Mary Ellen [email protected]

I will watch a documentary film about plastic waste with family and friends and talk about what we learned.

Manufacturers want you to replace your phones every year. I will keep my phone for at least 3 years and make any necessary repairs or updates to keep it functioning as long as possible.

I will learn about what different descriptions and marketing terms mean when used on plastics.

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polyvinyl, polystyrene and polycarbonate (#3,#6 and #7).

I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, acrylic or spandex. Try prioritizing buying used clothing before buying new.

I will wash my clothing in cold water and hang it to dry to reduce the amount of microplastic shedding and to prolong the life of my garments.

I will buy secondhand goods to reduce the demand for new plastic products and avoid packaging.

I will read through the three emails each week to learn more about plastic and get ideas on how to use less.

I will complete a plastic consumption calculator to learn about my plastic footprint.

The numbers #1-7 on plastics tell us a lot and can help us be better recyclers. I will learn more about what the symbols on plastics mean.