During the 1940s and 50s, single-use items were just coming into vogue. Remember the advice given to Ben in “The Graduate?” Plastics? It was certainly taken seriously and now has become an almost insurmountable problem. The June 28 My Turn on reusable take-out containers is great [“It’s time for reusable take-out containers”]. But why wait for businesses to implement the practice on their own or worse, wait for government to pass yet another law. Do it yourself.

Bring a lidded container with you the next time you go to a restaurant and can’t finish that huge meal (keep some in your car so no excuses!). To the next church supper bring your own plate (consider too your own utensils), cuts down on trash and helps their budgets by not having to spend limited resources on single-use stuff. Potlucks, the same.

At work, why not keep a mug for beverages rather than use throw-aways. And consider keeping a hand towel in your desk drawer to dry your hands rather than use paper towels. (I actually carry one in my handbag while shopping, never know when Nature will call!)

And for the sake of our planet, please forgo plastic water bottles as much as possible and use a thermos bottle. Maybe bring a reusable coffee thermos to your favorite coffee shop and have them fill it instead of a throw-away (Distant hope to maybe do that with take-out food).

Now, admit it, it really wasn’t that hard to get used to bringing your own shopping bags, so it shouldn’t be that hard to do some, if not all, of these things. And when you do just listen to Mother Nature thanking you, or at least saying “it’s about time.”

Reenie Grybko Clancy

South Deerfield