My husband and I went out for breakfast this morning. When the waitress came by with two glasses of water, I thanked her for not putting straws in the glasses without being asked. She said "Maybe we saved a couple of turtles." When we ordered coffee, she asked if we needed cream. We said "no thanks" and pointed to the little plastic container (originally honey from the grocery store) that we had filled with half and half before we left home. At the end of the meal when she asked if I needed a box for my leftovers, I said "no thanks" and showed her my container that I had brought from home.
This picture was taken a couple days ago on the Rio Grande just north of the Cesar Chavez bridge. Proof positive that plastic pollution is a local problem, not just a plastic island way out in the Pacific Ocean (although this plastic will probably join it there eventually).
"Refuse" is the latest addition to the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle slogan. Restaurants are the best places to do it. When you order your drink, tell them "No straws please." If you forgot to bring your reusable straw, tough it out and drink from the glass. It is no dirtier than the fork or plate or coffee cup you are eating or drinking directly from. You may easily have just saved an animal's life. Then when they offer you a box for your uneaten portion, say "No thanks. I brought my own." If you are like me, you have a kitchen drawer full of plastic containers collected from restaurants and grocery items. Keep a couple in the car at all times so you can "Refuse, Reduce, and Reuse" whenever the opportunity arises.
I went to the butcher counter at Sprouts and asked for two pounds of ground beef. The clerk told me they were available prepackaged on the shelf. I told him I had already seen those single-pound packages, but that I was on a "styrofoam-free diet". He seemed annoyed as he packed my order up in paper. Then I decided to go to Albertson's for my fresh corn because the only corn available at Sprouts was four ears partially shucked and laid out prettily on a styrofoam tray. I got four separate ears at Alberton's that I put directly in my reusable bag. No plastic needed.
