One day of plastic at our house

What you notice today can become tomorrow's habit

What plastic trash does your home make in one day? When you really look at something you only thought of as 'a lot,' it's easier to find habits you can change. Take a fresh look at the things you usually use, and notice what keeps showing up. Look at today's items with your family, and pick one small change to try tomorrow.

The times on the right side of the picture are examples from the original workbook. How long things really take to break down can change depending on the material and where it ends up. Instead of memorizing the numbers, think together about how something used for a short time can stay around for a long time.

Try it together like this

1. Tell your family about today's mission

   Tell your family you'd like to look at your plastic trash separately. Decide together where and when you'll watch. Only collect things a grown-up can handle safely. You don't need to use new things on purpose or make extra trash.

2. Look at where each item came from

   At the end of the day, look at what you gathered and think about what each package held. You can group things with similar uses, like snacks, drinks and household items, or draw them on paper. For things that are hard to touch, you can just watch while a grown-up shows you.

3. Find the things that showed up again and again

   Check whether packaging with the same shape or the same use showed up several times. Pick the item that stands out most, and talk with your family about when and why you used it. The key to this activity is thinking together about which uses you need and which ones you could change.

4. Choose one thing to do tomorrow

   Find ways your family can help, like reusing things you already have or choosing items with less packaging. Write down your promise, and later look back to see if you really did it. When you're done, sort and put away the trash properly with a grown-up.