Everyday products that are killing the environment

They seem harmless and most people use them every day. However, plastic bags are composed of major toxic pollutants. Producing a plastic bag takes only a few seconds, but they can take between 150 and 500 years to decompose. We need to be aware of the consequences of using plastic bags every day.

A simple way of helping our planet is using cloth bags to go grocery shopping, there are many benefits because they hold a lot and they can be used over and over again.

Cleaning wipes can destroy our planet in many different ways like clogging up sewers or creating floods. It is important for us to know the consequences of using cleaning wipes every day, they might seem like the most convenient product to use while cleaning our kitchen but in the long run, they are only contributing to pollution.

Using a microfiber cloth wipe is a great option if you don’t want to use paper cleaning wipes anymore. The only thing you need to do is wash it to re-use it as many time as you wish, also you will be saving a few cents.

Let’s remember that disposable ballpoint pens are made with plastic which takes hundreds of years to decompose (up to 1000 years) depending on the type of plastic. Over 10 Billion non-biodegradable pens are sent to landfills every year.

A way of helping the environment is using biodegradable pens or refillable pens. There are many creative ways of reusing ballpoint pens, you could even use them as coffee stirrers, and all you have to do is clean them up really well.

In the United States approximately 40 billion plastic utensils are used each year, can you imagine all that plastic waste?  We really need to do something about it.

Many people choose plastic cutlery over silver cutlery because they can just toss it in the garbage can, but the best option is silver cutlery because you can use them as many times as you want, and washing them doesn’t take too long compared to the time plastic takes to decompose.

Many people use disposable plates when they’re hosting a party or during summer because of barbecues, camping trips or any other occasion when they don’t feel like doing the dishes.

We get it, using porcelain plates means washing dishes, which can be a task many dislike doing, but it is definitely worth it if you want to help the environment (just remember not to waste any water).

You probably do not know that aluminum cans might take up to 500 years to decompose. We all enjoy having canned fruit or vegetables but we need to remember that there are many other ways of eating this food.

If you want to help the environment, you could eat fresh fruit and vegetables instead of eating out of cans. Remember this is not only an eco-friendly option but also a healthier one. Oh! And let’s not forget it is also cheaper.

Did you know that each child uses approximately 5,300 disposable diapers? Well, diapers are the third largest product in the waste stream and their decomposition time is estimated to be around 250-500 years.

There are many reasons why you should choose cloth diapers, you’re not only helping the environment but they also leak less than disposable diapers. You’ll be taking good care of your child too because traditional diapers have lots of chemicals.

Plastic is made from petroleum, so its manufacturing creates toxic chemicals and also contributes to global warming.  Let’s not forget that bottled water contains toxins, so take care of yourself and the planet and start drinking filtered water!

Installing a water filter in your home has many benefits compared to drinking bottled water or tap water. Many people don’t know that tap water contains Arsenic and Aluminum and bottled water can release cancer-causing toxins.

Many of us use batteries in many electronic devices at home; they contain cadmium, lead, zinc, manganese, nickel, silver, mercury, and lithium. These metals can release toxic substances that contaminate groundwater.

If you use rechargeable batteries you’re protecting the environment and saving money. According to One Green Planet, rechargeable batteries have 28 times less impact on global warming.