Teaching children sustainable habits begins at home, and school lunches are a great way to explain how our choices make a difference for the planet. 

As a mother of four kids under eight years old, I’m on the clock from the moment I open my eyes. Planning, preparing, and packing sustainable school lunches is a high priority.

As Head of Family Logistics, it’s my job to ensure my team has everything they need to be successful.  So even before that first sip of black tea hits my lips, my brain is already troubleshooting any delays to ensure today’s deliverables stay on track. I pull out the bento boxes and open the fridge. “Mom, I can’t find any clean pants!” School lunches are momentarily delayed while I dig through the dryer. 

Packing lunches in reusable containers requires a little more time, just as preparing meals at home takes more effort than eating out.

But I’ve found that my time sacrifice is worth it, both for our budget and the lesson my children are learning. As a family of six, we buy many grocery items in bulk – especially snacks. Our first trip to a wholesale retailer revealed that pre-packaged snacks don’t make financial or environmental sense: compared to the economy-sized big box, prepackaged snacks are several dollars more expensive, have a lower total weight (read: fewer snacks inside), and create far more waste. 

It bugged me to pay more for convenience, especially when it had a higher toll on the environment.  

We began using nesting reusable containers for lunches, which helped me avoid some single-use plastic sandwich bags and snack bags. But while the nesting plastic containers were fine for keeping one item away from another, the segmented top section wasn’t great at keeping strawberries and their juices away from cheesy fish crackers and other dried snacks, especially when jostled around in a backpack.

It can be challenging to pack lunches for four kids with varying food preferences. 

I generally pack cold lunches for my children, and I’ve found that bento boxes challenge me to fill each compartment with something unique day after day.  It forces me outside the sandwich-and-two-sides routine and allows me to tailor healthy meals for even my pickiest eater (who doesn’t like sandwiches).

Finding easy-to-make, healthy recipes is a step in the right direction.

I’ve sought inspiration from friends, many Google searches, and One Planet Life recipes such as No-Bake Energy Bars, Banana Bread Granola, and Mediterranean Pinwheels.

My kids also enjoy being part of the lunch packing process and are engaged in understanding why reusable containers are better for the planet.  At 6:45 am, my pajama-clad two-year-old is often found cross-legged on the counter, lovingly tucking something sweet into his sisters’ (and his own) lunchbox. The added bonus of teaching eco-conscious habits to my children is that they are also learning to be responsible and helpful.

I try my best to avoid plastic in the lunch routine, but I am inevitably more successful some days than others. 

Since starting my sustainability journey with One Planet Life, I’ve noticed that I have a heightened awareness of my choices and have successfully loosened plastic’s grip on our lifestyle over time.  A journey is usually not a straight path, but I feel each plastic avoidance I make matters.

And yes, at the end of the day, I have some extra lunch containers to clean, but it feels like a worthwhile sacrifice to keep unnecessary waste out of landfills and teach my kids the importance of preserving our planet.

Hungry for more?

Discover how the Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa, OK teaches climate stewardship and offers students practical, hands-on learning beyond the classroom.

Sustainable Solutions for Preserving Our Most Precious Resource: Water

Water is a precious resource that sustains our planet and supports all forms of life. Increasing water scarcity and a growing demand for freshwater is upsetting Earth’s delicate balance. It is crucial for each of us to recognize the importance of conserving water in our everyday lives and actively seek sustainable solutions to cut our water waste for the greater good. 

By adopting simple yet impactful practices, we can preserve this invaluable resource and build a more sustainable future for generations to come. 

Globally, 1 in 9 people still have no access to clean water.

Water scarcity affects numerous regions worldwide, with consequences ranging from reduced access to clean drinking water to entire compromised ecosystems.  In communities where clean water is scarce, the task of seeking out drinking water often falls on the youngest family members.  They bear the burden of walking miles each day to fetch clean water from streams and ponds. 

In the U.S. alone, more than 2 million people live without basic access to safe drinking water and sanitation, according to a report from the US Water Alliance. An alarming 44 million Americans are served by water systems with recent health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violations. 

Access to clean, safe drinking water disproportionately affects low-income and minority communities.

Native American households, for example are 19 times more likely than white households to lack indoor plumbing. In fact, research by Michigan State University went as far as to say that race is the strongest predictor of water and sanitation access nationwide and that poverty is a key obstacle to water access.

Access to Water is a Human Right

Universal access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene has the potential to reduce the global disease burden by 10%, a World Health Organization (WHO) report estimates.

Investing in water and sanitation interventions goes well beyond health benefits. As the WHO reports, the global economy, environment, and overall quality of life improve as clean water access spreads. Every dollar invested in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions gives a $4.3 return: reduced healthcare costs, reduced pollution of water and land resources, and gains in quality of life.  Some examples of quality of life gains include improved school attendance, fewer sick days, greater privacy, safety, and sense of dignity.

Water plays a crucial role in supporting diverse ecosystems.

Water is not only essential for human needs.  It also plays a critical role in supporting diverse ecosystems. Wetlands, rivers, lakes, and other freshwater habitats are home to a rich array of plant and animal species that humans often rely upon. 

Climate change is making an already bad problem worse

Climate change is impacting the water cycle and influencing when, where, and how much precipitation falls. Scientists predict this disruption will lead to more severe weather events over time. Increasing global temperatures cause water to evaporate in larger amounts.  This will lead to higher levels of atmospheric water vapor and more frequent, heavy, and intense rains in the coming years.

To make an impact, the tide needs to change. It is crucial for everyone to reconsider water usage for the benefit of those without access and to save ecosystems devastated by water pollution and water scarcity. Conserving water is an act of environmental stewardship that safeguards the delicate web of life that depends on freshwater ecosystems.

Through sustainable solutions, smart land and water management initiatives, and reducing our consumption of water, we can protect biodiversity, reduce the risk and frequency of natural disasters, and improve global access to drinking water.

How Can I Cut Daily Water Consumption?

The average American household uses more than 300 gallons of water per day. Water waste affects more than one resource. The distribution and treatment of water generate significant emissions that contribute to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found the annual treatment and distribution of water creates as much global warming potential as 10 million cars. Take steps to save water, energy, and lives with these easy, sustainable solutions. 

• Fix leaks and dripping faucets: Address leaks promptly. A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water a day or more. The average leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water per day.
• Install water-efficient fixtures: Replace old toilets, showerheads, and faucets with water-efficient models that conserve water.
• Practice smart water usage: Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or soaping hands. It makes a huge difference: brushing teeth with the tap left on can use 2 gallons of water, versus only 1 pint if the faucet is turned off during brushing.
• Take a shower instead of a bath: Take shorter showers and consider using a water-saving showerhead. A four-minute shower uses about 8 gallons of water, while a full bath uses about 50 gallons of water.
• Opt for water-efficient appliances: Choose washing machines and dishwashers with high energy and water-efficiency ratings to minimize water consumption. Only run appliances with full loads. Running a dishwasher only when full can save 100 pounds of carbon dioxide and $40 per year.
• Collect and reuse water: Capture rainwater for outdoor plants or reuse gray water from activities like dishwashing to irrigate gardens.
• Landscape wisely: Plant native, drought-tolerant vegetation in your garden, and use mulch to retain soil moisture. Water plants during cooler times of the day to minimize evaporation.
• Be mindful of outdoor water usage: Use a broom instead of a hose to clean outdoor areas. Adjust sprinklers to avoid overwatering and consider using drip irrigation systems.
• Educate and raise awareness: Share water conservation tips with family, friends, and your community to promote a collective understanding of the importance of water conservation.

Water conservation is a responsibility that rests on the shoulders of every individual. By conserving water and implementing sustainable solutions, we can alleviate strain on this invaluable resource.  Our efforts can ensure a more equitable distribution to communities in need and reduce the risk of water scarcity in vulnerable areas. With every small change, we invest in a future where water scarcity is mitigated, ecosystems thrive, and communities thrive in harmony with nature. Every saved drop of water counts toward securing a sustainable water future for all.

Get More Out of Your National Park Visit.  Become a Junior Ranger!

America’s 63 national parks offer a Junior Ranger Program that is exploratory, educational, and fun for the whole family. It’s a great way to learn interesting facts about archeology, wildlife, the preservation of ecosystems, cultural history, and more.

But don’t let the name “Junior” fool you. Whether you are 4 or 94, becoming a Junior Ranger is fun for all ages!  National Park Junior Rangers pledge to learn about preserving our treasured national parks and sharing knowledge with others.

Dive deeper by participating in a National Park Citizen Ranger program.

While similar to the Junior Ranger Program, the Citizen Ranger program is more in-depth and requires most activities to be completed in the park. Individuals, families, or groups participate in a “DIY learning adventure” to become a Citizen Ranger. Upon completion of your personalized “quest,” you earn a unique Citizen Ranger certificate and patch.  

Citizen Ranger quests are designed for persons 12 years of age and older, although younger children can participate with adult assistance. Ask a park ranger how you can join the Junior Ranger and Citizen Ranger programs at any national park you visit. 

If you do become a Junior Ranger or Citizen Ranger, let the OPL community know!  Celebrate your accomplishment on the Community tab of the One Planet Life app. Then share a photo of  your badge and certificate with us on Instagram @one_planet_life.  Don’t forget to include an interesting observation or fact that you learned!

Interested in learning more about our National Parks? Check out One Planet Life’s Insider Tips for the following national parks:

• Zion National Park
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Arches National Park
• North Cascades National Park

Charting a Course for Cleaner Oceans Through Innovation and Collaboration

Plastic pollution has reached alarming levels, posing a significant threat to our planet’s ecosystems and human well-being. Despite the challenges, innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies are emerging to combat this global crisis.  They offer hope for cleaner oceans and waterways and a more sustainable future.

Ocean cleanup projects, improved waste infrastructure, and biodegradable plastics are making strides toward mitigating plastic pollution in water bodies. Our most promising solution to tackling such a monumental problem is by working in tandem to combat the crisis on several fronts.

Breakthrough Technologies for Cleaner Oceans and Waterways

The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization, is just one group working to organize voluteer efforts and develop and scale technologies to rid the oceans of plastic. Their goal is to rid the ocean of 90% of the five trillion pieces of plastic that currently litter our seas. There are many innovative efforts underway, such as creating artificial coastlines to concentrate, collect, and properly dispose of plastic are currently underway. 

Catching plastic within major waterways before it ends up in the ocean is another popular approach. Rivers are the main sources of ocean plastic pollution and are considered by The Ocean Cleanup to be “arteries that carry waste from land to the ocean.”

The Interceptor Original is The Ocean Cleanup’s first river cleanup technology. This 100% solar-powered barge extracts plastic autonomously. Trash is collected through a conveyor belt and shuttled into a dumpster for proper disposal. 

The most Mr. Trash Wheel has ever collected in a single day is 38,000 lbs. On average, the Baltimore trash fleet family collects 500 tons of trash from the harbor each year.  Wow!  More trash wheels are planned for Texas, California, and Panama.

One of the most promising approaches to reducing plastic pollution is the development of biodegradable alternatives.

Innovators across the globe are working to create sustainable materials that can replace conventional plastics without compromising functionality. 

Biodegradable plastics are a dream solution to a major problem. Plastic bags, utensils, and cup lids don’t break down during typical composting and contaminate other recyclable plastics.  This creates headaches for recyclers. Most compostable plastics, made primarily of the polyester known as polylactic acid, or PLA, end up in landfills and last as long as forever plastics.  

But scientists are on to a solution to make compostable plastics break down more easily. 

By embedding polyester-eating enzymes into the plastic when it is produced, heat and water would be able to break down the product within weeks, solving a major problem that has confounded the plastics industry and environmentalists for decades.

Ting Xu, UC Berkeley professor of materials science and engineering and of chemistry, said that programmed degradation could be the key to recycling many objects, the article noted. “Imagine,” she said, “using biodegradable glue to assemble computer circuits or even entire phones or electronics, then, when you’re done with them, dissolving the glue so that the devices fall apart and all the pieces can be reused.”

Together, we can make a difference.

Empowering communities to take action against plastic pollution is crucial.

 Engaging individuals, schools, businesses, and local organizations through education, awareness campaigns, and grassroots initiatives can make a huge difference over time. These efforts encourage behavioral change, promote responsible consumption and waste management, and foster a sense of collective responsibility in tackling plastic pollution. Community-led initiatives play a vital role in driving long-term change and creating a sustainable future.

Grassroots movements and organizations are instrumental in championing the cause, driving policy changes, and pushing for regulations that prioritize waste reduction and sustainable practices. 

Companies Making an Impact with Ocean-Friendly Practices:

• Sea2See: This B Corporation became pioneers in the eyewear and watch sectors, using recycled marine polymer in their products and developing a sustainable solution to reduce marine plastic and improve the lives of marginalized coastal communities.
• 4Ocean: Another certified B Corporation, 4Ocean sells reusable alternatives to common single-use plastic items (like bottles and cups), cleanup kits, and sustainable accessories. Their bracelets, made with stainless steel and certified recycled 4Ocean plastic, are a symbol of the fight against ocean pollution. With every 4Ocean product, you will also get a One Pound Promise, which ensures that one pound of trash will be pulled from the ocean, rivers, and coastlines.

Looking to Make a Direct Impact? Become a Volunteer!

• Clean Ocean Action: This organization offers various volunteer opportunities, including beach cleanups, water quality monitoring, and educational programs.
• Pacific Beach Coalition: Volunteers can participate in monthly beach cleanups or other events, become student liaisons, spread the word over social media, or join the coalition itself and become full-fledged members.
• Surfrider Foundation: This organization sees beach cleanups as a multi-part way to solve a global problem. Not only do these events help clean up the beach, but they also raise awareness about the issue of plastic pollution. 
• Ocean Blue Project: This organization encourages individuals to organize their own beach cleanups in their community. They provide resources and educational materials to help individuals understand how pollution flows from our own backyards, streets, and local waterways into our drinking water and into our one-world ocean.  They educate the community on how pollution is harming our health and marine organisms.
• Ocean Cleanup Group: This non-profit runs a free search engine that uses advertising revenue to fund ocean cleanup projects. Over 450,000 pounds of plastic have been removed from the ocean with the help of over 10 million searches.
• The Lonely Whale: Started by Entourage star Adrian Grenier and producer Lucy Sumner, this organization was inspired by the sad story of 52 Blue, the world’s loneliest whale. Though the organization does engage in cleanups, the main tenet behind its activism is addressing the system itself and stopping the pervasive use and promotion of single-use plastics.
• GoEco: Recognized as the Top Volunteer Abroad Organization in 2018 by GoAbroad, GoEco specializes in affordable, ethical community and conservation projects around the world. Founded in 2006, GoEco has placed more than 17,000 volunteers in programs abroad.

Charting the Course to Cleaner Oceans

Cleaning up our oceans shouldn’t be a task left only to coastal communities. Governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and individuals worldwide must unite to tackle this global challenge.  We can make a difference through comprehensive strategies that prioritize waste reduction, proper waste management, recycling initiatives, and the development of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.

As the magnitude of plastic pollution becomes increasingly evident, so does the need for innovative solutions and technologies to mitigate its impact. We can collectively work towards a plastic-free future by embracing these advancements, supporting research and development, and fostering collaboration between industries, governments, and individuals. 

An Expert’s Assessment of Waterways and Real-World Solutions to Our Municipal Plastic Problem

One Planet Life had a candid conversation with Rachel Stahlman, president of the Watershed Alliance of York (WAY) and York Countywide Action Plan Coordinator, about the challenges facing municipal and city water systems in the era of plastic pollution.

Rachel Stahlman, president of the Watershed Alliance of York (WAY) and York Countywide Action Plan Coordinator. CREDIT: Courtesy Rachel Stahlman 

I use Watershed Alliance of York as the public-facing entity to implement this plan, but we have seven committees. I get grants for projects, and then we do the outreach and get to know the public and educate them. You can’t really just be like, I have this plan, and I want to tell you about it. You have to do other things. 

Q: How did you get involved as the York Countywide Action Plan Coordinator and with Watershed Alliance of York (WAY)?

A: The way that this whole position came about was that the state of Pennsylvania is part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The EPA told all the Bay states that they have to clean up a certain amount of pollution: sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus. So DEP, which is the Department of Environmental Protection for PA, got funding for counties in the state – the biggest polluter counties – to write countywide action plans to reduce a certain amount of nitrogen pollution.

The plan that I was hired to implement is to reduce 4 million pounds of nitrogen from our waterways by 2025. I use Watershed Alliance of York as the public-facing entity to implement this plan, but we have seven committees. I get grants for projects and then we do the outreach and get to know the public and educate them. You can’t really just be like, I have this plan and I want to tell you about it. You have to do other things.

We go into schools and educate them about what watersheds are and the different ways that we impact them. We have events. In September, we have a week-long event called Watershed Week, and it’s really educational. It’s all focused on that plan, which is essentially that clean water is a right for everybody.

Q: What are the primary sources of plastic pollution that can impact city/municipal drinking water supplies?

A: Mainly, the biggest is probably single-use. It’s single-use coupled with our own waste of things. When we throw things away, they go to a landfill. All of the things that we consume and use, other than single-use are tied to plastic – that is also part of the issue.

Q: How prevalent is plastic pollution in city/municipal drinking water supplies, and is it a growing concern?

A: When you think of plastic pollution, it’s kind of like an umbrella because there are new buzzwords and more research coming out. When I think of plastic pollution, the first thing that I think of is when you see a water bottle on the ground, or you see something made of plastic discarded as litter.

Our drinking water supplies in York County [Pennsylvania] are Lake Redman and Lake Williams, and the Susquehanna River is the backup if there would be an extreme drought. Both of those are open reservoirs. People kayak there, people use that area, people hike there. You can probably assume that there’s likely trash and pollution in that area. You might make an assumption that that could be in the reservoirs to some degree. Is it in the Susquehanna River? 100%.

I haven’t personally done a cleanup of Lake Williams or Lake Redman here in York County because they are known to be more of a pristine type of area. But we definitely do cleanups on the Susquehanna River. There have been hundreds of tons of trash at this point that we’ve removed, and most of that is single-use plastic, as well as tires, machinery, and stuff like that. So yes, I think that it is a threat because we can see that it’s there.

But then you have new buzzwords and new research coming about like microplastics and PFAS. Both of those are in the research stage right now, meaning there are no regulations around microplastics or PFAS, whether it be the discarding of them from industry or the treatment of it. It’s not something that water is treated for. Microplastics, at least from what the research says, is from degraded single-use plastics. Waterkeeper Alliance recently did a study of around 115 waterways that they sampled, and I believe it was somewhere between 80 and 85% of those waterways had microplastics/PFAS in them. The concern is now growing at a rate that I haven’t really seen before.

Q: What are the key challenges faced by municipalities in addressing plastic pollution in drinking water?

A: We’re recognizing the issue and trying to come up with the solution, but it’s typically a long road to get to the solution in the policy and regulatory realm.

If you think of it as plastic pollution and the litter that you can see, the issues that municipalities are facing come down to education and how people are discarding their waste. Not only discarding but also our intake of it and how much we use it for convenience.

Participants in The 3rd Annual Great Plastic Purge of the Lower Susquehanna in 2022. This large-scale cleanup took place around Lake Clarke on the Susquehanna River and further north. CREDIT: Courtesy of Rachel Stahlman

Q: How does plastic pollution in our waterways affect the environment, aquatic life, and ecosystems?

A: Well, I can say it’s not good. I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of birds stuck in plastic bags or the decaying animal with plastic and their gut. It is negatively impacting the environment, aquatic life, and ecosystems. But at the same time, having picked up so much trash, I see that nature persists. She always finds a way. I have found interesting things like plants growing out of styrofoam. I never really thought that would be a thing I would see but that  styrofoam must have been in the Susquehanna River for a really long time and now these aquatic plants are growing in it.

Q: Are there any specific regulations or guidelines in place to address plastic pollution in city/municipal drinking water?

A: It does seem like there are going to be changes in the near future when it comes to policy and regulations. PFAS are what is going to be tackled first, I think. If there are regulations on PFAS, there could be a trickle-down effect eventually to some sort of single-use policy. The only ones out there that exist are plastic bag bans and straws, stuff like that. I’m not sure if that’s the answer. With political conversations and policy conversations, when it comes to buzzwords like climate change, I think those policies and regulations will have an effect on plastics.

The Borough has been very supportive because they don’t have to do it. There are certain people in the council there that don’t move quickly and don’t like change. So I kind of had to push it, but the people that were on my side from the beginning were very supportive.

My advice to anybody starting or looking to create a successful market is to put out little fires before they become big fires and to work together. Everybody wants to make money, everybody wants to have success. I think you have to keep that in mind, common goals.

Q: What are some innovative approaches or technologies being explored to mitigate plastic pollution in drinking water?

A: For plastic pollution removal, [The Ocean Cleanup, non-profit] that did the whole clean up of garbage patches – those guys were the inspiration for a lot of, what I would call normal-thinking people, to question and get involved. Most people who come to me and find WAY, they just want to do something good and feel good when they’re done. They want to help. A lot of them heard of [The Ocean Cleanup] first, so kudos to them. Big efforts in bigger places have inspired people locally, which is kind of backward when you think about it. It’s usually the other way around.

But then we have this guy who is also inspiring people locally. His name is John Naylor, John has this incredible story. He works for a Starbucks roasting plant, and he was just so disturbed that 1,000 single-use water bottles fit on one truckload, and multiple can leave a Starbucks Plant each day. This was breaking this man’s mind. So, he set out to pick up 1,000 single-use plastics from the Susquehanna River. He has this little boat called the Susquehanna Retriever. He’s just a charismatic, outgoing individual. He’s not afraid to talk to people and tell them what he’s doing. His 1000 goal has now just blown out of proportion. He’s basically a local legend. We have the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, one of our biggest partners. Naylor’s now on their board. A guy who got mad at work and wanted to do something about it has impacted so many people locally to just pick up some trash. He has found himself in a place to inspire people.

Now that is for plastic removal. But if there are microplastics everywhere in our waters, then this new idea might help, which is biochar, activated charcoal. There’s a lot of research being done on how that can be coupled with other best management practices to help with the filtration of water and keeping pollutants out of the groundwater. So that’s a tiny little glimmer of hope.

Q: Can you share any success stories or best practices from cities/municipalities that have effectively tackled plastic pollution in their drinking water systems?

Volunteers gathered to help clean up an illegal dumping site on March 19, 2022. They successfully picked up 56,840 pounds of trash! CREDIT: Courtesy of Rachel Stahlman

The Codorus Creek in York County is channelized through the city. Historically, it’s been called the ‘inky stinky’ because there has been a lot of industry polluting it over history. That’s typically where we do our cleanups in the summer. Two years ago, we took 100 tires out if it, and that was just a couple of yards worth of walking and picking trash out of the water. This morning, I saw an Osprey. So, is that Osprey happy? Is his belly plastic-free? I don’t know. But he’s there. There are a pair of bald eagles that I see. Seeing wildlife in an urban landscape – it might be bad but they’re still there. So it can’t be that bad.

Q: What roles do public awareness and education play in addressing the issue of plastic pollution in drinking water and natural ecosystems?

A: That saying we heard when we were little kids, ‘Think global, act local,’ that is what it’s all about. It has to be local. You have to start from the bottom up with any of this,  definitely education. Education is key. Empowering people is key.

If you don’t have a good outlook on things, then you’re not ever going to know these things. You’re not going to find a group that you can be involved with or feel like you’re making a change. But right now, there’s the most momentum that I’ve ever noticed. I’ve always been passionate about these things, even when I was a kid. I have been paying attention and can feel the momentum is greater now than it’s ever been. There are so many people working on these issues. There are so many people that want clean water for all. You can’t help but feel a little bit hopeful.

Q: What policy recommendations or actions do you suggest to reduce plastic pollution in city/municipal drinking water systems?

A: Things have come a really long way since the signing of the Clean Water Act. There aren’t streams on fire or anything like that. But we have also come a really long way since then, as a society and as humans. We’re different now than we were 50 years ago. So we have to think a little bit differently, react sooner, and be a little bit more open to what the reality actually is.

‘Reduce and Reuse’ are the Real Solutions to the Planet’s Plastic Problem.

It may surprise you, but the vast majority of plastic you toss into your recycling bin each week actually ends up being dumped in a landfill. 

Greenpeace, an international non-profit devoted to raising awareness about environmental issues, reports that only about 5-6% of U.S. plastics are recycled each year.  This number is down from a high of 9.5% in 2014 and 8.7% in 2018. 

Considering that the world now produces more than 380 million metric tons of plastic every year, it’s easy to see how quickly waste can add up.

Single-use plastics have exploded in recent decades. In the U.S. alone, plastic waste generation has increased 263% since 1980.  According to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency, plastic waste increased to 218 pounds per person per year in 2018.

Recyclable? Maybe Not…

Contrary to popular belief, not one single type of plastic food service item – including the polypropylene cup lids that Starbucks touts as recyclable – has ever been able to be recycled per the FTC Green Guide legal definition, according to the 2022 report, The Real Truth About the U.S. Plastics Recycling Rate.

Toxicity risks in recycled plastic prohibit “the vast majority of plastic products and packaging produced” from being recycled into food-grade packaging, the study further explains. 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates plastic pollution to triple by 2060 if we don’t take action to curb demand, increase product lifespans, and improve waste management and recyclability.

In its report, Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060, several high-level solutions are presented to control the rising volume of plastics plaguing the environment, including:

• Taxes on plastics and plastic packaging 
• Incentives to reuse and repair plastic items
• Targets for recycled content in new plastic products
• Extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes
• Improved waste management infrastructure
• Increased litter collection rates

While these solutions could make a significant impact, they could take years – if not decades – to come to fruition.

But fortunately, individuals can implement changes into their everyday lives right away that can help cut down on consumption and create a future less cluttered by plastics. 

While using a plastic fork on your lunch break may seem harmless, the total number of single-use utensils that end up in landfills each year is staggering.  The toll: 40 billion plastic forks, spoons, and knives. On top of that, the U.S. alone tosses 500 million plastic straws every day, according to Habits of Waste.

How Can I Cut My Dependency on Single-Use Plastics?

Changing habits isn’t always easy. However, the team at One Planet Life shares their personal journeys on how they shifted focus to living more sustainably, hoping to offer a few tips on how to make the switch. 

Lorie Buckingham, the founder of One Planet Life, started her journey by eliminating single-use plastic from her life. 

“It was easy when going to the grocery store, as I would keep my reusable shopping bags and my reusable produce bags ready to go in my entryway closet,” she said. “I grab the set and head off to the grocery store or farmers market. I love coming home with fruit and vegetables not covered in plastic and without a pile of waste.”

Making spur-of-the-moment purchases still plagued her with waste. “The problem was solved when I started carrying a foldable, reusable bag in my purse or backpack,” she said. “Voila, I pull it out and, once again, get home with my purchase – no single-use plastic bag needed.” Shopping weekly, Buckingham estimates saving at least 600 plastic bags per year.

Switching to a reusable water bottle, on the other hand, was a bit more difficult. “I am picky about the taste of my water,” she shared. “This was resolved with a countertop Berkey Water Filtration system, glass bottles that fit perfectly in the refrigerator, and several to-go water bottles. Now, I have great-tasting water at home and on the go.” Since changing her habits four years ago, Buckingham estimates saving over 4,000 water bottles from going to the landfill.

Yvonne Dwyer, One Planet Life’s Naturalist, switched to a refillable water bottle after seeing how many empty plastic water bottles ended up in her weekly recycle bin.

“It was time for a change,” she said. “I learned that not all plastic is recycled, and the expense of paying for bottled water just seemed baffling. Instead, I could use my reusable hard plastic tumbler cup, which I eventually changed to a Nalgene bottle, and then to Hydro Flask and Corkcicle bottles, which keep water cool. My Hydro Flask, Corkcicle, and Yeti bottles go with me on whatever adventure I pursue.”

Amy Bates, CMO of One Planet Life, reduced dependency on single-use plastics after seeing the sheer volume of plastic her family was throwing away. 

“I made three simple changes that significantly reduced our plastic waste and saved money and effort,” she said. “First, I switched to reusable k-cups to make our coffee. Not only could we enjoy any coffee, but it was also much less expensive. Second, I stopped buying plastic ziplock bags for snacks and storage. Now, I use reusable snack and storage bags, I prefer the Russbe brand, and they work great. I wash them in the dishwasher and enjoy another cost savings! Finally, we use our reusable water bottles daily, for travel, and while on our boat at the lake.”

Her family went from buying a couple of cases of water in plastic bottles each weekend to using quality, insulated bottles on their boating trips. 

“It’s much easier to know which drink is yours, and we significantly decreased the amount of waste to clear off the boat at the end of the day,” she shared. “These joyful changes were easy to make and delivered many benefits.”

As the OPL team shared, switching to reusable options often carries more benefits than just reducing waste. 

With a reusable water bottle alone, two fill-ups daily would save 720 plastic bottles per year or 0.63 pounds of carbon emissions. 

If communities worked together to lower their dependency on single-use everyday items by substituting reusable alternatives, the hope of a cleaner future unmarred by mountains of plastics could become a reality.

Learn more about plastic production and America’s recycling programs with these helpful articles: 

• How Microplastics Devastate Health, Disrupt Ecosystems, and Threaten Biodiversity
• Plastic Production has Skyrocketed Since the 1950s. Most Ends Up in Landfills.
• America’s Recycling Programs are in Disarray, You Can Help

Cities and states across America have recognized that diverting organic waste from landfills can have massive climate benefits.  Discover the composting champs near you that are taking a bite out of food waste.

Americans are the biggest trash producers in the world, creating almost twice as much waste as Germany, Italy, and other major European nations.  Incredibly, each American produces more than 5 pounds of garbage per day, about 1 ton of trash a year per person.  The majority of this trash is dumped into landfills or burned in incinerators.

“In the past decade,” the New Hampshire Bulletin noted, “many U.S. communities of different sizes and political leanings have created mostly voluntary composting programs, with mandatory programs concentrated in large cities and a handful of blue states. Supporters say these programs reduce emissions, free up landfill space, create jobs, and produce soil free of harmful fertilizers that pollute water sources.”

San Francisco was the pioneer in food waste reallocation.

San Fran partnered with Recology in the late 1990s to accomplish its zero waste goal.  Today, it  diverts about 600 tons of compostable material a day (150,000 tons annually).  A recent press release shared that the city has met its goal to divert 80% of waste from landfills. Since then, over 200 cities across the country have started their own organic waste projects in an attempt to go greener.

• California. The Golden State’s progressive Mandatory Organic Waste Collection law requires all residents, businesses, and other public and private entities to separate their green waste.
• Connecticut. Connecticut’s Commercial Organics Recycling law was the first to require commercial organics recycling from businesses such as supermarkets, hotels, resorts, and food retailers, distributors, and manufacturers. 
• Maryland. This state’s New Food Residuals Diversion Regulation mandates that any resident or business producing over 2 tons of organic waste a week must separate their green waste and divert it from landfills.
• Massachusetts. The Bay State’s Commercial Food Material Disposal Ban requires businesses producing over half a ton of food waste per week to separate their organic materials.
• New Jersey. This state’s Food Waste Recycling and Food Waste-to-Energy Production Law mandates that all commercial businesses producing over 52 tons of food waste per year must separate their green waste and divert it to designated food waste recycling plants.
• Rhode Island. Small but mighty, the state of Rhode Island has a Food Waste Ban that requires educational institutions generating over 30 tons of organic waste per year to send food scraps to recycling facilities.
• Vermont. Not to be outdone by its neighboring states, Vermont’s progressive Universal Recycling Law applies to both households and businesses.  Organic refuse can be donated for human or animal consumption, composted, or sent to organic waste recycling centers.
• Washington. This state’s Food Waste Reduction Act maps out incremental changes that will result in a 50% reduction of organic waste.  They intend to meet this goal through food waste prevention, modified energy production, composting, diverting edible food to hunger relief, repurposing inedible food for livestock, and other organic recycling programs.

Getting an organic waste removal program started certainly has its challenges. 

Creating a new waste management stream has steep up-front costs, including buying new organic waste bins for the community, securing composting facilities, and maintaining essential infrastructure.  Such an endeavor also requires significant public education efforts to ensure the community understands what can and cannot be composted. However, communities across America are finding that these hurdles are worth it and can have a significant impact on the future of our planet.

Even if your city isn’t yet participating, you can still divert your food waste from landfills. If you have access to a backyard, you can create your own outdoor compost pile with the help of Yvonne Dwyer’s tips and tricks!  With the right mix of brown and green matter, you can turn those scraps into nutrient-rich compost that can provide significant benefits for your plants and vegetable garden.  

You can also research if composting services like CompostNow are available in your community.

These composting services will pick up your residential or business-created food scraps and deliver compost to you or its partners. Or check out composting sites by city to find a composting site near you.

Composting is an excellent example of how small changes can make a big difference!  Support your community efforts and rethink your waste today.

Learn more about food waste management and recycling:

• Tackling the Food Emissions Crisis
• OPL Insight: Food Waste by Category and Sector
• America’s Recycling Programs are in Disarray, You Can Help.
• A Food Waste Recycling Solution that Changed a Nation