Mind Your Plastic May

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5/29/2020

Thank you for participating in Mind Your Plastic May! We hope that the information shared here will inspire you to reduce plastic in your life where you can. Please consider following us on social media to stay up to date with waste reduction content like this, and more about GreenWorks' programming.

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Giving Plastic-Free Gifts

5/27/2020

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By Ghia Ulrey

Choosing the perfect gift can be a challenging task. Making sure the gift is environmentally-conscious and plastic-free may seem even more challenging. In this post, we hope to inspire you to give thoughtful, fantastic gifts while decreasing your overall environmental impact.

Read below to explore the many ways to give a gift!

Give the gift of experience: Most people have a hobby they enjoy, whether it’s going to concerts, making art, or playing sports. This year, instead of buying them another paintbrush or basketball, look for tickets to an event or a class to learn a new skill. Make it something you can do together because they are more likely to remember the experience you’ve facilitated than an item that you bought.
Make it edible: The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. Prepare a favorite dish or treat and bring it over in a reusable container to avoid plastic packaging. If you’re not the best cook, purchase a gift card to their favorite restaurant, bar, coffee shop, etc. Try to avoid the plastic card with an email gift card or a paper one if the shop provides. You could also pick up something tasty from a local shop. Ask in advance if they would be willing to put it into your own container so you can be prepared. If not, ask for it on their dine-in dishes and transfer it to your own container.

During the time of COVID-19, most businesses are not accepting reusables. Don’t let this stop you from supporting your local businesses! Reducing our plastic waste is important, but in the scheme of things supporting our local community makes a big impact, too.
Be intentional and purchase quality: Ever received a gift you didn’t want? What happened to it? Instead of getting someone a gift that is going to end up in a thrift store or the landfill, talk to your friend or family member about what they really need or want. When you find the perfect gift but realize it is made from plastic, search the internet for the same gift made with better quality materials (i.e. glass, stainless steel, wood). If you’re buying clothes, opt for natural fibers like cotton, wool, and silk. Polyester, acrylic, nylon, and more are synthetic fibers that shed microplastics when washed.
Alternative wrapping: Most wrapping paper can’t be recycled due to dyes, lamination, or other additives. Check with your local recycling organization before throwing it in your bin. In Buncombe County, Curbie does not accept wrapping paper.

Instead, you could try these low-waste alternatives: brown paper, newspaper, and fabric. If these are too plain, decorate them yourself with paints or stamps! Swap your scotch tape for paper tape or avoid tape completely by using the furoshiki method, a Japanese wrapping technique that uses only fabric to elegantly wrap a gift. Skip bows and ribbons for a sprig of their favorite herb or a flower. The receiver will hopefully take a bit longer to cherish your thoughtfulness before getting to what is inside.

Ghia Ulrey lives a low waste life with her rescue pup, Yama. She cares about plastic reduction because she really wants to go to the beach and not have to collect trash. With her TRUE Advisor certification, she hopes she can help businesses start zero waste programs.

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Plastic-Free Crafting with Kids

5/27/2020

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By Megan Travi

Crafting with kids has become a plastic-filled nightmare. Glitter, foam, googly-eyes, beads, pipe cleaners… So. Much. Plastic. If you’re like me, many of these precious works of art spend a few days affixed to your refrigerator door, then end up in the trash. What a waste!

It may be hard to control what happens in schools and daycares, but I’m here to inspire some plastic-free craft ideas you can easily do at home. First, let’s talk about procuring your materials. You likely have an abundance of craft supplies in and around your home!

Collecting Your Art Supplies

In your yard: Leaves, flowers, twigs, acorns, maple “helicopters,” pine cones, grass, moss or lichen (on the ground), and rocks can all be excellent materials for any art project.

**Bonus -- collecting these items can be an activity all on its own. Go on a scavenger hunt to see how many different colors, shapes, (really any variations you can think of) you can find. Just grab a basket and start exploring!

In your pantry: Dried beans, legumes, rice, pasta, cereal, popcorn, marshmallows.

In your recycling container or trash: toilet paper/paper towel rolls, egg cartons, yogurt containers, empty jars, brown paper bags, newspaper, and cardboard.

Now that you’ve got your supplies, here are a few DIY projects to substitute store-bought materials, further diminishing your craft-related environmental footprint.

Homemade Craft Supplies

Glue: Simply whisk together 1 cup flour, 1 ½ cup water, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp vinegar.

Paint: You can use almost anything as a base for non-toxic, edible paint. Yogurt, sweetened condensed milk, or coconut milk (the thicker style that comes in a can -- just be sure to shake it vigorously before opening). Or if you’d like to use a paint recipe that’s a little less “appetizing,” combine 1 cup salt and 1 cup flour, slowly mix in 1 cup COLD water, and add in the desired amount of food coloring. Pour into a container with a lid, shake before use.

**Pro-tip -- save those empty squeeze bottles (ketchup, mustard, sriracha, etc) to increase ease of use and storage. Need a paint tray? Squirt small amounts of the different colors into an empty egg carton!

Food Coloring: While many folks probably have store-bought food coloring on hand, you likely also have many items in your pantry or refrigerator that can be substituted. Some families also prefer not to use store-bought food coloring due to the concern for artificial dyes and preservatives. Check out this link to this blogger’s recipe for creating pink, yellow, purple, and green food coloring using items such as beets, turmeric, spinach, and blueberries. Making each one takes about 5 minutes, minus cooling times for some of the recipes.

Glitter: Homemade glitter could not be any easier! It won’t have the shimmer and shine of store-bought, but remember -- glitter is essentially tiny shards of plastic. Simply mix a small amount of salt (table or rock salt both work - the finer the salt, the finer the finished product) with a few drops of food coloring of your choice and dry it out for 10-15 mins in a low oven. You can make a range of colors and textures for your kids to experiment with, and it’s SO much easier to clean up!

Playdough: There are so many recipes online for making your own playdough! The best results are those with cream of tartar, which helps to make the dough extra-smooth and pliable, but you don’t have to. Follow TinkerLab’s recipe here, or search for other recipes online.

Now that you are inspired and equipped to ditch the plastic from your kids crafting repertoire, here are a few fun examples using the above materials. We’ve curated some of the best, but a quick online search will lead to many more. So check these out and happy crafting!

Craft Ideas

5 zero-waste craft ideas the kids and the planet will love - includes paper mache, colorful food art, DIY containers, DIY wrapping paper, and leaf painting.
20+ Nature Crafts for Kids - includes a variety of crafts for kids of all ages, including a maple-seed dragonfly!
Mandala Art for Kids - make mandalas using leaves, flowers, colored pasta, or anything else you can find! Includes links to designs to get your creative juices flowing.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Nature Craft - This classic book and its beloved imagery by Eric Carle can be turned into an activity that brings to life the hungry caterpillar and some of the food it eats on its journey to becoming a butterfly.

Megan is the Development Associate for Asheville GreenWorks. She was born an environmentalist and continually strives to pass on her love of nature and passion for environmental stewardship on to Amos and Hazel, her wild and wonderful 5yo twins.

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Throwing a Plastic-Free Children's Birthday Party

5/26/2020

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By Marcia Schroeder

There is mounting pressure to have goodie bags, colorful plastic plates and cups, and a room full of balloons at your child’s birthday party. But with a little planning and resourcefulness, your plastic-free party can be lovely, as well as educational for children. Here are a few tips for hosting an excellent, educational party:

Bring the kids on board for planning. They are receptive to anything that helps animals and our planet.
Send invitations by Facebook or Evite.
Switch from plastic to your everyday dishes and cutlery. There is more cleanup, but zero waste means less cleanup for the planet.
Use fabric tablecloth and napkins. If you don’t have a tablecloth, repurpose a colorful old sheet.
Say “No!” to plastic straws, balloons, and glitter - which is made from thousands of pieces of plastic.
Plan plastic-free activities like musical chairs, mini-Olympics, Mother May I, and Red Rover.
Make your own DIY bubble solution. Instead of plastic wands, you can use embroidery hoops or make loops of pipe cleaner or a wire hanger. Then have a contest to make the biggest or weirdest bubbles.
For goodie bags, use paper gift bags and fill with birdseed, chalk, homemade play dough, or edible treats. Part of your guests’ take-home loot could be recycled flower pots with potting soil planted with carrot tops.

Depending on the age and desires of your child, you might suggest guests contribute to a local charity (e.g. Asheville GreenWorks, a pet rescue center, animal shelter, or Make a Wish Foundation) instead of purchasing new toys. If gifts are a necessity for a harmonious and happy birthday party, here are a few tips to give your guests:

Select items with minimal packaging or bring something gently used.
Gift non-plastic toys wrapped in child’s art, the funny pages, or decorated with leaves and flowers.
Give creative gifts like a butterfly garden or modeling clay or ticket to an event.

You might also suggest guests bring a shelf-stable food item for a local food pantry or a pet toy to donate to the shelter. This type of giving fosters community awareness and responsibility in your child.

Planning a plastic-free, zero-waste birthday party might take a little more time, but making it fun and educational will result in an excellent party and learning opportunity for all the children and adults.

“As an avid biker and hiker, I have become more passionate about protecting our planet. Working with Asheville GreenWorks has introduced me to a new level of commitment and activism in our community.” Marcia is a member of the Plastic Reduction Task Force.

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A Review of 'Join the No-Plastic Challenge: A First Book of Reducing Waste'

5/25/2020

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By Mary Moody

By Mary Moody

The Crosby, Stills, & Nash lyrics, “teach your children well,” came to mind when I purchased Join the No-Plastic Challenge by Scot Ritchie. Our children will inherit this earth, and we need to do everything we can to teach them that Earth is our home and deserves our protection.

This illustrated book for children uses cartoons to explain how plastics are made, the good uses for plastic, and the harm caused by single-use plastics. The book’s birthday party theme illustrates simple changes we can make to reduce plastic waste. For example, in the book, the children remember to bring their own water bottle, help their parents to remember reusable bags when shopping, and politely say, “No, thank you!” to straws and lids at restaurants.

This book strives to educate children about the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.
It teaches children how the 3 Rs help to protect our wildlife and our food sources. Readers are also challenged to go a day without using any single-use plastics and to leave each place they visit cleaner than when they arrived. This book may seem redundant to families already making plastic reduction a priority. However, other families might be inspired to reduce their plastic usage by practicing the thoughtful examples explained by Scot Ritchie. Adults can gain perspective as they teach their children about building a better world. And no time is better than childhood for learning the importance of the 3 Rs!

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Plastic Wave: The Effect of Microplastics on our Planet

5/22/2020

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By Mickey Snowdon, Communications Liaison for The Collider.

We are all living in plastic. Most of it is obvious—food packaging, takeout bags and containers, polyester clothing—but there’s an alarming amount that we can’t easily see. These tiny particles are called microplastics.

According to NOAA, microplastics are less than five millimeters long, roughly the size of a sesame seed. Microplastics may be the most ubiquitous pollutant on Earth. According to Dr. David Hastings, a recently retired professor of marine science at Eckerd College and the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, “Wherever we look, we find microplastics, whether it’s in the Arctic or the deepest ocean trench. They’re even in salt and beer.” These particles primarily stem from the production of plastics, lint from synthetic clothing, bath and body products, and from the degradation of larger pieces of plastic over time.

Microplastics range in size from that of a grain of sand to something that can’t even be seen under a microscope (these are known as nanoparticles). One common form of microplastics are microbeads—tiny pieces of plastic less than a millimeter thick that are added to bath products such as face washes, soaps, and toothpaste as an exfoliant. According to an article published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, microbeads are persistent, toxic, and they bioaccumulate, meaning they are passed through the food chain.

Microplastics are unwittingly flushed down toilets and washed down drains every day. Too small to be filtered by wastewater treatment plants, they enter streams and rivers which carry them into oceans. They also infiltrate open land and fields in the form of sludge when the organic byproducts of wastewater treatment plants are applied to crops as fertilizer. Former President Obama created the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 which outlawed microbeads, but Hastings speculates that many of these products still remain on store shelves throughout the world.

The impacts of microplastics on aquatic life begin with filter-feeding organisms, such as barnacles, clams, whales, mussels, sponges, and crabs, that filter water to feed. We’re not talking about just a little bit of water, either; one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day to feed itself. Hastings explains that while 50 gallons of water would normally contain quite a bit of plankton for the oyster to eat, it will get a false sense of being full if it consumes a substantial amount of plastic from the water.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—chemicals that don’t easily break down, such as PCBs, DDT, and dioxins—stick to the surface of microplastics, a process known as adsorption. When a filter-feeder or a fish consumes one of these contaminated plastics, the chemicals can desorb from the plastic and become stored in the organism’s fatty tissue. As fish eat other fish, these POPs concentrate as they move through the food chain, a process called biomagnification. One Environmental Health Perspectives article posits that these chemicals may even make their way into humans when we eat contaminated seafood.

Hastings says that marine scientists are interested in how quickly microplastics are egested out of an aquatic organism after they’ve been ingested. “If it goes in and out quickly, there will be less of an impact,” he says. But if that piece of plastic can’t be removed from an organism, Hastings says it can block its digestive tract. “It’s hard to tell what the impact of that is on the organism, but it can’t be good,” he explains. A Scientific American article posits that microplastics typically don’t just pass through the digestive systems of organisms, but rather rub up against internal organs, causing inflammation. In some cases, they can even pass into the bloodstream or other organs.

While Hastings says that there isn’t enough evidence to support the claim that microplastics could be contributing to warmer ocean temperatures, he cites a study conducted by Florida State University that examined the effects of microplastics on sea turtle hatchlings. When loggerhead sea turtles lay eggs, the temperature of the sand determines their sex. The study found that since plastics retain more heat than sand, an increase in microplastics in sea turtle beach nests could result in higher nest temperatures, thus influencing the turtles’ sex. Hastings points out that increased overall temperatures from climate change could exacerbate the heat retained by microplastics.

Plastic production has been on the rise since the 1950s and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. As Finn Digman points out in his inaugural Mind Your Plastic post, the Plastic Industry Association is actually pushing for an increase in single-use plastic bags to fight the spread of the Coronavirus, a point that Digman says is illogical. The US is responsible for discarding over 100 billion plastic bags a year—the equivalent of throwing away 12 million gallons of oil. Hastings points out that as our country begins to decrease our overall consumption of oil and other petroleum products, there’s a perceived need to find a new market for petroleum-based products. “Increasing our production of plastics will provide the excuse to continue to extract petroleum,” he says.

So what’s the one thing we should all do to reduce our plastic footprint?

According to Hastings, we need to be better about how we deal with garbage as a society. Less than nine percent of plastics are recycled in the US, which means that nearly all plastics are sent to landfills. Plastics are incredibly durable and do not biodegrade, making it easy for them to travel throughout ecosystems. Plastic bags easily get blown around the world, ending up in the farthest-reaching corners of the planet. Hastings says that reducing the production and usage of single-use plastics needs to be our primary focus. I propose the well-established “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” model be modified to begin with “Refuse,” because the first step we can take to reduce plastic production is to refuse it at the consumer end.

Mickey Snowdon is Communications Liaison at The Collider and a recent graduate of the Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences program at UNC Asheville. He is passionate about reducing plastic waste so that future generations can inherit a cleaner and healthier planet.

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Himalayan Salt Deoderant

5/21/2020

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By Leslie Hayes

You may be interested in switching to a natural deodorant for many reasons. You may be trying to avoid plastic packaging; maybe you’re concerned about aluminum or other chemicals in commercially available antiperspirants. Perhaps, you just have really sensitive skin.

Many people turn to DIY deodorant preparations, almost all of which contain baking soda. However, baking soda is a base with a significantly higher pH level than our skin. Using baking soda-based deodorants often results in a rash — sometimes first appearing after several weeks of use — which makes your armpits feel like they are on fire. If you can tolerate deodorants made with baking soda, great. If not, read on for a simpler solution.

A Himalayan salt deodorant bar/stone is usually sold as a round or egg-shaped chunk of pure Himalayan salt. It is as easy to use as crystal deodorant (alum stone), while avoiding any concerns about aluminum salts. You simply get the bar wet and then rub it onto your skin. Avoid painful scratches by rubbing the wet bar on your hands first, then rubbing your wet hands on the more delicate skin of your armpits. You are left with a layer of salt on your skin that prevents odor-causing bacteria from forming. When I first heard about using salt as deodorant, I did not believe there was any chance it could be effective. But in my experience, it holds up to sweaty workouts and lasts all day. It works better for me than any other natural deodorant I have tried. Note that this is not an antiperspirant; you will still sweat, the salt stone just eliminates the odor.

Some additional advantages of salt deodorant:

Inexpensive — one bar lasts 1-2 years
Convenient — no concoction to mix yourself
Great for travel
No suspicious ingredients, just pure salt
- it’s anti-inflammatory and may even help with eczema, acne, or psoriasis
100% zero waste: available package-free at Asheville Salt Cave (or search “Himalayan salt deodorant” on Etsy or Amazon)
It’s beautiful!

Whatever reason you choose for switching to Himalayan salt deodorant, you are likely to pleasantly surprised. In the spirit of Mind Your Plastic May, why not give this all-natural alternative a try?

Leslie lives in Asheville with her husband, David, and son, Lee. She is always looking for ways to approach zero waste, especially with respect to plastic. She is a member of the Plastic Reduction Task Force.

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The Many Uses for Soap Nuts

5/20/2020

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By Leslie Hayes

Soap nuts (which are actually berries, not nuts) come from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree and grow mainly in India. They are known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties and are used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff.

Soap nuts contain saponin, a natural surfactant, and produce a sudsy lather when mixed with water. They can replace just about any household cleaner, soap, or detergent including:

laundry detergent
dishwashing or hand soap
dishwasher detergent
all-purpose cleaner
glass cleaner
shampoo
face and body wash
shaving cream
jewelry cleaner
natural pesticide for plants
mosquito repellant

In this post, I will mainly focus on using soap nuts as a replacement for laundry and dishwasher detergents. It’s easy to find details for other uses of soap nuts online.

There are two main ways to use soap nuts for your laundry: whole soap nuts or soap nuts liquid. Either way, the cost comes out to about five cents per load.

Whole Soap Nuts

I find the whole soap nuts method works best for me. All you need to do is place five soap nuts in a small drawstring bag (often included when you purchase soap nuts), and throw it in the washing machine along with your clothes. After your laundry is done, hang the bag with the soap nuts somewhere to dry. Avoid putting soap nuts in the dryer because the heat reduces the number of times you can reuse them. I reuse the soap nuts for a total of five loads of laundry.

Having to fish out the soap nuts bag in a load of wet laundry is admittedly the most frustrating part of this process. I find it helps to remind myself how much time I save by not having to mess around with measuring out laundry soap at the start of each load.

Soap nuts are said to work best in warm or hot water. However, I wash almost everything in cold water, and my clothes always come out clean and fresh-smelling. You can activate the soap nuts by putting them in a cup of hot water for a few minutes, then pouring the hot water and soap nuts into the washer.

You may find it helpful to keep track of how many loads you have used your soap nuts so you know when to replace them. For example, you could hang 5 nails in a row to hang your drawstring bag from, moving it along one nail at a time after each load. When you come to the 5th nail, you know it’s time to get out some fresh soap nuts.

You can test to see if the soap nuts have some life left in them by putting the bag in warm water and squeezing it to see if they still produce any suds. If not, compost them! I find after 5 uses my soap nuts still have enough cleaning power to make soap nuts liquid which I then use in place of dishwasher detergent.

Soap Nuts Liquid

To make a liquid soap nuts solution, boil about 15 soap nuts in 6 cups of water for one hour and then strain. The resulting liquid can then be used for laundry (3-4 tablespoons per load), in your dishwasher (just fill up the dispenser), as shampoo, body wash, etc.

Soap nuts liquid is perishable. You can store it at room temperature for 2 weeks or refrigerate it for about 5 weeks.

Where to Buy Soap Nuts

In the Asheville area, you can buy soap nuts from the locally owned shecology (see their website for a list of vendors). They are also easy to find online (try Etsy or Amazon).

Leslie lives in Asheville with her husband, David, and son, Lee. She is always looking for ways to approach zero waste, especially with respect to plastic.

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Creating Household Cleaners at Home

5/19/2020

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By Krista Stearns

Last year, I embarked on a journey to reduce the use of plastic in my home, one of the only places in the world I can control (with the exception of my two teenage daughters).

I realized the most common plastic containers I regularly purchased were health and beauty products and household cleaning supplies. After many failed attempts at creating homemade shampoo and conditioner, I concluded the refill strategy is the best solution. Luckily, we have multiple retailers that provide a good selection of refillable products, though unfortunately, that is not available now because of COVID-related bulk precautions.

I did have success creating a fun styling gel for curly hair made primarily from flax seeds that I am particularly proud of. I am still working through deodorant and lotion concoctions but have not yet found any that I am crazy about. I am also researching homemade toothpaste recipes and look forward to fun future experiments.

There is a wealth of recipes for DIY all-natural, non-toxic household products on the internet from sites like humbledhomemaker, everydaycheapskate, and mommypotomus. My strategy is to find recipes with a few simple ingredients, ones you can already find around your house. Most of these ingredients are packaged sustainably, or at least available in refillable or large sizes. After many attempts and failures, I’m ready to share my favorite recipes and an essential list of ingredients:

The essentials

Super Washing Soda (sodium carbonate)
Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate)
Coarse Salt
Castille Bar Soap
Castille Liquid Soap
Lemon Juice
Vinegar
Your Favorite Essential Oils

Both Super Washing Soda and Baking Soda come in 3-4lb boxes, which can be purchased from stores like Lowes and Walmart or ordered online. There are bulk deals online for most of these ingredients as well. However, one must be careful about the packaging associated with online shipments.

Dr. Bronners Liquid Castille Soap is available as a bulk refillable in most natural foods stores. I am a big fan of Dr. Bronners Sal Suds; it is better for cleaning hard surfaces such as dishes. Luckily, our own fabulous, local French Broad Food Co-op sells this as a bulk refillable. It also makes a great all-purpose spray and mop solution. My other recommendations for all-natural household cleaners include your favorite combination of vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda as well as the dish liquid below.

Without further ado, here are my favorite tried-and-tested recipes:

Dish Liquid:
1TBS Salt kosher or table
2 cups hot water
⅔ cup liquid Castille soap or Dr. Bronners Sal Suds
1 Tbs washing soda
⅛ tsp tea tree oil, lavender, or citrus essential oil
In a small pot heat a few TBS water and salt until dissolved. Pour into separate container. Combine the washing soda and 2 cups water to the pot and heat until dissolved. Add the sal suds and essential oil to the pot and pour into the jar or dispenser. Add saltwater mixture and shake. It will foam and thicken (you can add more for thicker soap).

Dishwasher soap cubes:
1 cup washing soda
1 cup Kosher salt
1 cup baking soda
¾ cup lemon juice
Measure all dry ingredients into a bowl and stir to combine. Then add the lemon juice. Let the ingredients foam for a minute. Mix all together and press into molds that will fit in your dishwasher. Peanut butter cup molds and ice cube trays work well. Allow tablets to harden completely overnight.

Laundry detergent:
1 bar Castille soap,
1 cup washing soda,
1 cup baking soda,
1 cup Kosher salt.
Grate Castille soap in a food processor, then add in the other ingredients. Make sure to cover the top, so you don’t inhale the particulate. A ¼ cup scoop is perfect for a top loader machine.

Please share your favorite DIY recipes, I would love to hear about your successes!

Krista Stearns is a longtime member of the West Asheville business community as well as a passionate environmentalist grateful for the privilege of helping to coordinate the GreenWorks Plastic Reduction Task Force.

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Protect Each Other With Homemade Masks

5/18/2020

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By Finn Digman

This week on Asheville GreenWorks’ Mind Your Plastic May Blog, we will discuss going plastic-free in your personal and home hygiene routines. This week’s posts will touch on crafting home cleaning solutions, buying plastic-free deodorant, and how microplastics end up in your wash.

Today, we are diving into a topic close at hand: masks.

The COVID-19 pandemic gives us cause to seriously consider our interactions with other people. As Phase 1 unfolds in North Carolina, gatherings of up to 10 people in open-air settings are allowed, retailers can be open to 50% capacity, and residents can leave home for some commercial activity. All this interaction means the risk of exposure is much greater.
This month, we have discussed how good hygiene can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. By thoroughly cleaning your reusable bags, washing your hands, and practicing good home hygiene, you are less likely to spread or contract the virus.
COVID-19 is transmitted primarily through the air. When a person coughs, sneezes, or breathes, those respiratory droplets remain airborne. The droplets can then be inhaled by a friend or passerby. The cloud of airborne droplets each of us naturally creates spans, in general, about 6 feet. When those droplets are infected with COVID-19, the people closest to us are the most at risk.

So, how do we protect our neighbors and loved ones?

There are two easy steps:

First, practice social distancing! During Phase 1 of North Carolina’s reopening, most commercial businesses are still closed, teleworking is encouraged, and staying home is considered the least risky action. If you do go out to buy groceries or grab take-out from your favorite restaurant, actively maintain a distance of 6 feet from the people around you.

Second, wear a mask! Masks greatly reduce the spread of a COVID-19. Wear masks in areas where community transmission is likely. This means gas stations, grocery stores, and other heavily-trafficked areas.

Take these two steps not only to protect yourself but our whole society. Stay 6 feet away and wear your mask for survivors of cancer, pregnant people, those with HIV or other immunocompromising diseases, the elderly and the young.

At Asheville GreenWorks, we believe in responsibility and compassion. You have the option to protect the people in our town by practicing these steps. Be responsible, be compassionate, and be safe.

We know you will do the right thing, and we want to help! So, read below for tips on creating your own masks at home.
Why make a mask at home? Over the past 2 months, we have seen a major uptick in disposable masks littering our roadside and rivers. Disposable masks are in short supply and are needed by healthcare and essential industry workers more than anyone. Plus, making your own masks gives you the opportunity to add some style to your COVID wardrobe.

Pictured above: Cleo Conk, a local mask maker, custom jeweler, and drag performer, shares her beautifully bedazzled mask. @total_cliche on Instagram

Making a mask at home is surprisingly easy. You can make versions of a mask with little or no sewing, or you can use a sewing machine to create a more structured piece. Once you get the hang of it, you can share masks with your family and friends (while practicing appropriate social distancing). Read below for 2 CDC recommended mask designs you can craft at home!

Homemade No-Sew T-Shirt Mask
Materials Needed:

Scissors
T-Shirt

3 Steps:

Home Sewn Face Mask
Materials Needed:

Two 10”x6” rectangles of cotton fabric
Two 6” pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, string, cloth strips, or hair ties)
Needle and thread (or bobby pin)
Scissors
Sewing machine

4 Steps:
1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric. Use tightly woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in a pinch. Stack the two rectangles; you will sew the mask as if it was a single piece of fabric.

2. Fold over the long sides ¼ inch and hem. Then fold the double layer of fabric over ½ inch along the short sides and stitch down.

3. Run a 6-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic through the wider hem on each side of the mask. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle or a bobby pin to thread it through. Tie the ends tight. Don’t have elastic? Use hair ties or elastic head bands. If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the mask behind your head.

4. Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the mask on the elastic and adjust so the mask fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping.

Remember: Wearing a mask is only effective if you use it correctly. Follow these steps to stay safe while donning, wearing, and doffing your mask.

Only touch the ear loops when putting on a mask
Avoid touching the front of the mask or your face
Wear your mask above your nose
If possible, wear glasses to protect your eyes
When removing your mask, use the ear loops to remove
Place your mask on a clean tissue or paper towel face down
Wash and dry your homemade mask daily. The heat of your dryer helps to disinfect your mask. If you wear a surgical mask, wear a new one daily

Your mask should fit snuggly, include multiple layers of fabric, and allow for unrestricted breathing. Follow this link to read more from the CDC’s website.
It is always a good idea to wear masks when sick. Keep this in mind when the COVID-19 pandemic is far behind us. You can protect your loved ones and mine by practicing social responsibility daily- even when state, federal, and global guidelines do not necessitate your action as they do today. So, find your favorite fabric and craft a mask to keep for years to come. And most importantly, be safe out there.

Finn Digman is an avid environmentalist and outdoorsman. As the Waste Reduction Education Coordinator for Asheville GreenWorks, he is committed to disseminating waste reduction information to protect and preserve our communities.

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