Tips to reduce the use of plastics

Here are some simple tips to get you started.

• Say 'no' to plastic bags at the check-out. Take your own reusable bags or boxes with you.
  
• Buy loose fruit and veg at the supermarket. There's no need to bag them.

• Buy meat from the meat counter. Pre-packaged meat is wrapped in more plastic.

• Buy soft drinks in cans or glass bottles.

• Choose brands with the least packaging and write to your favourite producers and tell them their packaging bothers you. Consumer choice is a powerful tool.
  

• Reuse plastic bags that you've accumulated as garbage liners. Better yet, let your rubbish bin go naked! A quick swirl of water after it's been emptied into the council bin outside will have it looking and smelling as good as new.

• If you have to use plastic bags then make sure they're biodegradable. These can be bought online from zerowaste.co.nz and ecostore.co.nz, but phone or write to your local supermarket and ask them to get them in.

• Look for products that use recycled plastic - look for the Envirochoice label.
  

• Separate your recyclables from your other rubbish and prepare it for collection. Rinse it and remove the caps, cap rings and base cups from plastic bottles. These accessories may be made from other types of plastic and by removing them you will help reduce processing time and expense.
• Put your rubbish in a secure, lidded bin - most marine debris starts out on land.
• Use your own permanent food containers for picnics instead of using disposables.

• Got an old mobile phone? Then take it back to your supplier. These phones are tested, repaired, refurbished and reused or the components striped from them and the plastic melted down.
• Put cigarette butts in ashtrays, not on streets, pavements or beaches.
• When boating, bring your oil cans, food wrappers and cigarette butts back to shore, and be sure to ask your marina to handle waste properly.

• Spead the word. Reduce, recycle and reuse! Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
• Less is more. Don't buy stuff you don't need that will just end up as trash.

-Sharon-