Three Ways to Ditch Single-Use Plastics Recycling is one approach for reducing landfill waste but replacing single-use items with reusable alternatives is another way to tackle a growing environmental problem. Plastic accounts for a significant share of landfill waste each year. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 91 percent of plastic does not get recycled. Plastics are among the top solid waste materials (behind paper, paperboard and food), and single-use items like bags, sacks and bottles, represent the largest segment of plastic waste. These environmentally friendly solutions for swapping single-use plastics are steps that can help reduce landfill waste. Plastic Bags and Containers In virtually every retail setting, plastic bags are the norm for transporting purchased food and other goods. However, these bags, which are used just minutes or, at best, hours, take as long as 500 years to degrade in a landfill. Continued on Page 49
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