That headline may be confusing, but if each person changes behavior by simply refusing to use a straw, the collective effect of the outcome is enormous.
Single-use plastic straws are among the top 10 contributors to plastic marine debris across the globe.
Scientists estimate there are nearly 7.5 million straws lying around America’s shorelines. This is based on trash collected on U.S. coastlines during cleanups over five years. This means 437 million to 8.3 billion plastic straws litter the entire world’s coastlines. According to the Trash Free Seas Alliance, the average American uses 1.6 straws a day.
Austin-based author, Azaliya Schulz, tackled this almost exhausted subject, yet extremely relevant, in her book Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with Liam, the Smart Rabbit. This book is the eye-opening story of an inquisitive rabbit who finds a rainbow of plastic wrappers in his garden.
“The amount of plastic that is produced in the world every year has increased explosively, from 2 million tons in 1950 to over 390 million tons in 2021”, according to plastic soup association. Only 9% of all plastic in use worldwide is recycled. Plastic straws are an unnecessary utensil for the vast majority of people, thrown away after just one use and the 7th most commonly found item on beaches worldwide. They are not recyclable so they end up in landfills where they may persist for more than 200 years. Just saying no to a straw today can help make significant environmental gains.
The book, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with Liam the Smart Rabbit gives parents and caregivers of children great tips to support their efforts of teaching their children about the simple, actionable steps they can take to reduce their plastic waste. Such as taking reusable bags and cups to the store, substituting plastic plates with reusable plates, carrying a refillable water bottle with you etc.
Having written children’s books, Schulz is not afraid to address inconvenient topics. She is convinced that properly educating children early in life about the consequences of their actions, can lead to positive environmental change at grass roots level. Schulz writes inspiring children’s books that help children to become independent and critical thinkers and create a supportive and loving community.
Author Schulz, explains why her book is a game changer for parents “it educates children about plastic waste and offers practical steps each child can take, to reduce plastic waste without feeling overwhelmed or guilty’.
In support of the book and its mission, Zach Goepel – Director of Operations – Drop Water Co. says “Reduce, reuse, recycle with Liam, the Smart Rabbit teaches a powerful message, in a playful way, to the most important of audiences: our youth. We have a generation of youth that have inherited the challenges of previous generations’ need for convenience, but also have inherited an opportunity to have a profound impact on our environment by implementing practical solutions to said challenges. The first steps in enabling this opportunity are exposure, insight, and knowledge. What a better way to provide those tools than this creative book by Azaliya Schulz!”
To know more about Azaliya Schulz as an author as well as details of where to find her book, visit azaliyaschulz.com.
This book is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Smart-Rabbit/dp/1737872773/ref=monarch_sidesheet
Learn more about Liam, the Smart Rabbit https://azaliyaschulz.com/liam-the-smart-rabbit/