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ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS
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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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Plastics in Our Daily Lives

5/3/2019

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How much plastic does the average American use each week?

Before
​The ubiquity of plastic may make it hard to imagine a time before this material ruled our world. However, it was only the 1950s when plastic production took off. The plastic revolution afforded people a culture of material abundance.

Now
Roughly 40 percent of the now more than 448 million tons of plastic produced every year is disposable; much of it used as packaging intended to be discarded within minutes after purchase.

More than eight million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean each year. Almost 700 animal species are known to be affected by plastic pollution, and it is estimated that plastic is responsible for the death of millions of marine animals each year.
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The Near Future 
The issues arising from plastics seem nearly endless. Microplastics - small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life - are found across the globe, mixed into the sand, filling the guts of fish, and even making their way into human bodies. 

So What Can You Do?
Personally, I suggest not biting off more than you can chew. This is not about deciding you will never use plastic again. This is not about devoting your life to designing a new biodegradable plastic. Rather, I encourage you to start with small manageable steps, like those found in the coming emails. Stop using disposable plastic straws. Carry reusable bags with you everywhere. Skip the plastic water bottle and switch to a reusable one. Develop small plastic-free habits that will become effortless. Good luck!!

Further Reading & Resources
  • We Made Plastic. We Depend On It. Now We’re Drowning In It. Laura Parker for National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/
  • Trash is for Tossers. Lauren Singer, Zero Waste Lifestyle Blogger. http://trashisfortossers.com/
  • Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit. Earth Day Network. https://www.earthday.org/wp-content/uploads/Plastic-Pollution-Primer-and-Action-Toolkit.pdf
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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