Plastic waste now floods almost the entire world, and when you look at our everyday use of plastic, it's not surprising. For example, let’s take District 12 alone. With a population of nearly 58,000 people, it might be the same number of PET bottles consumed a day here if everyone consumes just one bottled drink. The situation is not better anywhere else in the world, plastic bags have even been found in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth, 10,000 meters underwater. So, little by little, governments around the world have decided to end the unbelievably high use of plastic by banning many everyday products. From straws to food containers, many single-use plastics will disappear from our lives from July, replaced by products made from paper, bamboo or other materials. But that's only part of the change - as consumers, we can also do our bit to produce less plastic and waste in our everyday lives.
How to actually recycle?
Today, the concept of selective waste collection is already widespread in Hungary, and this type of door-to-door service has been available in District 12 since 2011. In practice, however, it is not just a simple paper-plastic separation. In all cases, it is worth putting cleaned, rinsed waste in the yellow-topped selective waste bin, so yoghurt and whipped cream pots should be washed out before being thrown in the bin, thus helping the recycling process. It is also advisable to cut off the plastic tops of milk cartons and place them separately in the plastic waste bin, while the carton itself can be thrown in the blue-top paper waste bin in Budapest. And although household metal waste - tins, cutlery - can be placed in the yellow-lidded bin, glass waste should be collected in separate containers placed in public areas.
We also have a big influence on the amount of waste we produce through our shopping habits
In 2018, 14.72% of all waste generated was of household origin. And while we have modern regulations in line with EU requirements and integrated, unified waste management, we also need individual behavioral change to reduce this figure. For example, when you buy takeaway food, you should bring your own takeaway box with you! This will not only help us get rid of plastic waste, but also ensure that your containers are clean. Also, instead of buying bottled water, take your own bottle with you. It's also cheaper and saves the environment a lot of rubbish. Equally, it's worth avoiding plastic bags. Instead, carry your own canvas bag or buy reusable mesh bags in grocery stores.
We may not think about it every time we go shopping, but consuming local products can also have a big impact regarding the amount of waste created. In many cases, we encounter a lot of harmful packaging and litter because we choose products that come from far away and need to be properly stored in grocery stores. Therefore, by buying from local producers and suppliers and avoid pre-packaged food, we can greatly reduce unnecessary plastic waste.
We can also improve our make-up habits. From July, Q-Tips will be made entirely of paper or bamboo, and you can also buy washable face cleansing discs instead of disposable cotton discs. Best of all, we can even choose make-up products that can be refilled, so we don't have to create more waste with every packet of mascara or foundation we buy.
Green solutions
Protecting the environment is a growing concern for more and more companies. McDonald’s, for example, is aiming for 100% sustainability by 2025, but we are already seeing signs of their ambitions, for example their paper straws. In addition, there are now several industries that are trying to produce products from organic, biodegradable materials: we can buy shoes, kitchen towels, but also jackets made from recycled materials and even eco-friendly shoes can be found in some stores! There are companies that spend 1% of the price of some of their clothing on cleaning up the planet, but there are also shower heads that use 70% less water in the shower.