“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make”

-Jane Goodall

July is the time of year to reflect on our impact on the world around us. Even though recycling is an option. It should really be our last option. Recycling centers are very particular about what they will accept and will not, and each center is different depending on the location. It is up to you as the consumer to determine what can actually be placed into your recycling bin whether it has a little triangle with arrows or not.

So let’s look at what we can do to reduce our plastic use in the first place.

Girls collecting trash at a beach clean on Gili Trawangan in Indonesia
Credit: Ash Embi