REDESIGN REFUSE REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE So, we’ve got a couple more “R’s” for you that we think are even more important than Reduce, Reuse Recycle. REFUSE and REDESIGN.

REDUCE REFUSE REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE So what does it mean to refuse?

OUT IN Straws Styrofoam Bottles Lids To-go Packaging Party cups Lips Foil Can/Glass Balance Sit down, relax Farmer’s market, buy bulk Peanut butter jar Refuse means next time you are at a restaurant make a point to order your drink without a straw. Or don’t take that plastic water bottle when its offered to you – tell them you brought your own and fill up for free at the drinking fountain.

One thing I like to do is reuse my old peanut butter jars when I order a coffee or drink to go. It’s free and if I lose it it’s no big deal.

REDESIGN REFUSE REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE The ultimate solution is rethinking the way we design our products to involve less plastic and packaging.

BIODEGRADEABLE PLASTICS Bioplastics are better, but not the answer. Require INDUSTRIAL COMPOSTING (140° and fed microbes) Cannot be recycled; can contaminate if mixed in “Renewable;” but genetically-modified Does not emit GHG’s when incinerated Don’t break down in the water Biodegradeable plastics are one example of redesining common product using materials made with renewable resources. While bioplastics are a step in the right direction, they are not the answer. Unless that bioplastic makes its way to an industrial composter – that reaches at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit – the chances are that it’s not breaking down And most bioplastics do NOT break down in the ocean! There must be a better way.

(QUESTION) How many of you have purchased something small – like a memory card – that’s wrapped in plastic 12 times it’s size? Apple is a good example of a company that has redesigned their products and packaging resulting in minimal waste. This ipod is more powerful and valuable than the memory chip, but only comes in a small package. They have done the same with their computers.

This brings us to our next point, which is vote with your dollar. Support companies that are taking strides to reduce unnecessary plastic waste. And if there’s a company or restaurant you like, ask them to consider using less. You can find a ton of examples of youth that have convinced their favorite spots to be more conscious by encouraging them with business. For example, these students in Bangkok went to their local grocer and said, if we get 500 students to come to the store and buy something on February 20th, will you please stop handing out plastic bags? Well, guess what, more than 1,300 students came and the grocer agreed to no longer give out the bags. VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLAR

IT’S TIME TO SHARE You’ve got the solutions at your fingertips, now it’s time for YOU to share!

Consider creating a mural or piece of art work out of plastic trash to raise awareness around your campus or community.

MAKE YOUR CAMPUS PLASTIC-FREE Get your campus to go plastic free. For example these Middle School Students in Los Angeles collected all the Styrofoam lunch trays from their cafeteria and created an installation out of the trash. They invited their principal (and the local newspaper) to see the waste they were creating in just one day. They raised money to buy reusable trays to replace the throwaway Styrofoam ones. P.S. this saved their school $12,000 that year. MAKE YOUR CAMPUS PLASTIC-FREE

Rethink the drink is a campaign created to help students reduce their plastic bottle consumption by having filtered water stations installed on campus.

These cool filters let you count how many water bottles your school saves from becoming waste.

TALK TO YOUR POLICYMAKERS Write and talk to your local policy makers to support or put in place policies that reduce plastic waste. Many cities have passed, or are considering, banning plastic bags at grocery stores and retailers. Some cities are even considering banning styrofoam in restaurants. TALK TO YOUR POLICYMAKERS

GET ON THE MAP Here’s some of the cities and countries that have banned plastic bags. You could put your city is on the map.

Policy Makers Visionaries (YOU) Form a Team Friends Social Networks Educators Work with your School Family Groups The change starts with you. Get a group of people together that are interested in making a difference. Share this presentation with them. Then work with your school… Your friends, your family and your social networks. Then they start spreading the solutions. Then, educators and policy makers start listening. And what results is a world of solutions. That all started with you!