Every year an estimated million plastic bottles are bought every minute in the U.K. alone. They are made of non recyclable plastics, which means they are out there in nature "forever", gathering up to floating mountains that threaten animals and our environment. So what can we do to stop it? Here is one idea:
About 30 years ago, everyone used to have their milk brought to their houses in bottles by a milk man with a special van. So could this be a way forward to reduce the use of disposable plastics? Well, it is certainly a way of using less plastics since the milk was delivered in glass bottles and the empty bottles were left on the door steps to be collected and could be used again and again.
However, sources are not sure if this is any better due to the fact that it would take a lot of bad stuff: petrol needed when delivering and collecting bottles, and cleaning up liquid to wash the bottles. Also, the fact that there would be thousands of milk vans driving around the city again, defiantly does not help decrease the harmful pollution levels and traffic jams in the UK.
But even if it is unsure if the old milk man solves the constantly lingering problem of single use plastics, it is worth thinking about new and old solutions.
And do you know what? I could go for a glass of milk right now....
By: Niamh