The impact of small changes can be big too! Just like pocket change, it all adds up. Here are six small ways you can lose the plastic right now to begin reducing your environmental impact at home, work, and school.

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by Earth Day Festival Bismarck

Most of us want to go greener than we are, but often we get so overwhelmed by the big changes we   want   to make that we forget about beginning the little changes we   can   make. The impact of small changes can be big too! Just like pocket change, it all adds up.

Here are six small ways you can lose the plastic right now to begin reducing your environmental impact at home, work, and school.

1. Stop using plastic (and paper) store bags. Buy some canvas shopping bags. Yeh, yeh, you keep meaning to get some, but somehow you have still not gotten around to it, right? They are inexpensive, have a long life, are often made from recycled materials and they are biodegradable. This is such a simple swap why wouldn't pick some up today?

2. Stop using plastic produce bags. Really. You don't need them. In fact, most people throw them away as soon as they get home and put their groceries away. Your lettuce leaves are not going to contaminate your tomatoes. Put a handheld grocery store basket into a cart. Use it to store all of your veggies while you are shopping and then have them put into your canvas bags at the check-out.

3. Stop buying excessively packaged products and don't forget to write to the companies and tell them why you are no longer buying their products. From toys to electronics -- and every day consumables, companies use way too much packaging. Especially plastics which contain known carcinogens.

4. Stop using disposable plastic storage bags (or at lease reduce your use of them) for lunches, snacks, left-overs, etc. Instead invest in multi-size sealable and reusable containers. So what if you have to wash them out? Your food stays fresher and intact longer. How many Zip-locks do you use in a week?

5. Stop using plastic straws. Don't buy them and use them at home and whenever you are out, simply tell your server you do not want one. Keep a reusable stainless steel straw in your purse or glove box to use if you happen to go through a drive-thru and order a drink.

6. Stop buying disposable water bottles. Get yourself a good reusable water bottle that you like both the look and feel of. Our addiction to plastic water bottles alone amounts to about 1.5 million tons of plastic waste each year!

In 2012, 31 million tons of plastic waste was generated. Almost 14 million tons of it was containers and packaging. Only 8 percent of that was recovered and recycled. Recycling and reusing has come a long way however, not far enough. You too have a responsibility in this process. The suggestions above are easy, inexpensive (or free), and really don't require much more of your time or effort. The best part is you can start today!

Authors Website: http://www.cherispeak.com

Authors Bio:
Cheri has worked in media for more than 20 years in one capacity or another. Her media years were spent mostly in broadcast radio; from being a live on-air radio host to creating and implementing engaging and effective marketing and promotional campaigns. Although no longer directly employed by any media cluster she still writes copy for a range of clients and does the occasional voiceover.

Having been a writer since childhood she was able to venture into most genres along the way, fine tuning her ability to write about anything; whether it's a technical manual, a company newsletter, killer ads or a hard core research piece, Cheri brings it to life with the passion of one who loves what they do. Publishing her first piece at the age of 7 yrs. old, Cheri discovered she could have a voice beyond the walls of her bedroom and realized "other people" were entertained by, and interested, in what she had to say. Writing has been her biggest passion and best friend ever since.

From Poetry to Politics there is no subject that she cannot find an interesting angle to write from. She does not endorse a specific political party and instead prefers to keep her work issue based. Currently she is simultaneously writing a non-fiction book (with a tandem screen-play) and a bedside poetry book.

In addition to being a diversely skilled freelance writer, Cheri works as a Marketing Director and Publicist for a variety of businesses across the country. By embracing and including today's Social Media tools and the power of live events, she teaches companies the value of accessibility and human interaction to a "Brand" and how to capitalize on that in the current marketplace. As a business networker and promoter she is fearless and spot-on in helping businesses get ahead. For her tireless work ethic and bottomless pool of creative ideas she has been dubbed "The Machine" by many.

Deciding to create and maintain her own Blog as a sort of clearinghouse of all things "Cheri" www.CheriSpeak.com was born. In its highly organized and easy to navigate pages you can find countless articles on a variety of subjects that include politics, health, community, music, and more. You will also find a library of poetry from erotic to dark, countless audio files of interviews she has done over the years and accolades for her business endeavors. There are also samples of her drawings and singing voice as well as images that represent her activist, business, and personal lives. *All content on Cheri's Blog is original unless otherwise noted.

"If we have connected here, it is my privilege. May we together find the reason for the connection and run with it!" ~ Cheri Roberts
http://www.cherispeak.com