your dishes and use it again to wash your plastic containers. If you are not required to wash the containers, make sure to keep them in a bin with a tight lid to avoid unpleasant odors and pests.

There are many resources available on the Internet that give additional advice about what to do. You can look through them and choose the practices that suit your lifestyle and local circumstances.

In general, this is a good chart to follow, but in some cities, new technologies and regulations allow new things to be added to the recycling bin, such as orange juice and milk containers, that normally cannot be recycled. Please make sure to check your local regulations.

SHOULD I RECYCLE THIS?

1 & 2. Soda and water bottles, cleaning products, milk and juice jugs, shampoo bottles, some retail bags

3,4 &7. Plastic wraps, cooking oil containers, PVC containers, vinyl and styrofoam products

5 &6. Maybe to recycle or not. Few recycling centers process these products. Call the center to ask.

WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN?

RECYCLING PLASTICS IS AS EASY AS ... 1 , 2, 3 4, 5, 6, 7!

The numbers shown inside the triangles refer to different types of plastics used in making plastic

products and containers. The numbering system is based on a voluntary plastic guide developed by

the Society of The Plastics Industry (SPI). Presently, SPI is working to improve the numbering system to

make it easier for you to know what to recycle.

Source: New York State

Department of Environmental

Conservation

PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) PET is used in the production of soft drink bottles, peanut butter jars etc.

PET can be recycled into fiberfill for sleeping bags, carpet fibers, rope, pillows etc.

HDPE (High-density polyethylene) is found in milk jugs, butter tubs, detergent bottles, motor oil bottles, etc.

HDPE can be recycled into flower pots, trash cans, traffic barrier cones, detergent bottles, etc.

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) is used in shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, fast food service items... PVC can be recycled into drainage and irrigation pipes...

LDPE (Low-density polyethylene) is found in grocery bags, bread bags, shrink wrap, margarine tub tops, etc.

LDPE can be recycled into new grocery bags, but in general, it is not recommended to put plastic bags in your recycling bin. Take your used shopping bags to a supermarket that offers plastic bag collecting services.

PP (Polypropylene) PP is used in most yogurt containers, straws, pancake syrup bottles, bottle caps, etc. PP can be recycled into plastic lumber, car battery cases, manhole steps, etc.

PS (Polystyrene) PS is found in disposable hot cups, packaging materials (peanuts), and meat trays, etc. PS

can be recycled into plastic lumber, cassette tape boxes, flower pots, etc.

OTHER This is usually a mixture of various plastics, like squeeze ketchup bottles, “microwaveable” dishes, etc.

Other (number 7) is usually not recycled because it is a mixture of different types of plastics.

ZERO WASTE

 pint jar holds two years’ worth of Kathryn Kellogg’s unrecyclable, uncompostable waste. She blogs about the zero-waste lifestyle from a 300-square-foot home she shares with her husband in Vallejo, California. The waste is her own.

Recycling can go only so far. Part of the solution, many say, must be to use less disposable plastic in the first place. The “zero waste” movement, which dates to the mid-1990s, is gaining favor.

·        Educate Businesses. If you’re passionate about decreasing plastic waste and reducing pollution in the environment, you can become an advocate in your community. Speak to local restaurants, shops and businesses about options that they can switch to for packaging, storing, and bagging items. Many companies are starting to come up with excellent low-cost replacements, such as bamboo utensils in place of plastic ones.

·        Get Involved. Speak to lawmakers and get involved with government on any level, and you’ll see how many special interest groups have made it so that we are dependent on plastic without needing to be. Encourage the development of items, and propose alternatives when applicable.

1.     Reduce your consumption of plastics.

2.     Properly recycle the plastic you use.

3.     Remove plastic that is already in the environment.

Conclusion

Plastic pollution has a big impact on the environment, but plastic waste isn’t unavoidable. Every time you make the choice to avoid or recycle plastic products, you lower the risk of environmental damage. Be conscious of your choices, and encourage those around you to think twice before they throw away plastic or buy unnecessary plastic items because this global problem can only be solved when an individual contribute to it. In summarize you can help to reduce the plastic pollution by following three steps. First reduce the use of plastic which is not necessary, second recycling plastics and last but not least remove the plastic that harming our planet.