Tag: #plastic pollution crisis

10 Things To Help Protect The Earth

  By , , , , , , , ,

10 Things You Can Do To Help Protect The Earth

The Oregon coast is a magical place but the damages of climate change are changing this place
10 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Protect The Earth

Editor’s Note: World Wildlife Fund recently published “10 Simple Things We Can Do To Help Protect The Earth.” WWF works to protect endangered species  and conserve their habitats. Time is running out for many beloved animal species. Please donate what you can to this fine organization. worldwildlife.org 

By D. S. Mitchell

1.) BYOB: In 2022, Americans went through an astonishing and astounding 50 billion plastic water bottles. Please, fill up a reusable water bottle at home and take it with you. IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE TASTE OF TAP WATER, BUY A FILTER. Remember that most of the bottled water you buy is just filtered tap water with a label.

2.) Paper Not Plastic: Take your bags with you to the grocery store. Taking your bags to the store when you go shopping can cut down on the 350 bags the average American uses each year. Reducing the number of bags will hopefully reduce the needless deaths  of marine life caused by plastic bags that end up in streams, rivers, and oceans.

3.) Safe Waste: Many items indiscriminately thrown in the trash contain contaminates that poison soil and water for thousands of years. Most communities have special procedures for disposing of items like used oil, batteries, ink cartridges, and paint cans. The new superefficient lightbulbs contain mercury, so they  require proper disposal. Many items can be recycled where they were purchased. Be sure to check with your merchant.

4.) Take A Walk: A 100 years ago nearly 99.9% of Americans got by without cars. They lived close to their work, they took the train, or the bus, and they walked. Using fuel efficient cars is a good thing, but we can save even more fuel by driving less, and walking more.

5.) Switch It Off: In much of America we can no longer see the stars, mostly due to all the electric lights. The lights are so bright they often confuse animals, such as hatchling turtles who are trying to make the ocean before before becoming breakfast for shore birds. It is fine to keep the lights on in the room you are in, but keep the rest of the house dark. Many find the dark to be calming.

6.) Layer Up: In the winter, instead of turning up the thermostat, add a sweater or a sweatshirt. A second layer of clothing will keep you warmer and also help conserve resources and reduce climate change.

7.) Plant A Tree: Planting a tree is good for the soil, good for the air we breathe, and helps in the fight against climate change.

8) Shut It Down: Catalogues are great if you buy the products advertised.  On the other hand, catalogues are a pain in the butt if you don’t buy the products. If you do not order from the company call them and tell them to unsubscribe you. That little gesture will probably save a tree.

9.) Second Time Around: Recycling isn’t just about separating cans and bottles. It can also mean rethinking an item’s use. That old bike might look great with a fresh coat of paint and a basket full of flowers sitting on your front porch. Or, that little bedside table might make a great  addition to your entry area, a place to drop your keys and the mail. Rethink, before you throw an item away.

10.) Support Activism: Please donate to organizations like Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and World Wildlife Fund that are carrying on valuable field work to save our planet and all that inhabit her.

EDITORIAL: Another Big Lie-Plastic Recycling

  By , , , ,

EDITORIAL:

ANOTHER BIG LIE-Plastic RecyclingRecycling is a big lie pushed by fossil fuel companies and consumer goods suppliers such as Amazon

EDITORIAL:

ANOTHER BIG LIE-Plastic Recycling

By D. S. Mitchell

When you see the familiar triangle with its chasing arrows on a product you’ve been programmed to think, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Well, folks its all a lie. My grandson told me recently on our weekly visit to the county recycling center I was wasting my time and other valuable resources (water rinsing out cans and bottles,) gasoline (driving to and from the distant recycling center) by participating in the big bamboozle.

“What?” I asked, momentarily stunned.

“The only reason I continue to do this with you is because I haven’t wanted to dash your delusions. I know you think you are doing something good, but it is all a scam, a myth devised in the 1970’s to trick consumers into believing that recycling was an actual, ‘see it work’ solution, for the explosion in single use plastics.”

“Where did you get your information?” I asked soberly.

“GREENPEACE,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

“Tell me more,” I said, relieved to hear he hadn’t been dragging the internet for ‘secret’ information.

Kyler, with a big smile, said, “I was doing a term paper on, what is really recyclable. While doing the research for the assignment I found out a lot about Plastic Resin Identification Codes and the truth about what actually might be recycled. Just because there is a symbol on the item does not translate to recyclable. The number inside the triangle tells the consumer what they need to know. When we get back to your place I’ll explain.”

Once back home, Kyler sat down with me at the dining room table and started talking truth about plastic’s big lie.

1: PETE or PET Polyethylene terephthalate: soda bottles, water bottles, polyester film, snowboards, boats, for food, jars, fibers for clothing.

2: HDPE or PEHD High-Density Polyethylene: detergent containers, plastic bottles, piping for water and sewer, snowboards, boats.

3: PVC or V- Polyvinyl Chloride: window frames, plumbing products, electrical cable insulation, clothing, medical tubing.

4: LDPE or PE-LD-Low-Density Polyethylene: shopping bags, plastic bags, clear food containers, disposable packaging.

5: PP-Polypropylene: laboratory equipment, automotive parts, medical devices, food containers.

6: PS-Polystyrene or Styrofoam: CD and DVD cases, packing peanuts, single-use disposable cutlery, trays.

7: O or N/A-Other: baby feeding bottles, car parts, water cooler bottles, sippy cups.

“Remember, Nana, the number inside the triangle tells you what you need to know, and targets the hard facts about plastic recycling, according to Greenpeace, “Most of the plastic items you are encouraged to wash, sort, and put in blue bins usually end up in landfills or incinerators, if not polluting the environment.”

At this point he handed me a piece of paper, “According to a Greenpeace comprehensive survey of plastics recyclability in the United States.

A.) Only some PET #1 and HDPE #2 plastic bottles and jugs can be legitimately labeled as recyclable in the U.S. today. (Note however that many full body shrink sleeves on PET #1 HDPE #2 bottles and jugs make them non-recyclable.)

B.) Common plastic pollution items, including single-use plastic food service and convenience products, cannot be legitimately claimed as recyclable in the U.S.

C.) Plastics #3-7 have negligible-to negative value and are effectively a category of products that municipal recycling programs may collect but do not actually recycle. Plastics #3-7 have waste collected in municipal systems across the country is being sent to landfills or incinerated.

Items for which reprocessing capacity is low to negligible and there is not a reasonable likelihood of recycling into new products include:

Plastic clamshells   (PET #1, PVC #3, PS #6) , plastic cups (PP #5 PS #6, other #7), plastic trays (PET #1, PP #5, other #7), plastic bags** (HDPE #2, LDPE #4), EPS plastic (foam) food containers (PS #6), plastic lids and caps (PP, #5, PS #6), plastic plates (PS #6), plastic cutlery, straws, and stirrers (PP #5 PS #6), plastic food wrappers and pouches (multiple types and layers of plastic).

After five decades of lies and misinformation from deceptive industry marketing, it is becoming more and more clear that we can’t recycle our way out of the plastics problem. It is evident that over 90% of plastic is not recycled. They can’t lie forever, it is becoming clear that we need real solutions to the plastic pollution crisis-and it is just that; a crisis. For the sake of our communities, our environment and our oceans we must take action. Greenpeace suggests we move away from single use plastics totally and completely. It is time to develop sustainable refill and reuse systems on a global scale. The future of our planet is at stake.