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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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Protect Each Other With Homemade Masks

5/18/2020

2 Comments

 
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.
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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. 
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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: 
  1. Scissors
  2. T-Shirt

​3 Steps:
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Home Sewn Face Mask
Materials Needed:
  1. Two 10”x6” rectangles of cotton fabric
  2. Two 6” pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, string, cloth strips, or hair ties)
  3. Needle and thread (or bobby pin)
  4. Scissors
  5. 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
 







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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.


2 Comments
Allison Gurliacci
5/23/2020 08:22:01 pm

Thanks for the article Finn! This is great 👍

Reply
Cynthia P Justice
5/24/2020 07:05:06 am

really appreciate this, learned things I didn't know

Reply



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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.
  • Programs
    • Bee City USA Asheville >
      • Pollinator Garden Certification
      • Native Pollinator Plants and Nurseries
      • Pollination Celebration >
        • Pollinator Photo Contest
    • Rivers & Roads >
      • Adopt-a-Street
      • Cleanup Supply Stations
      • Clean Streams Day
      • Trash Trout
      • WNC Big Sweep
    • Education
    • Urban Forestry >
      • Cool Green Asheville
      • Adopt-a-Spot
      • Food Tree Project
      • Ravenscroft Reserve Initiative
      • Tree Nursery
      • Treasured Trees >
        • Treasured Trees Calendar
    • Waste Reduction >
      • Asheville Bag Monster
      • Composting Information
      • Flip Your Lid
      • Hard 2 Recycle
      • Plastics Reduction Task Force
      • Recycling Information
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  • Get Involved
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