A Plastic Free Kailua.. Now wouldn’t that be nice!?
Plastic Free Kailua is a relatively new organization whose main objection is to reduce the use and distribution of one time use plastic items. These items, for example, could be to-go containers, water bottles, grocery bags and the like. As of now they are mainly focusing on the Kailua area and are thriving off of our wonderful community values and our love for our Kailua Town. They consider themselves a grassroots organization and they are really doing wonders in helping to reduce, reuse, and recycle in the place where we all call home.
I was looking at Plastic Free Hawaii’s well informed facebook page and found some interesting facts that I was not aware of that the organization was sharing. They are as follows:
THE FACTS:
• “Plastic is forever: Plastic is a material that the Earth cannot digest. Every bit of plastic that has ever been created still exists, except the small amount that has been incinerated, and has become toxic air and particulate pollution.”
• “Plastic is poisoning our food chain and affects human health: In the environment, plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller particles that attract toxic chemicals. These particles are ingested by wildlife on land and in the ocean, and contaminate our food chain. Harmful chemicals leached by plastics are already present in the bloodstream and tissues of almost every one of us, including newborns.”
• “Single Use plastics and Disposable plastics are the main source of plastic pollution: Consumption of single use and disposable plastics has spiraled out of control. They are used for seconds, hours, or days, but their remains will last hundreds of years.”
• “Recycling is not a sustainable solution: Unlike glass or metal, recycling plastic is costly and does not stem the production of virgin plastic product. Most of our plastic waste is landfilled, downcycled or exported to other countries.”
•“Hawaiian ecosystems are affected by the oceanic gyres: Patches of plastic pollution cover millions of square miles of ocean in the North Pacific and in other world oceans. There is no known way to clean up the plastic pollution in the oceans: the plastic particles are very small and circulate throughout the entire water column. This plastic ends up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. In fact, one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die globally each year due to ingestion of or entanglement in plastics.”
• “Plastic is made from imported petroleum: Petroleum is not only becoming an increasingly scarce source, but it causes pollution and toxicity every step of its use–extraction, transportation (oil spills), refining and eventual production of the end use product. Dependence on oil contributes to global conflict and war.”
In order to cut down on the use of these one time use plastics, here is a list of alternatives provided by the organization that could really help make a difference!! They are as follows:
THE ALTERNATIVES:
• “Reduce, Reuse, Bring your own
• Carry reusable bags to the grocery, farmer’s market, or on any other shopping excursion.
• Carry a reusable water bottle, filled with tap water.
• Bring your own take-out container out to eat for leftovers.
• Refuse plastic bags, Styrofoam, and unnecessary packaging.
• Demand the vendors you patronize provide alternative or less packaging.
• Consider ways to reduce plastic consumption in your home.
• Join or organize a beach clean-up.”
Information and Source: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10619532#!/pages/Plastic-Free-Kailua/145824178767809
To contact Plastic Free Kailua – plasticfreekailua@gmail.com
Like Plastic Free Kailua on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Plastic-Free-Kailua/145824178767809
Follow Plastic Free Kailua on Twitter – http://twitter.com/PlstcFreeKailua
Follow Plastic Free Kailua’s Blog – http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fplasticfreekailua.blogspot.com%2F&h=00b89
Blog Idea from Kelly La’a
