By Stewart Healthy Times reporters | There’s a lot of bad news about plastics. Kids.nationalgeographic.com says that “around the world, 4 million tons of trash is thrown away every day. This is enough trash to fill up 10 Empire State buildings or 350,000 garbage trucks. A large part of this trash is made up of plastic.
Kids.nationalgeographic.com also reports that only 23 percent of single-use plastic water bottles get recycled, which means that the rest end up in places like landfills, waterways, and oceans.
When plastic ends up in the ocean, it can harm sea life. More than “700 species of marine animals have been reported to have eaten or been entangled in plastic,” according to the National Geographic kids’ website.
Single-use plastic makes up more than 40 percent of all plastic trash. The good news is that change can happen. Here are things you can do to help:
- Drink tap water when possible: About 25 percent of our population drinks tap water, accord- ing to the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization. One benefit of tap water is that it’s more affordable than bottled. Bottled water is usually sold in single-use plastic bottles, which can end up in oceans.
- Have no-plastic parties: When planning parties, you can serve food and drinks in reusable cups and plates you have at home, suggests National Geographic. Audubon.org suggests avoiding balloons and plastic decorations. Instead, decorate with things you can find around your house, like fabric. You can fill reusable bags with goodies to send home with friends.
- Avoid the use of plastic straws: Try to use paper straws or reusable straws instead, kids.nationalgeographic.com suggests.
- Use reusable containers: Don’t pack your lunch in plastic sandwich bags, says ecocenter.org. Not only do you save money, but you’ll also be helping to save the planet.
Illustration by Danna, eighth grade, Stewart M.S.
Na Stewart Healthy Times waandishi wa habari | Kuna mengi ya habari mbaya kuhusu plastiki. Kids.nationalgeographic.com inasema kwamba <unk> duniani kote, tani milioni 4 za taka hutupwa kila siku. Takwimu hizo zinatosha kujaza majengo 10 ya Empire State au magari 350,000 ya kutupa taka. Sehemu kubwa ya taka hizo ni plastiki. Kulingana na tovuti ya Kid's National Geographic, asilimia 23 tu ya chupa za plastiki za maji zinazotumiwa mara moja zinatumiwa tena, na nyingine nyingi zinatumiwa kwenye mabwawa ya taka, mabwawa ya maji na bahari. Plastiki inapowasili baharini, inaweza kuharibu uhai wa baharini. Zaidi ya spishi 700 za wanyama wa baharini wameripotiwa kula au kuingiliana na plastiki, kulingana na tovuti ya watoto ya National Geographic. Plastiki ya matumizi moja ni zaidi ya asilimia 40 ya taka zote za plastiki. Habari njema ni kwamba mabadiliko yanaweza kutokea. "Kama ni kweli, kuna ""maji ya bomba"" ambayo asilimia 25 ya watu wa nchi hiyo wanakunywa, kulingana na shirika la Environmental Working Group." Faida moja ya maji ya bomba ni kwamba ni ya bei nafuu kuliko maji ya chupa. Maji ya chupa kwa kawaida huuzwa katika chupa za plastiki za matumizi moja, ambazo zaweza kuishia katika bahari. "Kama unafanya karamu, unaweza kutumia vikombe na sahani za kutumia tena, ""alisema gazeti la National Geographic." Audubon.org inapendekeza kuepuka puto na mapambo ya plastiki. Badala yake, tumia vitu unavyoweza kupata nyumbani, kama vile vitambaa. Unaweza kujaza mifuko inayoweza kutumiwa tena na vyakula vya kupendeza ili uzipeleke nyumbani na marafiki. - Kuepuka matumizi ya matete ya plastiki: Jaribu kutumia matete ya karatasi au matete ya kutumiwa tena, kids.nationalgeographic.com inapendekeza. - Tumia vyombo vinavyoweza kutumiwa tena: Usiweke chakula chako cha mchana katika mifuko ya plastiki ya sandwichi, inasema ecocenter.org. Si tu kwamba utaokoa pesa, bali pia utasaidia kuokoa sayari. Picha ya Danna, darasa la nane, Stewart M.S.