This year's Earth Day [Sunday 22nd April] comes amid growing calls to cut plastics out of our lives.
The United Nations estimates up to 12 million tons of plastic waste end up the oceans every year - and by 2050 plastic in the seas will outnumber fish.
Some people have already eliminated plastic from there lives. But how difficult is it to go waste-free?
Nick Harper reports from New York.
IN: "Worried..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2:59
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TAKE PKG
TAKE VO
Worried that the planet is wasting away Annika Schimmer is going waste free.
She's part of the growing movement of people trying to eliminate plastic waste from their lives.
SOT - Annika Schimmer, Health coach
"In the beginning, if you're not used to it, it can be overwhelming because almost everything is in plastic. So what I would recommend for someone who wants to do that is definitely step-by-step. Maybe this week I'm going to avoid these tiny little bags for fruit and vegetables."
TAKE VO
She's changed her shopping habits and says it's helped her save money and eat more healthily. It means taking reusable cloth bags to the supermarket
SOT - Annika Schimmer, Waste-free consumer
"This one is for salad, kale, all that good stuff. These things, I use for nuts for example. You just put them in here instead of getting all this plastic stuff."
TAKE VO
Companies are also cashing in on waste-conscious consumers. Offering package-free items and alternatives to plastic products - like stainless steel straws and wooden toothbrushes.
TAKE VO
Others, like Bea Johnson, are using social media to spread the message.
upsound - "So this is the trash that my family produced in 2017."
TAKE VO
A year's worth of non-recyclable waste from the Johnson house fits in a small handheld mason jar. Her blog has turned her into a consultant - this year she's speaking at the United Nations about waste management.
SOT - Bea Johnson, Author 'Zero Waste Home'
"Every time we buy something we have the power to support the practice that is either sustainable or is not. So when we have the choice as the consumer to buy packaged or unpacked, well if you buy packaged it's a way for you to say 'I love packaging, and I dream of a world filled with packaging for our children' - and more packaging will be created."
TAKE VO
Globally, plastic trash is on rise. New research shows a giant area of floating plastic off the west coast of America is now three times the size of France.
But in fast paced cities like New York the need for convenience can make waste reduction difficult.
TAKE VO
New York City collects around 600,000 tons of recyclable products every year. But half of what gets thrown away could get recycled.
TAKE VO
The city is proposing a ban on plastic bags and styrofoam, commonly used in fast food containers. But companies are fighting back. Here's Gregory Anderson, from the NYC Department of Sanitation.
SOT - Gregory Anderson, NYC Department of Sanitation
"There are other business that are focused on the bottom line. So business that manufacture plastic bags, they want those plastic bags to stay in use. So we have a lot of opposition from the plastics industry, from the makers of styrofoam, they want to see the status quo continue."
TAKE VO
New York ambitiously aims to send zero waste to landfills by 2030.
It now needs residents to waste no opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle.
SOC
ENDS
Some people have already eliminated plastic from there lives. But how difficult is it to go waste-free?
Nick Harper reports from New York.
IN: "Worried..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2:59
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-arn.mp3
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GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-gen.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-von.mp3
938LIVE: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-938.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-rnz.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-ziz.mp3
SABC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0420waste-nh-sabc.mp3
TAKE PKG
TAKE VO
Worried that the planet is wasting away Annika Schimmer is going waste free.
She's part of the growing movement of people trying to eliminate plastic waste from their lives.
SOT - Annika Schimmer, Health coach
"In the beginning, if you're not used to it, it can be overwhelming because almost everything is in plastic. So what I would recommend for someone who wants to do that is definitely step-by-step. Maybe this week I'm going to avoid these tiny little bags for fruit and vegetables."
TAKE VO
She's changed her shopping habits and says it's helped her save money and eat more healthily. It means taking reusable cloth bags to the supermarket
SOT - Annika Schimmer, Waste-free consumer
"This one is for salad, kale, all that good stuff. These things, I use for nuts for example. You just put them in here instead of getting all this plastic stuff."
TAKE VO
Companies are also cashing in on waste-conscious consumers. Offering package-free items and alternatives to plastic products - like stainless steel straws and wooden toothbrushes.
TAKE VO
Others, like Bea Johnson, are using social media to spread the message.
upsound - "So this is the trash that my family produced in 2017."
TAKE VO
A year's worth of non-recyclable waste from the Johnson house fits in a small handheld mason jar. Her blog has turned her into a consultant - this year she's speaking at the United Nations about waste management.
SOT - Bea Johnson, Author 'Zero Waste Home'
"Every time we buy something we have the power to support the practice that is either sustainable or is not. So when we have the choice as the consumer to buy packaged or unpacked, well if you buy packaged it's a way for you to say 'I love packaging, and I dream of a world filled with packaging for our children' - and more packaging will be created."
TAKE VO
Globally, plastic trash is on rise. New research shows a giant area of floating plastic off the west coast of America is now three times the size of France.
But in fast paced cities like New York the need for convenience can make waste reduction difficult.
TAKE VO
New York City collects around 600,000 tons of recyclable products every year. But half of what gets thrown away could get recycled.
TAKE VO
The city is proposing a ban on plastic bags and styrofoam, commonly used in fast food containers. But companies are fighting back. Here's Gregory Anderson, from the NYC Department of Sanitation.
SOT - Gregory Anderson, NYC Department of Sanitation
"There are other business that are focused on the bottom line. So business that manufacture plastic bags, they want those plastic bags to stay in use. So we have a lot of opposition from the plastics industry, from the makers of styrofoam, they want to see the status quo continue."
TAKE VO
New York ambitiously aims to send zero waste to landfills by 2030.
It now needs residents to waste no opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle.
SOC
ENDS