MARCH
green living
PLANT-BASED NUTRITION ISSUE
Thriving on a Plant-Based Diet
Disrupting Disposables
Plus: CBD
The Drive to Banish Single-Use Plastics
by Yvette C. Hammett
U
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niversities, sports There is momentum, Two-pronged efforts arenas, restaubut it is challenging. by businesses and indirants and other viduals to divert plastics businesses are taking up ~Eric DesRoberts from the waste system the call to “disrupt disposand replacing them with ables” as part of a global effort to dramatiEarth-friendly alternatives will eventucally cut down on single-use plastics. The ally pay off, experts say, but it will be a environmental problems caused by those long and slow process. However, momenubiquitous throwaways have become a tum is building, spurred by consumer mainstay of news reporting, and studies on demand and a growing number of enhow best to reduce them through public terprising businesses, organizations and policy abound. A recent Canadian research academic institutions. paper in the Marine Pollution Bulletin At Penn State University, agriculexplores strategies such as bans, tax levies ture and biological engineering profesand education. Experts agree that it is not sor Judd Michael is working with sports just a litter problem, but a sobering matter facilities to lower both plastics use and of human and planetary health. littering; the initiative is working so well As these plastics wind up in the oceans that their approaches may be taken up by and landfills worldwide, they can languish other schools across the nation. “One of virtually intact for up to 1,000 years, entanmy projects is with NASCAR’s Pocono gling and choking marine mammals and Raceway [also in Pennsylvania], where the terrestrial wildlife. Or, they break into toxic owners of the track wanted to continue microplastics that enter drinking water to make the venue more green,” he says. supplies, eventually ingested by humans. “There is zero waste in suites for that Because plastics are made from petroleum, track, and they are initiating a compretheir production also adds to greenhouse hensive recycling program. They try to get gases that contribute to the climate crisis. tailgaters to participate, as well.”
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