Earth Matters: Nothing needs to go to waste

The Island Now
Dr. Hildur Palsdottir

By Hildur Palsdottir

Modern lifestyle relies on linear economy or ”take-and-toss” products that accumulate as garbage on land and sea. The worst are plastics that are used only once but “last forever.” In nature, plastics choke wildlife, congest waterways and break down into smaller pieces, with microplastics now detected in tap water, soil and even in the air of remote mountaintops and deserts.

We produce and purchase more now than ever before — 100 times more than 50 years ago when the milkman was still a common occupation. Too much of what we buy is made without any regard for the future. In a recent brand audit by the Break Free From Plastics movement, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestle again claimed the three top seats as our world’s main polluters. Plastic production contributes to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions at every point in its life cycle. According to the Break Free from Plastics Atlas, 400 million tons of plastic are produced per year of which at least half is dedicated to single-use packaging and service ware, with recycling rates of less than 2 percent. What’s more, plastic production is growing. More than half of plastics ever made were produced in the last 15 years and that number is expected to triple by 2050 if we don’t change our ways. Alarmingly, we’re leaving a plastic lining behind in the fossil record that will forever mark the “take-to-trash” throwaway culture we rely on today.

This problem is best solved by stopping production of non-essential, single-use plastics. We can save energy and resources with eco-refills by cycling items back to use, a regenerative concept known as circular economy.

Isaac Graubard, 13,  leads the Zero Waste movement in Port Washington. After learning about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch at school, he’s been on a mission to reduce plastic consumption. He used his time while sheltering-in-place to research sustainable household products (shampoos, conditioner, detergents) and founded North Shore Refills, a mobile refill store. He can meet most of your household needs, from hair care to cleaning agents, refilling your containers with cruelty free, non-toxic products. You can bring your own containers and subscribe to his refill services Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. at the Community Compost Pilot Program at the Science Museum of Long Island in Plandome.

Like Isaac I’ve had plenty of time to reflect and make habitual changes during the Covid19 standstill and I’ve been especially interested in researching how my online shopping activities are contributing to impacts on the environment. Even though there are fewer crowds now at shopping malls, we’re always just one click away from buying things we really don’t need. There’s at least a limit to human carrying capacity at the mall, while Amazon.com delivers purchases straight to your door, spewing out greenhouse gases in the process. Many online retailers deliver products in boxes overflowing with foam peanuts, Styrofoam or bubble plastic to ensure the product doesn’t get damaged. What is damaged instead is the environment.
You can cause less harm with your purchase from eco-friendly, online marketplaces such as Earth Hero (https://www.earthhero.com) that offer sustainably sourced products shipped in earth-friendly packaging.

This year let’s change our habits in terms of gift-giving. While seated in front of your screen, use the time you’d otherwise spend confused at the mall to instead make meaningful, life-sustaining choices.

Last year I gave shampoo and conditioner bars to eliminate plastic from personal hair care. This year I’m giving (spoiler alert to friends and family) Tru Earth laundry strips as an invitation to plastic-free, zero-waste laundry. Every year 700,000,000 plastic laundry jugs are dumped into landfills across North America. TruEarth eco-strips are lightweight and compact, allowing ease of shipment and leave no trace behind.

Another great gift is a Zero Waste Box from TerraCycle® that helps you get rid of plastics and products that aren’t recyclable in the Town of North Hempstead. Please note that only plastics #1 and #2 are recyclable here in TONH, while the containers must be thoroughly washed and separated from other waste in clear bags or placed in designated blue recycling bins for pickup curbside.

This holiday season spread cheer without harming the environment. A better world is just “a click away.” Your choices make changes.

1. Make a donation to a charity or non-profit that betters our world, such as Beyond Plastics, Kiva, Unicef, Oxfam America, Heifer International and the World Wildlife Fund.
2. Give the gift of refillable, zero-waste products. Shop at Blueland, HumanKind, Loop Store, Plaine Products, and Package-Free Shop.
3. Give TerraCycle Zero Waste Box™for recycling the non-recyclables.

Take care of Earth and each other. Last, but certainly not least, help stock up local food pantries. Here’s a link to the local food pantry at Lady of Fatima in Port Washington https://olfpw.org/outreach/food-pantry.

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