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Recycling Refresher

Recycling Refresher

We have all recycled before. Most cities have programs that make it easy to help the planet when it comes to disposing of our trash. But like a lot of things in life we need to be reminded sometimes of the rules and that’s what I wanted to do today.

 

  

 

Over the years some things have changed when it comes to recycling and some rules get confused and start to become facts when they aren’t corrected. Here is a little refresher of what and how we can recycle in our own homes:

 

The three general guidelines are:

 

  1. Recycle all bottles, cans, paper

  2. Keep items relatively clean

  3. Don’t mix plastic bags in with the rest of your recycling

  

DO Recycle: any plastic bottles or containers, cereal or snack cardboard boxes, phonebooks magazines, mail, office paper, newspaper, tin/steel/aluminum cans, glass jars, glass containers, beer bottles, wine and liquor bottles.

 

  

 

DON”T Recycle: loose plastic bags, shopping bags, plastic wrap, egg cartons, take out containers, drinking cups, soiled food containers, soiled paper products, broken glass, fast food packing.

 

  

Good Luck!

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Straw-Less

Straw-Less

This week Starbucks announced a plan to stop using plastic straws as of 2020 in all of their locations. This has the potential of eliminating more than one billion plastic straws worldwide.

 

 

 

We’ve talked about plastic straws on the blog before and how they typically end up in landfills, making them something we all need to use less of. Hearing such a huge company like Starbucks giving them up brings hope to my heart.

 

 

 

The companies change of mind seems to have been started by a plastic straw ban in Seattle, their headquarters, earlier this year. Some stores have already started using adult sippy-cup-style lids in favor of straws. Plastic straws have become less and less eco-friendly as they’re hard to recycle and the ones that do make it into the recycling bins end up being sorted out because of size and weight.

 

 

 

Plastic straws take an average of 200 years to break down on this planet. Ending up in our landfills and most importantly our seas, harming sea life. This news made me think about what we can all do to use less plastic. A total overhaul can feel heavy, but small little changes are the key to making them last. Look for an easy change, maybe that’s bringing your own silverware with you or a glass/steel straw for all your iced beverages. 

 

 

Lets make a small change together and see how big an impact we can make.

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The Plastic Problem 

The Plastic Problem 

I’m back with another installment of let’s save the planet. I came across some very interesting yet a little more scientific facts on how plastics are effecting our planet and I want to share. The more we know the more motivated we are to make a change.

 

 

 

“One of the most ubiquitous and long-lasting recent changes to the surface of our planet is the accumulation and fragmentation of plastics,” explained David Barnes, a lead author and researcher for the British Antarctic Survey.

 

 

There is evidence mounting that the chemical building blocks that make plastics so virtual are the same comments that might harm people and the environment. Such as:

 

-Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies. Some of these have been found to alter hormones and have potential health effects.

-Plastic debris is laced with chemicals and get ingested by marine animals, which cannier or poison them.

-Floating plastic waste, can survive for thousands of years in water, can act as mini transportation devices for invasive species.

-Plastic buried deep in the landfills can leach chemicals in the groundwater.

 

 

 

Pretty heavy right? Think about what you can do today or this week to be less depended on plastics. Using a glass bottle at work, stop asking for plastic silverware when you don’t need them, using a glass or steel straw, bringing your own bags to the store, etc.

 

 

 

 

Till Next week,

 

 

 

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Plastic Ocean

Plastic Ocean

It's time again for a little lesson on some environmental issues that are close to my heart. As I mentioned a few weeks back I really want to use this blog as a platform to talk more openly about what is important to me. 

 

This week I want to talk about one-time use plastic forks, spoons and knives. I have talked to a lot of people that think plastic cutlery is recyclable and it’s not a problem but it is because not everyone recycling them. Here are some shocking statistics

 

-Food and beverage packaging make up 67 percent of all littler on the streets

-Plastic utensils rank among the top 10 most common trash items

-The ocean contains more than 8 million tons of plastic

 

    

 

Even the idea of making better utensils like biodegradable options made from potato starch aren’t gonna to solve this issue because they cost twice as much and require a lot of water and energy to produce. 

 

The one way to truly make a difference is to use real forks and knives. China started a BYOC campaign (Bring Your Own Chopsticks) and have seen a lot of improvements. We need to encourage everyone to bring their own utensils and eat at home more. Also let restaurants know when you don’t need plastic utensils so they don’t go to waste.

 

  

   

It won’t take much, we just need everyone on board and thinking about how to lessen the plastic waste our planet has.

 

  

 

 

Till Next Week,

 

 

 

 

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