Why reduce Single-Use Plastic?
Single-use or disposable ?
The term refers to the use of objects that are used only once before we throw them away. And how long does this one use last?
Remember the last time you enjoyed your coffee in a plastic cup while walking in Andros or when you ordered food at home and they brought it to you in a styrofoam box.
The answer is from a few seconds to a few hours.
How to reduce single-use plastic
From July 3, 2021, the production and marketing of this single-use plastic is no longer permitted.
Plastic cutlery, plates, straws, glasses, food containers made of styrofoam, drink stirrers cotton swabs, balloon holders as well as any kind of product that decomposes into microplastics.
“And now what”, you wonder? Are you anxious? Are all these items really so valuable and useful in your daily life that they make you wonder how you will survive without them?
We need to change our habits now. We need to reduce the use of plastic in general and especially single-use plastic. Let’s keep Andros a paradise and stop this waste from polluting our land and sea.
Be a pioneer, invest in alternative and sustainable solutions. Simply reduce single-use plastic and choose reusable items for a cleaner and greener Andros!
Choose these items instead
A fabric, wicker or other reusable bags for your shopping
You will shop with your personal style
Food container and cutlery
For your lunch at work, on the beach or during hiking the paths of Andros
Stainless steel or glass water bottle
You can always fill it for free with Andros water.
A reusable food container
To store leftover food in the refrigerator/freezer
A glass with a straw or a reusable mug for your takeaway drinks
It will also maintain the temperature of your coffee better.
Multi-purpose straws
Multi-purpose metal straws or wheat and paper
Every small step will make a big change. Let’s go one step further by making choices that leave the smallest environmental footprint on our island. Choose products made of natural materials like wood or recyclable glass, metal or paper.
For example:
Wooden or metal pegs, hangers, food containers, toys and a lot of other items that are used for a short time.
Products in bulk and not packed in plastic. Glass bottles to get free water from Andros and not to buy bottled in plastic bottles.
- Where we recycle plastic
Do you want to help reduce waste? Do you dream of a cleaner and greener Andros?
- Find the nearest recycling bins and help recycle!
Andros, previously known as Hydroussa, is the greenest island of the Cyclades.
The geology and springs
Is spring water safe?
Tips
The geology and springs
Famous for its ravines and over 10 small rivers that flow all year round. The waters of Andros are unusual in the Cyclades. Andros is mountainous and has high rainfall rates. The most common rock is slate. This causes the “dew” phenomenon. High humidity in the higher altitudes helps water accumulate in the underground aquifers of Andros. This happens even in the months with less rainfall to fill our underground reserves.
Is spring water safe?
This is a good question. Andros spring water is tested by laboratories contracted by the Municipality and the District of Andros.
We have applied to the Municipality of Andros for the results. The plan is to share information about water quality on this website when we receive this data.
Tips for using spring water:
- Filtered water stations
There are filtered water stations provided by TEMAK, in the three urban centres of Andros and specifically in Gavrio, Batsi, and Korthi. These stations have a quality guarantee and each station displays the water quality test results
FAQ
What is plastic?
Plastic is a synthetic material derived from petrochemicals based on fossil fuels, such as natural gas or oil. Plastic does not degrade in the environment. It takes 450 years. Yes, 450 years.
Only a small percentage is recycled.
Where do plastics end up?
4.8 - 12.7 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year. In the Mediterranean, our sea, 1,455 tons of plastic just floats. (According to Greenpeace).
In Greece, 180,000 to 300,000 tons of plastic packaging is produced annually, only a small percentage is recycled.
The rest ends up in our landfills, cities and seas.
1,000,000 plastic coffee cups on average are served daily in Greece.
You have probably seen many cups and straws strewn around Andros and they eventually "swim" out into the sea of Andros.
How much does a disposable plastic bag cost?
Have you ever considered all the valuable resources and energy needed to make a plastic bag? Plastics are made from non-renewable resources, such as oil and gas. According to the environmental organization Clean Up Australia, it takes the same amount of oil to produce nine plastic bags as a car uses in for 1 kilometre.
All this energy, resources and money for an item that you only use once.
What happens to plastic?
Very little plastic is recycled. So what happens to it?
Plastic breaks into pieces. Over time, the sun and heat break it down further until it ends up as "microplastics".
Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments no larger than 5 mm. They are difficult to detect and are found almost everywhere...
In water, consumed by animals, found in our bodies through the food chain.
In the placenta of unborn babies.
In the Arctic Ocean and the North Pole and in the deepest part of the oceans.
Do these places seem too far away? Does it concern you?
Just take a look in the sand, where your kids are playing, next time you go to the beach.