Plastic Pollution and Solutions

Releases Microplastics:

Polyester

Nylon (aka Polyamide)

Acrylic

Fleece

Microfleece

Spandex

Acetate

Do NOT Release Microplastics:

Cotton

Flax

Hemp

Jute

Linen

Ramie

Sisal

Kenaf

I've had to stop myself before purchasing any new item such as clothing, bedding, furniture, kitchen towels, etc. I check what it is made of and often reconsider if I can reuse/recreate what I already have or live without it. 

Chewing gum

Bottled Water

Receipt Paper

Sea Salt (My comment: from the ocean)

Glittery Eyeshadow

Band-Aids

Nail Polish

I'm adding:

Microplastics are found in fish and in gray water from washing clothes that are made from plastic

I'm sure there's a lot more, but the point is that we need to be vigilant and aware that plastic pollution is often unseen and therefore unrecognized as a serious threat to our health and the health of other creatures as well as our planet.

The following are helpful sites to learn more what you can do to help stop plastic pollution.

Plastic Pollution Coalition

Free the Ocean

Surf Rider Foundation

Zero Waste (Portland, OR)

The Earthling Company

Brush with Bamboo

Net Zero Company

Who Gives a Crap

Mother Earth

Instagram sites:

@threads4thought

@ecofootprintearth

@NetZeroCo.

@eco.alts.store

@PlasticFreeJuly

@TheZeroWasteGuide

@SayNoToPlastics

@EcofootprintEarth

@MyEarthBreeze

@ReduceWasteNow

Please consider not using acrylic paints. Check the ingredients of your art materials and look into alternatives such as:

Beam Paints

Natural Earth Paint

And when considering 

house paints:

The Good Trade

Here's an article by artist Terri Hughs-Oelrich (September 2021) regarding her plastic cap art project and about single-use plastics.

Some Plastic Art Ideas:

(Note, be sure to clean everything before using.)

Drill holes in plastic caps and create a necklace/lei.

Use bubble wrap, caps, bread claspes, etc to create a texture collage on a piece of cardboard or create prints using these items to make wrapping paper.

Use wire as support and wrap bread bags around to create an animal shape. Papier māché over the shape and paint.

Make a checkers game out of bottle caps.

See "Art Fun with Plastic Caps" Below!

Visit Kokua Hawaii Foundation and learn about their Plastic mural projects as well as many other amazing offerings.

Also, visit becauseturtleseatsplasticbags for great plastic art projects.

How many videos and photos have I seen showing plastic straws endangering wildlife and how many plastic straws have my husband and I picked up by drainage ditches?

Too many, I am sad to say.

Please go to:

See Turtles

for a program about what you can do about plastic pollution in our oceans that is killing sea turtles and many other sea animals.

There are many alternatives for plastic straws!

There are paper, bamboo, and metal straws available at many outlets. Please visit:

The Last Plastic Straw

The website above will give you information and provide you with very useful forms you can print and take with you to share with businesses.

One addition to the ongoing nightmare, for me, are toothbrushes. Every toothbrush you have ever thrown away still exists. Please contact your dentist and request they offer alternative brushes like bamboo. And try Brush with Bamboo toothbrushes!

Brush with Bamboo

Whole Foods and New Seasons stores, for example, have other brand bamboo toothbrushes, too.

Below are charts from 

Science News Magazine

January 30, 2021

that explains recycling symbols.

We've all been led to believe that if we put things in the recycling bins and it has a triangle with some number in it, it will be recycled. 

Think again.

Recycling centers are overwhelmed with too many things to recycle and not having updated technology to deal with the problem. @PlasticPollutes: I read that "64.3% of all plastic cannot be recycled in the current system." Thanks to my friend Rose Shank for the information. 

The bottom line is:

REDUCE

REUSE or

REPURPOSE

RECYCLE

DISPOSE

Urge your legislators to sponsor bills that update current recycling systems to meet the challenges and needs we have today, while also educating people how to reduce the burden on an overwhelmed system by making sustainable choices.

Here are two great sites, Thanks to Liam Williams from Troop 218 for the information!!

For Tire Disposal in Every State and 

How to Get Rid of Everyday Household Items, please click on the underlined titles.

Thanks to Martha from Texas for the additional helpful sites regarding recycling information!!

Earth 911

WhatTheyThink

If you find any up to date articles, websites, and resources about recycling, please contact me via my "Contact Me" tab so I can share your information!!

Thank you!!!