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By Sumaiyya Naseem
Plastics are awful for the environment. They’re non-biodegradable. This means the plastics you used in your lifetime will remain plastics long after your great-great-great-grandchildren have had their own children.
So we need to cut down our usage of plastics for the sake of the environment and the future.
Here’s what you can do:
1. Opt for glad or stainless steel water bottles.
You’ll need water all day and we tend to buy plastic bottles or the water bottles from the store. Get an alternative water carrier instead.
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2. No plastic bags at the checkout.
Supermarkets in Saudi Arabia are flooded with plastic bags at the checkouts. Sometimes they put just a couple of items in one plastic bag and then move on to the next. Every Saudi Arabian home has a corner with piles of plastic bags waiting to be used or thrown away. The solution? Take a reusable carry bag with you to the store.
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3. Replace your plastic containers.
We and our Moms love buying plastic containers because they come in all sorts of sizes. Replace those containers with glass or silicone containers. You could also look for stainless steel ones.
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4. Say no to straws.
That’s it. It’s very simple. No straws, no problem.
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5. Don’t buy exfoliators which contain polyethylene Microbeads.
These are actually tiny plastic beads which are a large issue for the ocean. Make your own scrub using sugar, cocoa powder and honey instead.
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6. No more disposable razors.
Buy a razor which allows you to change the blades instead.
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7. Buy eggs in paper containers.
You’ll see the eggs in paper trays and the ones in plastic ones. You know which ones to get!
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8. Take your own cup to Starbucks.
The paper cups have plastic lids which you need to avoid.
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9. Say yes to milk in paper cartons.
Switch to buying milk cartons instead of milk in plastic bottles.
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10. Avoid products which are packaged in plastic.
This will be difficult but also a big step for your health and for the environment. Go for alternatives or make your own. For example: Instead of buying bread packaged in plastic, make your own bread or buy from a bakery which sells it in paper bags.
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11. Buy powder detergents.
These are usually packed in cardboard cartons and the liquid varieties come in plastic bottles.
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