Single-use plastic straws are harmful to the environment and are regularly in the list of the top 10 most littered items, according to Planet Ark.

"Plastic straws are not a necessity, and nowadays there are re-usable straws that you can purchase for a few dollars," Planet Ark recycling programs manager Ryan Collins said.

Newly-arrived Lonsdale Street business Bitten Goodfoods doesn't use plastic to serve food.

Co-owners Alex Howes and John Bruyn made a conscious decision to instead, use paper straws and takeaway cups and containers that are environmentally-friendly.

"Our values align with reducing waste, and we believe our customers values generally align with that as well," Ms Howes said.

"I believe it's a good business decision, not just a moral decision, to supply products that are sustainable because customers are trying to make conscious decisions behind what they buy."

Ms Howes said it really wasn't hard to find suppliers offering eco-friendly alternatives to plastic, but it did cost a little bit more to provide.

"Sometimes our prices are higher, but it's about placing your dollars behind your values. Our customers seem happy to spend that bit extra as well, knowing they're making sustainable decisions."

ACT Greens spokesman for waste Shane Rattenbury said Canberra vendors could "really lead the way" in this issue, particularly in relation to straws.

"Straws are a harmful and non-recyclable type of waste," Mr Rattenbury said.

"As a soft plastic, they don't break down, they end up polluting waterways and harming wildlife, and they're made using polluting fossil fuels."

"We'd love to see a 'straws suck' campaign led by our local vendors."

"We've seen good examples of this in other areas areas of waste, such as vendors promoting reuseable coffee cups."

Planet Ark's Mr Collins urged Canberrans to consider where that single-use plastic straw would end up.

"What will happen to that single-use straw after its useful life of twenty minutes?"

It will end up in the environment, most likely a waterway. Mr Collins said re-useable straws made from silicone, stainless steel, glass and bamboo were widely available to purchase - as were things to clean them.

He said there were plenty of ways to reduce waste and its impact on the environment, and what better time than the beginning of a new year to implement the changes.

The easy part is, your decision doesn't have to be a big change, it just has to be consistent.

Mr Collins said just doing one thing will help the planet, particularly our water resources.

"Ultimately, reducing our consumption of single-use plastic items will have the biggest impact on plastic pollution," he said.

"Thirty per cent of marine litter is plastic bottles, so the more people that use re-usable bottles, the less plastic will end up in our waterways and oceans."

Mr Collins said when people question whether they're making a difference, they should ask themselves one thing.

"It would be great if everybody asked themselves, 'am I adding to the problem or am I part of the solution'. As they say, be the change you want to see," he said.

Here are five more things to live without in 2018 - and what to replace them with - to help contribute to a healthier lifestyle and a sustainable planet.

Say no to over packaging, Mr Collins said, both with things you buy and gifts you give.

This one is timely with Christmas almost upon us. You could try replacing wrapping paper with pages of a newspaper or magazine you're finished with, or even better use a pillowcase or cloth.

At the supermarket, steer away from single-use packaged foods, and fruit and veg covered in plastic.

"These days you can purchase re-useable produce bags to take with you to the supermarket or green grocer and re-useable food wraps made from beeswax coated cloth or cotton/canvas when at home," Mr Collins said.

Single use batteries are bad for the environment and there are simple and affordable ways to avoid their use.

"Single use batteries use around 50 times more energy in their production than rechargeables," Mr Collins said.

Replacing them with rechargeables will mean a big saving in greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately climate change impacts on coral bleaching and ocean acidification, he said.

Canberrans know the drill on this one, being one of the jurisdictions that has banned the plastic bag. But go interstate - even just across the border to Queanbeyan - and you're likely to come across the temptation to use the light-weight plastic bags offered at the checkout. But keep this in mind...

"Australians use 4-5 billion plastic bags a year (usually for a matter of minutes) and 180 million bags enter the Australian environment," Mr Collins said.

180 million. Every year.

"It's time we took responsibility and really, it's only going to take a small change in behaviour, for example, leave re-usable bags in the car or in your work bag," he said.

It's a simple habit to get into. Take your own coffee cup, or take five minutes and sit down to drink your morning kick.

"This is a big one at the moment," Mr Collins said.

"Over one billion coffee cups are thrown away each year. Reusable ones can be plastic, glass, porcelain, or stainless steel."

And if you find the right cafe, you can even get a discount for bringing your own cup.

"Over a year, one person's use of reusable cup like a KeepCup reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 90 per cent compared to disposable cups," Mr Collins said.

"Giving up cheap synthetic clothing will help reduce the 22 million tonnes of plastic microfibres expected to be added to the ocean by 2050," Mr Collins said, according to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation.

"Virtually all clothing sheds fibres when washed so those that are synthetic get washed into our ocean.

"Natural fabrics or even clothing made from organic material is best," he said.

Planet Ark has a list of Christmas ideas here to help reduce waste this silly season.