Plastic is an important part of your life whether you realize it or not. The world today consumes 600 billion pounds of plastic per year, and this number is anticipated to grow. Since we use plastic so much, we should at least know a little bit more about it! Here are some must-read facts about plastic.

1) The most common form of plastic is polyethylene. This plastic is typically found in grocery bags and water bottles. In fact, it's estimated that more than 100 billion plastic grocery bags are used annually. The average person uses 290 bags per year, and these plastic bags are typically put into use for only 15 minutes.

2) Plastic is forever. Plastic does not decompose naturally, which is why recycling plastic is so important. Recycled plastics are given new life as bottles, fleece jackets, and fiber fillings, among other uses.

3) Plastics represent 13 percent of total solid waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that in 2012, the U.S. produced 32 million tons of plastic waste. Of that 32 million tons, only nine percent was sent to be recycled.

20 Things You Didn't Know About… Plastic [Discover]
Plastics [EPA]
Plastic Facts [Kids Go Green]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Quinn Dombrowski

Did you know that lemons work as a natural disinfectant, a stain remover, a polish for metals, and so much more? Try these simple cleaning tips using the power of citrus!

• Scrub your dirty dishes or plastic containers with a recently juiced lemon and a little bit of coarse salt to remove any stains or smells. This also works for wooden cutting boards.
• Rub some lemon juice on a sponge and leave it in your refrigerator for several hours to remove any odors.
• Give your microwave a good cleaning by mixing three tablespoons of lemon juice and one and a half cups of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl into your microwave and put it on high for five to ten minutes. Then just wipe away any remaining spots with a dishrag.
• Make your own eco-friendly household cleaner with citrus peels and white vinegar. Simply place citrus peels in a glass mason jar, then pour enough vinegar over top to cover the peels. Let the mixture infuse for two weeks, then strain out the vinegar into a spray bottle!

Cleaning With Lemon Juice [DIY Network]
10 Clever Ways to Clean With a Lemon [The Kitchn]
34 Useful Reasons to Load Up On Lemons [Reader’s Digest]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Growing a Green Family

If you’re a vegetarian, Balaji Café is the place to go near BLVD l Loudoun Station for fresh, healthy Indian cuisine. This meat-free eatery serves all of the usual Indian favorites, including vegetable Manchurian, dosas, vegetable fried rice, and many other dishes. For those with less spicy tastes, there are even veggie burgers and other American dishes. Mango lassis and masala chai teas make delicious drinks to wash it all down, and you'll find traditional Indian desserts to finish the meal.

Everything is made fresh and custom to order, and if you’re in a hurry, the friendly employees will happily package your food up to go. Inside, Balaji Café is clean and modern, with a few wooden dining tables where you can enjoy lunch or dinner.

Balaji Café is open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Balaji Café
298 Sunset Park Drive
Herndon, VA 20170
(703) 437-1267
www.balajicafe.com

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr divya_