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ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS
  • Hard 2 Recycle
  • Programs
    • Bee City USA Asheville >
      • Native Pollinator Plants and Nurseries
      • Pollination Celebration >
        • Pollinator Photo Contest
      • Pollinator Garden Certification
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      • Adopt-a-Street
      • Clean Streams Day
      • Cleanup Supply Stations
      • Trash Trout
      • WNC Big Sweep
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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. 
​
Join the plastic-free movement and break free from the plastic ties that bind us.
Donate now for a plastic-free future
Mind Your Plastic May is meant to encourage and challenge us in our journey to live plastic free. These posts are created by GreenWorks staff, Plastic Reduction Task Force volunteers, and other plastic-free advocates in Buncombe County. If you've found these posts helpful and encouraging, please consider making a donation to support this work. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]
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Minding Your Plastic in the Kitchen

5/6/2019

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After the first week of becoming more mindful of plastic in your life, what did you find out about plastics in your kitchen? Suddenly it seems like plastic is everywhere! And much of it is single-use, even those items like dish sponges that you use multiple times before throwing it away. What makes something “single-use” is its ultimate destination is the landfill, not to be recycled, repurposed or composted.

Are there single-use plastic items that you could live without, especially if you had a plastic-free alternative that was just as great if not better? This week will be full of tips for finding alternatives for plastic in your pantry, at the kitchen sink and in your fridge.

Say goodbye to cling wrap, plastic sandwich bags, dish detergent bottles and say hello to beeswax wraps, reusable baggies and soap nuts.
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Making the transition from a plastic-filled to a plastic-free lifestyle takes time, determination and a little bit of money. We’ll help you make the transition one step at a time.

We’ll also provide ideas for cost-effective alternatives, some of which will end up saving you money in the long run. When Mari Fox, the owner and founder of Shecology in Weaverville, told me how she got started in her business, it made the point of cost-effectiveness of going plastic-free crystal clear.

One day in 2010, Mari had run out of her favorite Seventh Generation laundry detergent, which couldn’t be found in many places at the time. She jumped in her car to drive to a market to buy the laundry detergent. While waiting at a red light, she realized how ridiculous it was to be driving all over town burning fossil fuel to purchase “eco-friendly” detergent that was mostly water, packaged in plastic and shipped long-distance by trucks to the store. Think of all the monetary and environmental costs of doing that! (Stay tuned for Mari’s solution or take a sneak peek ahead at Shecology’s website).

In the weeks ahead, you’ll hear about lots of great ideas for eliminating plastic from your life, starting with the kitchen. Please share your great ideas online on our Facebook page /goingplasticfree, and tag us on Instagram #goingplasticfree and #mindyourplasticmay.

Dawn Chavez
Executive Director
Asheville GreenWorks
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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.
  • Hard 2 Recycle
  • Programs
    • Bee City USA Asheville >
      • Native Pollinator Plants and Nurseries
      • Pollination Celebration >
        • Pollinator Photo Contest
      • Pollinator Garden Certification
    • Rivers & Roads >
      • Adopt-a-Street
      • Clean Streams Day
      • Cleanup Supply Stations
      • Trash Trout
      • WNC Big Sweep
    • Education
    • Urban Forestry >
      • Adopt-a-Spot
      • Cool Green Asheville
      • Food Tree Project
      • RRI
      • Tree Nursery
      • Treasured Trees >
        • Treasured Trees Calendar
    • Waste Reduction >
      • Asheville Bag Monster
      • Composting Information
      • Flip Your Lid
      • Plastics Reduction Task Force
      • Recycling Information
      • Smash Don't Trash
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Experiential Internships
    • Youth Environmental Leadership Program >
      • YELP Staff & Alumni
      • How to Apply
    • Make a Donation
    • Wish List
    • Sponsorship
  • Upcoming Events
  • About
    • Job Openings
    • History
    • Staff/ Contact
  • Newsletter
  • Blog Roll
    • Latest News
    • Protect our Pollinators
    • Voice for the Trees
    • Mind Your Plastic May
    • Fall Leaves