1 . The world has a plastic problem—and it is increasing.
1. Quit using plastic bags. Instead, take your own reusable shopping bag to the store. People use a trillion plastic bags worldwide every year. About 10 percent are used in the United States alone. That’s almost one bag per American per day.
2. Skip the straw. Today, around 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world’s beaches.
3. Don’t use plastic bottles. Buy a reusable bottle and fill it with any type of beverage you like.
4. Avoid plastic packaging. Buy bar soap instead of liquid soap in plastic containers. Don’t buy fruit or vegetables in plastic packaging. In the United Kingdom, leaders are calling for supermarkets to have plastic-free areas. They also want to tax plastic take-out containers.
5. Recycle. We can’t recycle all plastic items, but it is possible to recycle most bottles and milk or juice cartons. Today, Norway recycles 97 percent of its plastic bottle.
| A．Likewise, the average Dane uses four plastic bags per day. |
| B．In contrast, the average Dane used four single-use bags per year. |
| C．So when you order a drink, say no to the straw, or bring your own reusable one. |
| D．However, there are still loads of people ignoring the seriousness of it. |
| E．Scientists are working to find a long-term solution by making plastic more biodegradable (可降解的). |
| F．Some cities, like Bundanoon in Australia and San Francisco in the U.S. have completely or partially banned bottled water. |
| G．How? Machines at most supermarkets take the bottles and give a refund (退款) of up to 2.5 kroner (32 cents) per bottle. |
