Milo Cress, of Burlington, Vermont, launched the national Be Straw


Free campaign at age 10, when he realized that restaurants routinely give customers a plastic


straw whether they want it or not.


intimidated or overwhelmed by plastic overload, but persist in taking baby steps (see MyPlasticFreeLife.com).


How to Begin As a starting point, Terry notes that plastic enables the long-distance food distribution system. Reducing food miles associated with our meals helps cut down on the use of plastic. In the kitchen, use airtight stainless steel con- tainers or glass jars or simply refrigerate a bowl of food with a saucer on top to hold leftovers for the next day. Compost food waste. Reuse empty plastic food bags and line garbage cans with old newspapers instead of plastic bags. Terry cautions, “People assume


everything that carries the triangular symbol is accepted at all recycling facilities. This is not the case. What isn’t accepted is landfilled or even inciner- ated.” Also, according to the city of Oakland’s Waste Management Depart- ment, she learned that “Much of what we put out for recycling goes to China, and their processing standards are not as strong as ours.” In Plastic Free, the author pro- vides scores of tips for borrowing, rent- ing and sharing products; buying used plastic equipment if it’s a necessity; and avoiding disposable packaging and paper products. Areas for improve- ment range from personal care and household cleaning products to bags, bottles, grocery shopping, takeout food, portable leftovers and lunches, plus durable goods. Activists will move on to also participate in area cleanups, donate to green organizations and write their legislators.


Randy Kambic, a freelance editor and writer in Estero, Florida, regularly contributes to Natural Awakenings.


natural awakenings August 2013 47


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