Saying No to Single-Use Plastic

Every day, people around the world use huge numbers of plastic bags, straws, and cups, often for only a few minutes. Because plastic takes hundreds of years to 1—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable, much of it ends up in landfills or in the ocean. Sea turtles, for example, sometimes 2—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable floating bags for jellyfish and eat them.

In recent years, many governments have taken 3—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable to deal with the problem. In Taiwan, many stores no longer give out free plastic bags, and many restaurants have stopped offering plastic straws. These rules have 4—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable people to change their habits, though some complained at first that the changes were 5—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable.

Individuals can make a difference, too. Carrying a 6—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable water bottle and a cloth shopping bag is a simple way to start. Some people go even further: they bring their own containers when they buy takeout, and they shop at stores that sell food without any 7—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable.

Of course, one person's actions may seem too small to 8—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable. But when millions of people make the same small choices, the 9—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable can be huge. Every little bit helps, as the saying goes. After all, each of us is 10—A decomposeB encouragedC impactD inconvenientE matterF measuresG mistakeH packagingI responsibleJ reusable for the planet we share.