Governments around the world are pushing for an end to plastic straws and bags. More and more businesses are turning to paper products as a choice. Paper is considered by many to be better than plastic. However, it is harmful to the environment, too.

Firstly, paper bags and straws are made from trees. Trees, as you know, can reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the air. They can slow down climate change. An increase in the use of paper bags can cause more deforestation.

Secondly, products made from paper require more energy and water. About 10% more energy than 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.

Furthermore, paper products are heavier than plastic ones. That means they require more oil 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 large amount of waste once the bags are thrown away.

Paper 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.

The most environment-friendly solution is to avoid single-use products 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 products, you can greatly reduce your throwaway waste and truly make our earth a greener place!

A new rubbish sorting system has been put into use in Beijing. Local people not only sort their rubbish, but also put QR codes（二维码）on it.

“When the rubbish is collected and the codes are seen, I will get reward points to exchange for small gifts and even some money,” a local people said. “It’s really creative and encouraging.”

This smart system has been carried out in 350 communities in Beijing. The capital of China has joined a list of cities in the country that take action to support rubbish sorting. For example, Shenzhen and Shanghai have made laws to punish for not sorting rubbish correctly.

China produces quite a lot of rubbish every year. Much of the rubbish is buried（填埋）in soil or burned without being sorted. Landfills（填埋场）take up a lot of land and have a risk of polluting the soil and water nearby. And burning rubbish can produce harmful gases. Through rubbish sorting, we can reduce the use of landfills and air pollution.

What’s more, rubbish soiling saves resources, which could bring economic benefits（利益）. For example, a ton of waste paper can be reused to make about 850kg of paper, saving 17 trees and 50 percent of water. Because of their benefits, some countries have developed successful sorting systems.

In Australia, every family is provided with three rubbish bins—the red lid（盖子）bin for “general waste” like food and plastic bags, the yellow lid bin for “recycling” like steel and glass, and the green lid bin for “green waste” such as grass and leaves. On the streets, the bins are printed with pictures of the things that are allowed inside. It makes recycling quite easy.

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Celebrated on April 22 each year, the Earth Day draws attention to the need to build a healthier planet. How can you help? Take the following actions.