Simple steps to live plastic-free

Two thousand garbage trucks' worth. If you are wondering about how much plastic is dumped into the oceans and waterways of the world every day — this is how you can picture the amount, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

- BY JOYCE REYES-AGUILA

The agency added that some 19 to 23 million tons of plastic are disposed of every year, polluting our environment and impacting all aspects of life. The recent series of typhoons that hit the country illustrated this truth. Streets were flooded due to waterways choked with garbage (much of it plastic), leading to class and work suspensions, delays in economic activities such as the delivery of goods, and even a rise in leptospirosis cases.

Decreasing our daily need for plastic has been encouraged for many years, but we’re probably missing other ways we consume and use plastic through our everyday choices. Here’s a list of changes we can make starting today.

What you get for pets. When buying toys for your pets, think of their health and not just their fun, says environment advocate Earthday. org. On its site, the organization discusses how “plastic additives like phthalates and bisphenol—A (BPA) are common in many pet toys, leaching into pets’ gums, stomachs, and skin.” When pets ingest these substances, it can lead to long-term health issues. Opt for non-plastic toys, accessories, and even food containers as these may contain bisphenol A or BPA, an industrial chemical found in polycarbonate plastics, that can affect a pet’s health, like it does in children.