Reduce plastic waste

3. Don't shoot the messenger, but send a message
Closer to home, let retailers know you're not happy with overpackaged products by leaving the plastic waste from packaging or plastic bags where it'll make the biggest impact: right there in the store. Speak to a store manager about their overpackaged goods (like shrink-wrapped produce), or just unwrap your purchases and ditch the waste at the checkout to illustrate your point.

4. Play for keeps
Instead of using plastic bags, buy cloth bags or reuse the plastic bags you already have. If your local grocery store doesn't offer reusable bags (most sell them for about $1), contact the manager or the store's head office to suggest they do so. When you eat at fast-food restaurants or get takeout, use your own cutlery instead of plastic utensils. Similarly, just say no to the prewrapped napkin/salt/pepper packets and use your own. Once again, you may want to preach what you practise and notify the establishment's management of your decisions and explain your concerns.

5. Go big or go home
When you can, buy in bulk. For example, instead of buying a six-pack of single-serve puddings, buy a single pudding mix and divide it yourself once it's made. Instead of buying a new bottle of shampoo, refill the old one from a larger container. Rather than purchasing boxes of packaged pasta, check out your local bulk-food store and stock up. The production of plastic packaging is just as harmful as the waste that packaging creates, so reject it from the start to help nip the problem in the bud.

No matter which course of action feels right to you, or what pollution-halting ideas you implement, every little bit helps and if everyone cuts down -- even a little bit -- we can all make a big difference for the planet.

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