Manatee Lagoon

I can take my commitment to sustainable living beyond my household by advocating for low-effort opportunities to live sustainably for others, such as encouraging apartment management to implement recycling opportunities in my community and encouraging local dentist to give out bamboo toothbrushes, rather than plastic.

To avoid using disposables and even purchasing new glass storage options, I can wash and reuse glass jars and other packaging to store leftovers.

I can silently advocate for communities harmed by the bottling process by not supporting companies that engage in harmful bottling practices. I can also sign petitions and contact lawmakers to advocate for these communities.

Living in a coastal community, I have noticed that there has been a shift away from frivolous straw usage to protect the marine environment. Some restaurants will ask if you want a straw, rather than assuming you do, and many others use plastic alternative straws that are marine biodegradable. Reusable straws are also notably more popular for...

Since my apartment complex does not offer recycling pickup, I could advocate for a basic recycling pickup program for my community to reduce the amount of recyclable waste going into the landfill.

The different numbers for plastic identification were not shocking, but understanding which plastic types can be recycled and where will make me a better recycler.

Plastic production and pollution introduces not only debris into natural environments, but also chemicals through leaching. These chemicals can be endocrine disruptors and carcinogens, which can enter the food chain and reach humans. This is particularly prevalent in the marine environment, especially in places where seafood is harvested, like...

As a crafty person, I can always find ways to repurpose or upcycle old or outdated clothing items. Thrifting or consignment shopping is also an excellent option to refresh your wardrobe with inexpensive, higher quality pieces without contributing to the overproduction of textiles.

Switching to steel razors is extremely cost-effective, as you don't have to replace the whole razor, just the blades, which are cheaper than even the reusable plastic razors. There really isn't a need for disposable razors outside of potentially tattoo parlors and air travel. Prior to the popularization of tattooing in mainstream culture and...

Reduced plastic waste is the main benefit of using a bamboo toothbrush. To encourage others to use bamboo toothbrushes, it would be useful to start a campaign to have dentists provide bamboo toothbrushes as their free brushes, rather than plastic.