Let’s start with:

Low Hanging Fruit – aka the annoying stuff humans can just stop ASAP because they’re easy, obvious and have major impacts.

Stop:  STICKERS ON FRUIT – They are so annoying to remove.  They are most commonly made of petroleum based plastic (thus contributing to our planet’s microplastics problem) and are somewhat surprisingly eaten or juiced accidentally by thousands of people/ daily. They do not decompose or biodegrade.  They contain “pressure sensitive adhesives”. These adhesives contain surfactants which are toxic for the reproductive system. Fruits and vegetable which are sold in open markets have higher permissibility of migration of chemicals in fruits because of heat and sunlight.

Who: Grocers please just use a natural food based dye marks (made of beet, carrot, blueberry, spinach… e.g., King Arthur,™  Color Garden,™  Watkins™…)

Stop:  PICKING UP DOG POO IN PLASTIC BAGS – Plastic bags can take up to 700 years to decompose.  Poo is fertilizer and can easily be composted.  Microbes naturally break down the manmade chemicals in flea medicines, heart worm medicines and all of the natural waste.  The methane quickly off gasses (unlike the harmful plastics).  Ideally all neighborhoods should have dog parks and those should all have large dog poo / green waste  composting pits where dogs are allowed to go do their business freely and smell each other to their heart’s content.

Who: Dog owners / walkers

Stop:  MAKING / ACCEPTING PLASTIC SINGLE USE SPOONS / FORKS / KNIVES / SPORKS / STRAWS

You know you have an overflowing drawerfull.  And you feel guilty throwing them away.  An estimated 40 billion plastic utensils per year are disposed of in USA alone.

Plastic cutlery can take up to 1,000 years to decompose naturally.  However, over decades they break down into toxic microplastics that get into the environment.  They are made of petroleum based BPA and when you put them into the dishwasher and reuse they break down release BPA (Bisphenol A) which is linked to issues such as infertility, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.

Be sure to check the box that says No Cutlery when ordering food for delivery to your home.

Use reusable metal cutlery at home.  You can buy new or 2nd hand, it can be reused and disinfected easily and forever.  Carry your own set with napkin / bag in your pocket, purse, backpack, car…  Offer sets as a gift… e.g.,
https://sustainability.ucdavis.edu/zerowaste
Prosumer Choice – Amazon

Who: Fast food eaters, delivery orderers, party planners, everyone…

Stop: USED MOTOR OIL DUMPING INTO STORM DRAINS – Every liter of illegally dumped used motor oil can contaminate up to 1 million liters of fresh water.  There are many places you can get your motor oil changed inexpensively and cleanly.  Also, most hardware stores and mechanics have hazardous material disposal systems.  Call your local government to locate the best drop off location near you. 

Who:  Car owners (non-EV), DIY car lovers, Boat Owners… 

Stop:  LANDMINES & CLUSTER BOMBS Manufacturing & Laying

5 Million new landmines are laid per year. They cost $30 to make and $1000 to remove. The 110M current landmines would already cost $100B to remove. Annually @ 200,000 are removed or intentionally set off with @ 200 / year “De-miner” deaths .  The only people who don’t have the incentive to stop landmines are people who make landmines, and they can make something else.

Landmines hurt indiscriminately and destroy the environment causing 5,000 deaths & 20,000 injuries / year.  And nooo.. they should not be used to surround protected areas as animals can also set them off. Toxic explosive chemicals, soil erosion, and wildlife destruction for decades after the political conflict is forgotten.

Who: Governments & Manufacturers

General Public:  Be aware, engaged, speak up, discuss and point out the obvious.