Reusable Planet Blog

Did you know…?

• Plastic is designed to last forever, yet we’re often using single-use plastic items for only a few minutes.
• Plastic cannot biodegrade – it breaks down into smaller pieces known as microplastic and accumulates in the environment.

• Australian households throw out over 1 tonne of plastic waste every minute!
• In one day, Australians produce enough plastic waste to fill an entire beach.
• 660 thousand tonnes of plastic waste every year are created by Australians.
• Only 12% of Australian household plastic waste is recycled.

• Our landfill, oceans and waterways are being choked with plastic waste.
• Eight million tonnes of plastic are going into the ocean each year.
• If we don’t change our habits, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.
• Wildlife, fish and birds are ingesting and becoming entangled in plastics that drift into their habitat.
• It takes (at least) 400 years for plastic to break down in water, and even then it ends up in tiny, tiny pieces that are harmful to marine life.
• Microplastics are ingested by vast numbers of marine species, enabling toxins to enter our food chain.

• Microplastics have been found in table salt, seafood, bottled and tap water, even beer!
• An estimated 1 billion coffee cups are used in Australia every year – most of these are not recycled. This is enough to circumnavigate the world two and a half-times.
• Most people don't realise that coffee cups can't be recycled because they are plastic-lined. If they end up in the recycling bin, they can cantaminate the entire load, which may then end up in landfill.
• An estimated 1 billion single-use water bottles are purchased by Australians every year.
• Plastic straws and plastic ear buds are in the top 10 items found in beach cleanups.

PRO TIPS:
Check out Responsible Cafés - they have a searchable interactive map of cafes that allow BYO cups and mugs,with many offering a discount.

Check out Trashless Takeaway - they have a searchable interactive map of where you can BYO containers in Australia and take a step to reduce the amount of single-use plastics ending up in landfill and waterways.

Check our Reusable Planet! We have a great range of BYO products that help you choose to refuse single-use plastic when out and about!