Photo from AMRF When did plastics become so popular? Throwaway Living

What’s Made of Plastic?

What is Plastic Made of? SYNTHETIC BIODEGRADEABLE

How many plastic beverage bottles get used every year in the US? Q: Q: Chris Jordan

We use 50 billion plastic beverage bottles every year in the US DETAIL 50,000,000,000

Chris Jordan

100 billion plastic bags get used each year in the US. 100,000,000,000 ACUTAL SIZE

“But I Recycle…”. What percentage of plastic gets recycled in the US?

Less than 5% of plastics are recycled… CIWMB White Paper

Great Pacific Garbage Patch A giant, eternal swirling spiral of floating trash Twice the size of the US and growing Home to an estimated 100 million tons of plastic

There is 42 times more plastic than plankton at some spots in the North Pacific gyre. Source: Algalita Marine Research Foundation

How Does Plastic End Up In the Ocean?

LA Beaches After The Rain Ballona Creek Algalita Santa Monica Beach Ben Kay

Surfrider Foundation Chris Jordan

All of this (more than a half-pound of plastic) was removed from the stomach of an albatross, a large sea bird

How many marine animals die every year due to Plastic? A.100 B.100,000 C.1,000,000,000 Q: Q:

B 100,000 marine mammals die each year because of plastic litter in the ocean.

Toxic Plastics Plastics Leech the Chemicals They Are Made Of Bisphenol A (BPA) Plastic hardener Used in DVDs, canned food lining, baby bottles, water bottles Chemical found in 93% of Americans over the age of 6 Phthalates Plastic softener Found in toys, food packaging, shower curtains, nail polish, hair spray and shampoo, baby teething rings These Chemicals are ‘hormone mimickers’ that affect the Endocrine System.

Plastic Bath A study of 20 teens across America detected 16 chemicals from 4 chemical families including plastic (phthalates) in their blood and urine. Look up your products at SKIN DEEP

Bring Your Own… WATER BOTTLE (stainless steel) BAG CUP TUPPERWARE SILVERWEAR

Use Biodegradable (PLA) 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

THINK TWICE Do you really need a bag for your bag of chips? Ask the waiter to wrap in foil instead of styrofoam Do you really need the straw? Don’t buy things with excess packaging Buy the can instead of the bottle Shop at the farmer’s markets REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE… then RECYCLE

Encourage EPR Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) –Companies that produce and package products are responsible for the costs of collecting and disposing of their packaging waste –Motivates producers to reduce the amount of waste they produce Adopted by Germany in 1991 –Packaging waste reduced 14% in first four years –Recycling rose to 75%

Spread the Word…with a SMILE Share what you’ve learned Lead by example Ask your friends and family to join you Speak to city council Write letters to government officials

What will you do to rise above plastics?

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. - Gandhi -

For more information visit: PASS IT ON…