Summer is here! Time to wiggle your feet in the sand, take some long overdue trips or live your best staycation (Is roller skating at Wollman Rink’s Disco Oasis on your list?). No matter how you plan to spend the summer we hope you will reserve some time to raise your awareness of what is and isn’t being done to help our ailing planet. Sound gloomy? Doesn’t have to be. What follows are suggestions intended to compliment your summer fun while taking steps to secure our planet’s future. Consider doing three.

Notice Practice deep noticing of nature on your walks, hikes, bike rides and drives to remind yourself of why we should care about the planet. Sketch, photograph, write and share the results with your network of friends and family and with IEBG.

 Document When visiting a new place take note of and document planet friendly practices such as:

• Public water refill stations
• Electric vehicle chargers
• Pollinator gardens in parks
• Bans on plastic bags/utensils/straws
• Evidence of a municipal compost program
• Bike lanes
• Others we haven’t thought of

Send IEBG photos of what you find and remember to identify the place. (itseasybeinggreen.uws@gmail.com)

Talk about climate Big change comes from small talk. Studies show that even simple conversations can lead to more climate awareness and concern. So, practice talking about the planet with friends and neighbors. Develop some inviting conversation starters such as “I finally figured out a way to cut down on plastic when I shop for food..” or, “I’m loving composting. It’s easier to manage than I thought. Have you tried it?”  Consult the Climate Reality Project for how to’s.

Go Native Fortunate enough to have a home outside the city? Learn how to create a yard friendly to pollinators and birds. The secret is in native plants. It’s estimated that 70% of a yard should contain native plants. Frequently visit a friend or relative outside the city? Encourage them to go native. Watch Desiree Nerango’s YouTube, How to attract Song Birds and Pollinators to your Neighborhood.

Get up to Speed on Environmental legislation Become conversant about pending state and federal legislation.

• Read about NYS EPR bill in this thorough description from Beyond Plastics.
• Read about the federal Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act here.

Share your new knowledge with people.

Read, subscribe and watch to become more informed. Use this booklist from Earth.org for starters. Add Barry Lopez's essays in Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World. Subscribe to NYT’s Climate Forward Newsletter Subscribe to receive info from Beyond Plastics, Third Act, Treehugger for starters. Watch the documentary, Kiss the Ground available on Netflix and become familiar with their regenerative soil website. It offers a doable solution to turning our CO2 emissions problem around.

Most of all have a healthy happy summer, mostly outdoors, enjoying nature with friends and family.

There’s sobering news about the recycling rate of plastic in the U.S. According to a report (The Real Truth About the U.S. Plastic Recycling Rate: 2021 U.S. Facts and Figures) put out in May 2022 by two policy groups, Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics, the recycling rate for post-consumer plastic was just 5% to 6% in 2021. A recent U.S. Department of Energy research paper (Quantification and Evaluation of Plastic Waste in the United States) based on 2019 data agrees.

What does this mean for New Yorkers who conscientiously recycle plastic? First, keep up the good work, because our regional recycling rate is high. But these national numbers signal a collective call to action to reduce single-use plastic, which remains forever in landfills, in oceans, and in the food we eat, and ultimately in our bodies in the form of microplastics.

Here are four easy actions to take to collectively make a big difference in our community:

Take the Plastic-Free July Pledge . This annual campaign has 100 million participants in 190 countries. Register to receive weekly email tips on how to reduce your reliance on plastic in everyday living. Use this handy calendar to learn plastic free choices throughout the month.   Warning: it might become habit-forming!

Build a Zero-Waste Kit. Many wasteful plastic items come into our lives when we are out and about. Whether you have leftovers to take home from a restaurant, find yourself thirsty on a walk, or need to pick up last-minute ingredients for a meal, it’s easy to end up with a handful of plastic containers and trash. Put reusable alternatives in a zero-waste kit, and keep it where you will remember to take it (doorknob, car, backpack). You might include a canvas bag, cloth napkins, cotton produce bags, reusable utensils and food and beverage containers.

Refuse plastic utensils, straws, cups, and containers in coffee shops, markets, and restaurants. Instead, request sustainable tableware or bring your zero-waste kit.

Think bulk! Encourage store managers to offer more dry items in bulk. Ready to push the envelope? Ask the butcher or fishmonger to place your  pre-weighed purchase in your reusable container.

Good luck with your efforts to reduce or eliminate plastic in your daily lives. It's Easy Being Green wants to hear how your Plastic-Free July and Beyond efforts are going. Share your successes and challenges by writing to us at itseasybeinggreen.uws@gmail.com

 Here are some great reusables to make your summer picnic plastic-free:

My Yeti water bottle is the 12 oz. kid’s size with the double-walled vacuum insulation which keeps my cold drinks cold.  In addition to the great insulation, I like almost everything about it -  the built-in straw, the handle for portability, plus the size that fits in my bag.  However, I’m not crazy about the weight and I wonder how a small child is able to handle it. But I’m in the minority - when I looked at the reviews there were no complaints about the weight. Price: $25 (KG)

 Stasher storage bags are pricier than other storage bags, but are of superior quality and longer lasting.  The food-grade silicone is BPA and phthalate free, and is dishwasher, oven and freezer safe.  I have researched other less expensive reusable storage bags and found that they don’t compare in quality, durability and safety for our health.  Stashers come in beautiful colors and many sizes (from snack and sandwich all the way to half gallons) and the stand-up shape allows for easy storage.  Prices:  Snack bag @ 9.99; Sandwich bag @$12.99 (KG)

Package Free Bamboo Cutlery Set, to my great surprise, was comfortable and easy to use.  The knife cut my chicken effortlessly and the fork picked up the food without a problem.  And the bamboo feels good in the hand.  The utensils come in a carrying case and, since bamboo is so lightweight, it can be carried easily in a bag or backpack for a picnic or at any time for takeout food. They did well being washed the first time in the dishwasher, but it might be better to hand wash them in the future.  Price: $14.95 (KG)

For another option,  Earthhero offers a compact metal set that clips together, made from recycled stainless steel for $12.99. (KW)

U Konserve Stainless Steel To Go Container (30 oz. size) is one of several stainless steel to go containers in a variety of sizes offered by Earth Hero. The container comes with a silicone lid so it is BPA,  phthalates and lead free. It is lightweight so it’s good for picnics or to carry anytime for leftovers when eating out.  Dishwasher and freezer safe.  4 sizes ranging from $15 - $30. (KG)

These lightweight, generously sized (16 oz.) aluminum cups from Ball are sturdy (won’t crack when dropped or gripped), keep drinks cool, and are more pleasant to drink from than plastic. Great for parties and picnics. Much lighter than steel cups so are easier to carry stacked up. Not designed for hot drinks (not a big issue in summer) or the dishwasher but can be hand washed over and over. $25 for a box of 30. (KW)
 

Kate W. (itseasybeinggreen.kate@gmail.com)

Karen G.(itseasybeinggreen.karen@gmail.com)

Plastic-Free Tips for Working Parents (and Other Ridiculously Busy People)... a personal reflection

I hate waste, always have. I am the daughter of a depression-era baby who was always saving things to be reused and fixing things that were broken (and generally embarrassing us when he grabbed things that others had left out in the trash).  So when people generate waste out of neglect, it kills me.

When I became a working parent these feelings didn’t change, but with my insanely difficult schedule, convenience often took priority over the need to reduce waste.  That started to change when grocery stores around me started offering reusable shopping bags – the buried environmentalist in me came alive and I slowly began to adopt habits that I knew from childhood were less wasteful.  And I found that once I started, it became easier over time to do more things that were helpful, even with my limited schedule.

Here are a few examples of habits that I adopted early on, and that other busy people can employ to start becoming more environmentally-aware, anti-plastic advocates:

Refuse the bag. – When working, each morning I grabbed breakfast at the deli across the street from my office.  The bagel (or whatever it was) was wrapped in foil for my eating pleasure.  The cashier would then take the bagel, throw it in a paper bag with napkins and utensils, then put that bag in a plastic bag with handles.  All this for a bagel or egg sandwich that I was just bringing across the street to the office to be eaten 10 minutes later.

So, I started refusing the bag, held the wrapped bagel in my bare hands (God forbid!) and transported it across the street to be eaten.  (If my hands were full, I kept a small reusable bag in my backpack for easier transport.)  It can be somewhat embarrassing to assert oneself in this context, particularly if the cashier bags the items before you can ask them not to.  But if you go to the deli often enough, the cashier quickly learns that you’re the weirdo who won’t take the bag.

Keep takeout materials for future use.  In my family we eat too much takeout, and since the “skip the stuff” bill has yet to be passed in NYC, that takeout regularly comes with plastic utensils that we don’t need or want, despite our Seamless settings to the contrary.
When my kids were young, however, their classrooms often had celebrations of sorts.  A list of items needed for the party was circulated among parents; needless to say, the easiest things to bring always went first, but I quickly became the parent who volunteered to bring the utensils.  For that purpose, I saved all the useless utensils that I had saved from takeout and used them at the party.  Nothing matched and it was not a pretty sight.  But who really cares about what the cutlery looks like at these gatherings?  At least the utensils were being used once, even if they were later thrown away. And I got to reduce my kitchen clutter!

Reuse plastic bags and containers.  Before there were Stasher bags, there were Ziplocks.  I haven’t purchased Ziplock bags in years but I still have plenty of them.  They are designed to last forever, so I put them to the test.  When I’ve used one, I turn it inside out, and scrub it with a sponge to clean it, rinse it and dry it in the dishrack.  My daughter thinks I’m ridiculous, but I don’t care.
I also use takeout containers as a substitute for Tupperware: that eliminates the need to put plastic film over leftovers, and the containers stack easily in the fridge.  I have glass containers for food that’s sensitive or needs to be microwaved.

Although I also own a dozen or so mesh vegetable bags and even more reusable grocery bags, I still end up with plastic grocery bags.  These could be the ultra-thin vegetable bags, or even the bags that bread and other groceries automatically come in.  I save all of them and store the bags in an empty tissue box; the box holds a ton of bags in a small space, and has a nice wide opening to grab them.
Before the plastic grocery bag ban, I used them as trashcan liners.  Now that I have fewer bags (and a reusable trashcan liner), I grab a bunch when I’m going to the grocery store.  I stick my loose vegetables in them (and explain what’s in the bag to the cashier, who may not otherwise be able to tell since the bag is labeled for bread).   Alternatively, I use the bags when I clean the cats’ litter box; if I had a dog, I’d use them as poop scoopers.   In any case, I’m just reusing something that I was stuck with anyway, rather than grab something new.

These are suggestions that any of us can do that don’t take a lot of time or money.  Since less than 6% of all plastics are recycled, I believe it’s best either to refuse plastics outright, or reuse them when you can’t.  There are many, many other things you can do to reduce your plastic use if you are so inclined.  Start with baby steps, and add more as you get inspired!
Sally T., IEBG member