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ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS
  • Home
  • Programs
    • Rivers & Roads >
      • Adopt-a-Street
      • Clean Streams Day
      • Trash Trout
      • WNC Big Sweep
    • Education
    • Urban Forestry >
      • Adopt-a-Spot
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        • Native Pollinator Plants and Nurseries
        • Pollination Celebration
      • Food Tree Project
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We are drowning in plastic.

From beauty products to grocery bags to water bottles to our daily cup of coffee, plastic is present in every aspect of our lives. Most of these items are designed to be used once and thrown away, usually heading to the landfill.

Some of the plastic that we think can be recycled, like drink lids, straws and utensils, end up in the landfill because they're either too difficult to recycle or there's no market for the end products. Even recyclable plastic such as water bottles are becoming harder to recycle.

The most effective approach to reducing our plastic waste is to REFUSE, REDUCE, and REUSE.

In January 2019, GreenWorks spearheaded the creation of the Plastics Reduction Task Force -- a group of motivated volunteers dedicated to reducing single-use plastic in our environment. Since its start, the Task Force has already organized a campaign for a plastic bag ban, is developing a "Go Easy Guide" to businesses and coordinated a month-long Mind Your Plastic May Challenge for May 2019.
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Join the plastic-free movement and break free from the plastic ties that bind us. Though May is over, you can still read back through all of the plastic-free advice we sent out.
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When you take the Mind Your Plastic May Challenge, you will be entered into a drawing for plastic-free prizes such as locally-made Broo shampoo and body bars, a Shecology laundry starter kit, beeswax wraps from Lick Log Branch Apiaries, bamboo utensils from Ten Thousand Villages and more!

Plus, for every $10 donated to the campaign, you receive an additional raffle entry.

Donate now for a plastic-free future

Pounds of plastic diverted from the landfill*

*based on the average amount of plastic waste produced per person per day (0.6 pounds), the number of days of the challenge and the number of participants

Head to the Mountains in Plastic-Free Style

5/27/2019

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People are drawn from far and wide to witness the majesty of the southern Appalachians. It's no wonder — within a short drive, we can access Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, and Pisgah National Forest… to name a few of the most spectacular and well-known places to go hiking, camping, or to take in a beautiful view (or maybe 20).

But for many, a day or a weekend in the woods comes with lots of plastic. Bags of trail mix, individually-wrapped granola bars, zip-top bags for food storage, and disposable plates, silverware and cups. While we admire the natural beauty around us, we are making a big pile of TRASH.

So how can we make our mountain adventure less plastic-filled? Plan ahead! As we discussed in our blog post about #GoingPlasticFree at the beach, a little planning can go a long way.
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Plastic-Free Vacation Kit: I went over this in detail in our beach vacation post, but putting together a bin or laundry basket of the reusable items you’ll need for your trip will be incredibly helpful. Add a travel-friendly soap dispenser, water cooler or repurposed containers to carry water, and a bucket or wash basin in order to have a full-service washing station.
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Meal/Snack Planning: BYO container to the bulk section to pick up trail mix, look for some package-free fruits and veggies, and do some pre-trip meal prep to transport in your plastic-free or repurposed containers. For some mouthwatering meal ideas, check out The Ultimate List of Make Ahead Camping Meals by takeoutdoors.com.
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Make ahead granola bars from takeoutdoors.com
Toiletry Kit: We haven’t found a plastic-free toiletry kit yet, but if you’ve taken our earlier advice on #GoingPlasticFree in the bathroom, then you’re armed with everything you need to transition toiletries to the realm of travel. But for me, reuse and repurposing is key here. For years I have refilled the same pump bottle that originally held store-bought hand soap. Just wash out any pump or squeeze bottle and, voilá - a travel-ready container that will go well beyond its intended single use.
​On the Trail: Reusable snack bags are an excellent choice for keeping your sandwiches, fruit, or trail mix fresh without any added weight. While there are a variety of choices available, we like Etee brand for its organic, sustainably-sourced materials that are fully biodegradable. Their average lifespan is between 120-150 uses.

​(Pictured at left) Etee Brand Sandwich Bags
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Don’t forget the sunscreen! As a reminder, here are 6 Plastic-Free Alternatives to sunscreen in plastic bottles.

​We hope you've enjoyed these tips to help you in your (plastic-free) adventuring. Now go forth and recreate!

Sincerely,
Megan Travi
Development Associate
​Asheville GreenWorks
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    Staff from Asheville GreenWorks, as well as guest contributor Hilary Drake of Mind Your Plastic.

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​Asheville GreenWorks is a 501(c)3 non-profit environmental organization, governed by a Board of Directors. Established in 1973, GreenWorks mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize individuals and communities to take care of the places we love to live.
  • Home
  • Programs
    • Rivers & Roads >
      • Adopt-a-Street
      • Clean Streams Day
      • Trash Trout
      • WNC Big Sweep
    • Education
    • Urban Forestry >
      • Adopt-a-Spot
      • Bee City USA Asheville >
        • Native Pollinator Plants and Nurseries
        • Pollination Celebration
      • Food Tree Project
      • Tree Nursery
      • Treasured Trees
      • Cool Green Asheville >
        • Climate Change and Asheville's Urban Forest
    • Waste Reduction >
      • Asheville Bag Monster
      • Flip Your Lid
      • Hard 2 Recycle
      • Mind Your Plastic May
      • Plastics Reduction Task Force
      • Recycling Information
      • Composting Information
      • Smash Don't Trash
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer >
      • Alternative Break Trips
      • Corporate Volunteering
      • Experiential Internships
      • School Groups
    • Make a Donation
    • Membership
    • Wish List
    • Sponsorship
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us
    • Staff & Board
    • Job Openings
    • History
  • Root Ball
  • Latest News
  • Speaking of Gardening 2019
  • StopLittering.com