Sometimes it's just easier to take the simplest route. Throwing out your plastic cup, tossing your cigarette butt on the ground. We all make mistakes now and then, but luckily, most of us realize what we're doing and strive to do better in the future.
However, there are some ways we are damaging our environment without realizing it. Here are some ways you might be contributing to pollution every day.
1. Plastic, plastic, and more plastic
Sure, we know that plastic food containers and cups are usually recyclable. However, there is a slew of plastic items you might not recognize are doing harm. Plastic bottles, disposable razors, and even those tiny microbeads designed to rid the blackheads from your face; all these modes of plastic is getting into our environment and waterways. Before you clean your pores, double check those pesky labels.
2. Using lawn fertilizers
Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides will all end up in our water systems eventually. Unless you're growing food to eat or hiring a professional to take care of an infestation, there's no real reason to opt for chemical use outside. These chemicals pollute our groundwater and contribute to the dangerous runoff in our water systems.
3. Paper cups
Paper cups are great in theory. Many are biodegradable, they're awesome for parties, and a lot of them have cool, fun designs.
Unfortunately, many paper cups have a wax coating that makes the cup impossible to recycle. On top of that, these cups are biodegradable, but they take decades to decompose. It also results in hundreds of thousands of trees being cut down each year. Better to stick to a few cups you can use over the course of your lifetime.
4. Pouring chemicals down the drain
Pouring harmful chemicals like bleach and detergent is detrimental to your local waterways. Even though it seems like the easiest solution, it's better to take those harmful materials to proper disposal plants. This includes medications and paints as well. Otherwise, you might end up drinking them.
5. Plastic bags
Did you know using custom tote bags and other reusable bags can help the environment in major ways? The average custom reusable bag will outlast over 700 disposable plastic bags, most of which won't get recycled by the average consumer.
Plastic bags are used briefly before they're recycled, or worse, thrown away. Luckily, there are countless benefits of reusable bags to replace your plastic grocery bag. As more and more shops make the switch, using reusable shopping bags is becoming more popular than ever.
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to make a difference is by opting for reusable grocery bags. These custom tote bags can be used over and over again for a variety of functions. Whether you want a trick or treat bag (Halloween is right around the corner, after all) or wholesale insulated bags, custom tote bags are one of the best ways to promote a healthier environment.
