PEOPLE TOSS TENS OF MILLIONS OF TONS of plastic waste each year. That’s tons, not pounds. Only about 7% of that plastic is ever recovered for recycling.
The Problem With Plastic
The problem with plastic waste is that it lasts forever—in landfills and in the ocean, where it severely affects natural ecosystems.
Have You Heard Of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Tons of plastic waste ends up in this floating trash heap roughly the size of Texas, and growing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pRy88R-4BI
A Lot Of The Waste Comes From Businesses
About 90% of the average dental office’s waste is plastic. And most of that plastic is single-use, infection-control items with a 10-second lifespan. This image shows the amount of trash dumped by an average dental office in a month.
According to the Eco-Dentistry Association, the typical dental office trashes a half-dozen (or more!) lawn-sized garbage bags every day!
We’re Re-Thinking Our Habits To Reduce Waste
First of all, know that we are NOT compromising safety and sanitation. But we ARE examining the daily habits of our practice and finding practical solutions that are good for our patients AND good for our environment.
(NOTE TO OUR CLIENTS: Your answers to the questions below will appear here. You’ll have a chance to explain the initiatives your practice is taking to reduce plastic waste. For example, have you replaced plastic rinse-and-spit cups with washable glasses? Do you buy supplies in bulk to cut down on unnecessary packaging?)
You Can Join Us In Our Efforts To Reduce Plastic Use
Here are some tips you can put into action at home:
1. Bring re-usable grocery AND produce bags with you to the store.
2. Buy boxes or cartons whenever possible instead of plastic bottles.
3. Re-use water bottles, or opt for a cup.
4. Try eco-friendly toothbrushes!
Do You Have Solutions To Add?
We’d love to hear about them. Let us know by commenting below.
