quadangles online

Maybe the waitress is a bit taken aback when he hands her the Tupperware container he brought for his restaurant leftovers, but Rainer Lohmann doesn’t care.

Lohmann, an associate professor of oceanography and director of the Lohmann Lab at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography, studies persistent organic pollutants in the world’s oceans, lakes, and atmosphere. But he is just as vigilant against inorganic pollutants. Each year, 300 million tons of plastics are produced worldwide—half for single use—and more than 8 million tons are dumped in the ocean. There is no good solution for plastic waste, so Lohmann just says no to disposable plastic every time he can. You can, too.

1. Carry your own bags for all purchases.

2. If you bring your lunch to work, keep metal utensils on hand.

3. Bring your food in a glass container; an old jar works well.

4. Get your take-out coffee in your own travel mug.

5. Never dine out without Tupperware. “The waitress may say ‘Oh, you brought your own, how good,’” Lohmann says. “It’s a little strange, but people know you are doing the right thing.”