Because these dissolve into microplastics that enter water streams and are ingested by wildlife — and humans — and are frequently contaminated with food , there is no practical way to dispose of or recycle these materials that doesn ’ t harm the environment or wildlife . The best approach is to use them as little as possible and keep them out of your recycling bin . There are lots of reusable alternatives , such as cloth grocery bags and silicone zippable storage bags or silicone bowl / plate covers .
You can also look for sustainable swaps for many of your everyday items — many of the “ disposable ” items we use in our everyday lives now have more sustainable / reusable alternatives available and they ’ re becoming more widely available every day . Basically , beware of anything “ disposable ” and check for reusable alternatives . Some common items to look for include :
• Shopping bags
• Water bottles
• Straws
• Glass food storage containers
• Sustainable lunch packing supplies
• Washable kitchen rags / cloths
• Cleaning product / detergent bottles ( there are brands that will sell refills of things like cleaning solution , detergent , dish soap in minimal packaging that can be put in reusable bottles )
• Cosmetics / bath products — more brands are making products like shampoo in bars ( like soap ) to eliminate plastic bottles
To learn more about how to fight plastic pollution , visit AudubonNatureInstitute . org / Conservation-Programs / Plastic-Pollution . Join the fight today by signing up for the Plastic Free July Ecochallenge at PlasticFree . EcoChallenge . org and joining Audubon Nature Institute ’ s “ Plastic Free NOLA ” team .
A REIMAGINED SPACE FOR PUPS AT CRESCENT PARK
NEW ! The dog run at Crescent Park is now called Crescent Bark !
Improvements are underway this year , keep your ears perked for more updates !
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