Paper or Plastic? _______

①Governments around the world are bringing about an end to plastic straws and bags. More and more businesses are using paper products as an alternative (替代). Paper is considered by many to be better than plastic. However, it, too, is harmful to the environment.

②Firstly, paper bags and straws are made from trees. Trees, as you know, can reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere (大气层). They can slow down climate change. An increase in the use of paper bags can cause more deforestation.

③Secondly, the production of paper items requires more energy and water. About 10 percent more energy and four times as much water is used to produce a paper bag than a plastic one. You might say that we can use recycled paper to save that energy and water. This seems to be a good idea. However, it takes even more energy and water to go through the recycling process than to make a brand new paper bag. Products made from recycled paper are also often short-lived.

④Furthermore, paper products are heavier than plastic ones. That means they require more fuel to transport. Seven trucks are needed to transport two million paper bags, while only one truck is needed to transport the same number of plastic bags. The increased weight also leads to a larger amount of waste once the bags are thrown away.

⑤Paper products are actually a lose-lose for both the environment and businesses. They are more expensive than plastic products. A paper straw costs about 5 to 12 cents, while a plastic one usually costs only about 2 cents.

⑥The most environment-friendly solution is to avoid single-use items altogether. Products like glass water bottles and steel straws can be used over and over again. They are much better than either paper products or plastic products. Through increasing the use of these items, you can greatly reduce your throwaway waste and truly make our Earth a greener place!

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Today, it is very convenient to shop online. But what do you do with all the leftover (剩余的) cardboard boxes? Here’re some ideas for reusing them.

Bird feeders

Use a pair of scissors to cut out a square or circle in front of a cardboard box. Put some bird food inside of it. Make a hole on each side of the box. Run a string (绳子) through these two holes and hang the box from a tree. The birds will be excited about the free meal!

Plastic bag holders

Put some plastic bags into a pile (叠). Then place the pile in a cardboard box. Cut a hole in the box so you can pull out one bag at a time when you need it.

Weed (杂草) killers

Are you tired of pulling weeds in your yard? Place pieces of cardboard in areas where weeds grow. Then add some sand on top to cover these pieces. Cardboard can help prevent weeds from growing.

Artworks

You can use the boxes to make your own easels (画架), or even wall art. Cardboard can also be turned into beautiful party decorations. The possibilities are endless!

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