Do you recycle plastic wrap?

Up until this week if I had heard the phrase "film recycling" I would have thought the term was referring the 35mm variety. I recently learned that the term refers to plastic wrap that is used to package so many products that we purchase such as toilet paper, produce, frozen foods, and unnecessarily, so many other food and household items. With few exceptions, (See my blog post from  earlier this month about a program being tested by the city of Boise which converts these lower grade plastics to fuel) most curbside pickup programs do not allow plastic wrap or film to be added to your mixed or plastics recycling bin.  I have since learned that plastic film is a valuable commodity which can be recycled into a variety of products - the most common being composite lumber. This video provides an informative overview of the types of plastics that are used in making composite wood materials.



You may have seen a box upon entering the grocery store for the collection of used shopping bags. I never gave these much thought partly because I try not to use plastic shopping bags, and for those I do receive, I usually re-purpose them at home. However, the secondary market for plastic wrap is growing and the American Chemical Council has embarked on a film recycling campaign called W.R.A.P. (Wrap Recycling Action Program.) Their goal is go increase the recycling rate of plastic film by businesses and individual consumers. If you go to plasticfilmrecycling.org and type in your zip code you will find a list of businesses in your area which collect these light weight plastics. I was surprised to see how many stores participate in my area - eight within a ten mile radius.

I decided to check out one of the grocery stores on the list, Shaw's, and found a large round cardboard at the entrance to the store labeled "Recycle Plastic Bags Here." I inquired with a store employee and found out that all types of plastic wraps can be put in the drum, not just bags, which was evident by the materials inside.

Although I now know that most plastic wraps can be recycled at this and similar drop-off locations, in order to increase consumer recycling better signage is in order. Also, at several of the other store locations nearby I couldn't even locate the recycling container. Recommendation number two is to have the drop off location clearly visible to the consumer. If it's at the loading dock it may be useful for the business, but not the general public.

Obviously the best option is to forgo plastic bags altogether and to purchase products with a limited amount of packaging, with a preference toward plastic-free. However I am glad to know that for

Suet cakes packaged in 100% recyclable material

item that do come wrapped in plastic the packaging does not have to end up in the trash or worse yet, in the ocean where it will continue to cause havoc for centuries to come. Read this story on more bad news world-wide as a result of plastic pollution in the oceans - Plastic Pollutions is Killing Coral Reefs

White Bean and Sweet Potato Stew

Here is a light, yet filling winter vegetable stew.

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoon olive oil
1 onion chopped
4 carrots diced
3 stalks celery chopped
1 large sweet potato peeled and diced
1 (14.5 oz) can diced fire roasted tomatoes
4 cups chicken broth
1 (15.5 oz) can cannellini beans rinsed
1/3 cup kale leaves chopped or baby kale
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

In soup pot or dutch oven heat olive oil and saute onion, carrots and celery until they begin to soften. Add salt, pepper, cumin and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute. Add stock, tomatoes and spices. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Add kale and cook until kale is tender, about 15 - 20 minutes. Remove from heat, remove thyme and add vinegar. Serve, sprinkled with fresh Parmesan.

New Year's Resolution - Use Less Plastic

My resolution for 2018 is to use less plastic. According to the Plastic Ocean Foundation approximately 300 million tons of plastic are generated each year. In the last ten years alone companies have manufactured more plastic than in the previous century. And, according to Common Dreams, a non-profit independent news center, investments from the fossil fuels industry for plastics production are going to increase production by an additional 40 percent over the next decade. The major problem with plastic is that it takes hundreds of years to break down, and if it ends up in waterbodies, it may never decompose. Sadly it is estimated that 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans annually which causes tremendous harm to marine wildlife and ecosystems.  From plastic bags, to plastic take out containers, we have become a disposable plastics society. To personally address this problem, the following are specific actions that are part of my New Year's resolution.

1. Paper or reusable bags. I own multiple reusable grocery bags that are always in my car and accompany me to the grocery store. In the past, I occasionally accepted the store plastic bags so that I could reuse them at home as trash can liners. I am going to seek alternatives.

A simple Google search reveals that there are a few compostable, bag options. A little research also revealed that these may not be a better option unless you have a municipal facility that specifically accepts them.  I need to do some more research to determine what better options exist. If I'm disposing of my granddaughter's dirty diaper, I may stick with a plastic bag, but for other types of trash, a paper liner or leaving the indoor can unlined is probably the best option. 

Contract your municipality before purchasing compostable bags

I am hopeful that as more countries adopt bans on disposable plastic bags (e.g. Bangladash, Rwanda, China) manufacturers will produce more environmental friendly options. One company in India EnviGreen is already doing this as they advertise a one hundred percent plastics free bag.
 
2. At the coffee shop, bring my own mug. I used to think that hot "paper" cups from coffee shops were okay since I could just rinse them and add them to the paper bin to be recycled.

This may be a better option than Styrofoam, but it still cannot be recycled

However, I recently learned that to keep the cup from falling apart when hot, it is lined with a thin plastic coating. This means that the cup cannot be recyled, but must be put in the trash. I am going to make sure that I always have a thermos style mug in my car for those stops at the coffee shop. And an added bonus is that some stores, such as Starbucks, give you a small discount for providing your own mug.

3. Avoid single use containers when possible. I love having a yogurt every day and single use containers are convenient. I have previously featured Yoplait's Oui yogurt because it is made in a glass container. This is a great option to avoid plastic, although at over double the price of most single use containers, it is a costly option. 

Another choice which does not eliminate plastic, but reduces it, is to purchase the 32 oz. size containers and then pack individual servings in reusable glass containers at home.

4. Limit use of small plastic sandwich bags. When I am not reheating leftovers for lunch, I am packing bread and typically use fold over plastic bags. I recently purchased some reusable sandwich bags and will be trying these out instead.

These bags can be rinsed or placed in the dishwasher to clean

A small company called Bee's Wrap out of Vermont, makes food wraps out of organic cotton, beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin. These are truly an environmentally safe alternative and is local to boot!

In today's world it is impossible to eliminate plastic entirely from our lives, but with these few steps   I will not only feel better about myself, but I will have contributed, albeit in a small way, to the reduction of this pervasive pollutant.  If you are interested in joining an  international movement to combat plastic pollution sign up at https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/.

January 15, 2018 Update: Over the past week I kept track of plastic use I eliminated just by making a little extra effort - such as remembering to bring my thermos mug into the coffee shop, to use the reusable sandwich wraps, and to not accept a plastic bag at any store, not just the grocery store. It totaled 3 styrofoam or plastic cups; 4 sandwich bags and 6 store bags. It may not seem like much, but over the course of a year, it all adds up.

Also, in the news this month was a story on an innovative plastics recovery program in Boise, Idaho which will convert lower grade plastics to diesel fuel. The city is embarking on this effort utilizing a grant from Dow Chemical Co. and administered by Keep America Beautiful. It is going to allow residents to set aside for pick-up lighter weight plastics, such as foam cartons, plastic bags and candy wrappers, which are not allowed under their current mixed-waste recycling program. These materials will be bagged separately, then delivered to a plant in Salt Lake City where they will be converted to fuel. If the program is successful, it is hoped that other cities will jump on board.