Resource Articles

The Truth About Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics

Plastic Packaging

AS You Sow developed metrics for determining how companies are meeting goals on plastic packaging. Fo example, has the company completed an assessment evaluating opportunities for transition to reusable or refillable packaging in the US.

Click below for PDF on full list of company packaging metrics.

Company plastic packaging

Plastic Resources

ZERO TRASH RECYCLING OPTIONS

Rotary film plastic recovery boxes – a valuable service to get film plastic (flexible that one can put a thumb through) sent to be reprocessed into Trex decking and furniture. This is mostly plastic bags and packing materials. They are around town at City halls, Library, B&C, and many other places. Look for a big white box with Rotary’s name on it. Safeway and SaveMart also collect film in their boxes.

Pact - All those beauty products you love? This packaging can’t be recycled through our WM curbside programs, which could mean they are headed for the trash. Good news — Pact can help change that! https://www.pactcollective.org/the-packaging-problem

The used product containers need to be dropped off. Currently, the only bin is at ULTA BEAUTY - ROCK CREEK PLAZA 2795 Bell Rd, Auburn.

Get your friends and neighbors together to make a box one of you can take to Auburn when you go there – and we go often enough. And it will make a DIFFERENCE. the

Terracycle – PLASTIC PACKAGING BOX to return plastics of any type! https://shop.terracycle.com/en-US/products/plastic-packaging-zero-waste-boxes They are a bit pricey but not that much on a monthly basis. The return shipping is included. Because you can push the material down a lot in the box, it holds a lot – so per month, it is not so expensive. They have 30% off sales often.

Personal experience – I reduced my trash to a small bag every week that I take to my neighbor’s bin (with permission)– so much of my trash was plastic before I got smart! And I have very little recycling too. So now I fill the Terracycle box once every 10-12 months. I actually save money.

RIDWELL – Mail in option coming soon to Nevada County for things like prescription bottles.. It costs some money but you can be certain what they take, they get reprocessed. Nothing on their website yet but - SIGN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR ME TO LET YOU KNOW. Or look up Ridwell online. In other areas, they do a pickup service (for a price) but not here.

Resource Links

Films/documentaries to see and share -

Plastic Wars about how the industry duped the public https://www.pbs.org/video/plastic-wars-8wxame/

The Story of Plastics - Animated short

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3SA4YyEYU

The Story of Solutions

Go to youtube - Story of solutions

Microplastics Madness - https://vimeo.com/316227795

The Last Straw - video for kids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S18cvIkvqJg

Bag it! Plastics story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km-CYcf2ags

Plastic free July 2022 talks by NCCAN, Waste Management,

ROTARY, SYRCL, and GAIA. https://youtu.be/CYUD0t5rrMc

Tips and actions for PLASTIC FREE LIFE

From Beth Terry’s book PLASTIC FREE

https://myplasticfreelife.com

Here are my top 100 steps to get started on a plastic-free journey. Choose a few to begin with. Don't try to do it all at once! Please explore, join a challenge, ask questions, subscribe. Together, we can change the world.

video clip YouTubes ABC short 2min personal story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-mwNWs0g60

Earth Day - These tips are EXCELLENT!

https://www.earthday.org/7-tips-to-recycle-better/

Deals a lot with plastics.

Plastics reduction challenge - 50 ideas

http://www.squidoo.com/reduceplastic#module13015519

Microplastics Madness documentary

https://vimeo.com/316227795

BEYOND PLASTICS Check out our these 10 simple solutions, switches, and strategies to help you embrace reuse. https://www.beyondplastics.org/actions/join-reuse-revolution

Upstream Solutions

https://upstreamsolutions.org/

They are leading the REUSE Revolution. Upstream has 8 "R's" to guide us towards regeneration: "Rethink- your choices, Refuse -single use, Reduce- consumption, Reuse- everything, Refurbish- old stuff, Repair-before replacing, Repurpose-and re-invent, and Recycle-as a last resort".

Start the Challenge DIET -

This diet identifies areas in garden, kitchen, household, bathroom, leisure and travel - revolving around tackling the concerns about plastic affecting human health, avoiding leakage of plastic into the environment and aiming for absolute reduction of plastic production. Fun site and easy to just look through the ideas to see what one or two really touch your life. Nurse Betty is a kick.

SOLUTIONS - A WINNING VIDEO to show everyone - I got some of my inspiration from this 10 minute fun video The Story of Solutions about game-changing solutions…

DISCERNMENT - Considerations of what to buy

- Go for the goal of NO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS – refuse and reduce – pledge a Plastics-free life - OR

-Look at the number of the plastic type on containers -

-#1-2 are usually recyclable most places – buy those if no alternative

-If #3-7, look for alternatives or ask - Can I make it? Do I need it?

-Is it made of recycled post-consumer material? That helps.

-Can you get the item you need in bulk? Save containers to REFILL

-Find a refill store nearby

-Can you take your own container to a deli or store to be filled? Try it!

-Can you REUSE the container?

-Can you get it in a paper box? With only one layer of plastic inside instead of two?

-Can you pack a lunch in reusable packets for snacks like cookies and crackers?

-If that plastic cannot be avoided and you really want it, write the producer to ask them to change the material. A small threat to stop buying the product helps their change of minds.

-Plastic bags, bubble wrap, shrink wrap – REFUSE or look for grocery store collection boxes

Remember – reduce demand to reduce the need to produce more

is number one action.

NEVADA COUNTY

CLIMATE ACTION NOW

Plastic Resources