the rest of it, (eightysix percent in Canada), still ends up in landfills or incinerators. The problem is not limited to plastic,of course, but that particular material is unique in terms of its pervasiveness, its inability to be reused, and its permanence. So what are we to do? Much of the answer lies within making choices about what we purchase in the first place, rather than what we do with the remnants of packaging after the fact. The saying is “reduce, reuse, recycle”, and it is not in random order. If one wanted to expand on it, it would read: “Reduce what you buy, reuse what you already have, and recycle whatever is left over”. It sounds so simple, but life is busy, and manufacturers don’t make it easy. It takes planning and commitment to make change happen.
Lightening The Plastic Burden
T
Gina Malkin has worked in the Natural Health field for 10 years and is currently working at Lynn’s Vitamin Gallery.
he discovery of plastic, more than a hundred years ago now, changed the world. It was revolutionary. It made life easier, safer, more hygienic, more convenient... the benefits were immense. Fast forward a hundred years-many of the benefits remain, but our planet is drowning. We have taken the disposable aspect of plastic to new heights, or depths. Single use water bottles. Food wrap, disposable everything, packaging for days, it just does not stop. And despite our best efforts, in the home, in the community, nation-wide, despite all of the programs and appeals to our sense of personal responsibility, some very sobering statistics remain. The truth is, only a very small percentage, (nine percent), of plastic that we recycle can actually be repurposed. The majority of
Products do exist to help in the fight against single use wastefulness. Environmentally conscious stores such as Lynn’s Vitamin Gallery, in Duncan, are a good place to start. Glass or metal straws, (such as those made by Enviro), reusable lunch bags, (lunchskins), beeswax cloth food wrap, (Evercoast Handmade), sheep’s wool dryer balls, (Moss Creek Wool Works), and the list goes on . Food can be purchased in bulk, and packaged in repurposed containers brought from home. Even drinks like Kombucha are available on tap from forward-thinking companies like Cultured Kombucha,where a one-time purchase of a glass bottle can be refilled an infinite number of times, with zero waste. Luckily, there are many dedicated and innovative
Come in and see all the great new products available to help you maintain a healthy and sustainable household. 250-748-4421 4-180 Central Rd, Duncan - Village Green Mall www.lynnsvitamingallery.ca
people coming up with solutions to the overpackaging and waste issues that threaten our planet. All the consumer needs to do is keep eyes and mind open, do some research, and, step by
step, attempt to create a better future for the planet we call home.
33
