As most of us now know, plastic is a very useful material that is also incredibly hard to get rid of. Plastic that ends up in a landfill will last for a very long time, possibly as long as a thousand years. The problem is that we just use so much of it. If the plastic doesn’t end up in landfills, we have an even bigger problem, because if we don’t get rid of it sensibly, it harms wildlife. If we burn it, it causes terrible pollution. Not forgetting that when the plastic is made, it uses up a lot of water—our most valuable natural resource. This is why many people have been motivated to find other uses for plastic, so that it doesn’t end up polluting the Earth. Plastic bottles can be reused with a little imagination (we don’t recommend reusing them for drinking more than a few times). People all over the world have found some amazing uses for old bottles from things to keep pens into containers to put outside and feed the birds. There are thousands of possibilities. Plastic bags, too, can be reused. Here again, a quick search online will reveal a great many new and imaginative ideas. Have you ever thought of putting them over your hands, for example, when you have dirty chores to do? Or over your feet when it’s raining? Talking of feet, if you sprain your ankle or have another kind of injury, you can use a plastic bag filled with ice to put on it. You can cut them and make a strong yarn out of them—and there are a thousand more things you can make and even wear! Some creative people make beautiful jewelry out of them. Any kind of second (or third or fourth) use for plastic is better than just getting rid of it. Finally, stores are asking customers to pay for plastic bags. This is the best thing they can do to make us start thinking about the problem.

Source: https://www.macmillaneducaioneverywhere.com/