Year round, Dear Summit is all about getting out and enjoying the wonders of nature, and sustainability is always a big part of that. But this month is the perfect time to put a little extra focus on the rising need to ditch the plastic we can so easily rely on.

Why is plastic such a big deal?

Plastic objects never truly biodegrade, but over time they do break down into tiny (toxic) plastic particles called microplastics. These particles are so tiny that they end up in the soil, waterways (such as your favorite river, lake, ocean, or local municipal tap water), the air, and even in our food. Yep. Our food. These tiny particles are like sponges to toxic substances in the environment, and then when tiny creatures mistake them for food, those particles and the toxins they carry compound as they work their way up the food chain… and eventually into the food we buy at the supermarket. Not to mention the countless birds, fish, whales, and other animals which die along the way as their stomachs fill with plastic trash instead of real food. (Learn more about the problems with microplastics here.)

So, yes, these tiny plastic bits are a big problem.

But what about recycling, you ask? Unfortunately…