Virve Van Sloun

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

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.

I will spend 5 minutes conducting a waste audit- including recyclables and compost- to understand how much plastic waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

I will recycle 1 plastic caps per day by placing them back on the plastic bottles before placing them in my recycling bin.

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

Plastics recycling is real, and it works in the Twin Cities metro area when done correctly. I will spend 5 minutes learning about how to correctly recycle plastics in the Twin Cities and where recycled plastics end up.

Contamination makes the recycling process more difficult. I will review which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my county and recycle only those items. 

I will make sure any BPI-certified compostable plastic products I use will be disposed of correctly by putting them in my curbside compost/food scraps bin or taking them to a drop-off location and not placing them in the regular recycling.

Instead of trashing them, I will recycle 5 plastic bags per day bringing them to a drop-off or special pickup