It’s time to organize and advocate! The Florida State Legislature is in session, and there are several important bills on the table that could redirect power to our local governments. This is particularly beneficial for plastic waste mitigation and management because local officials can fashion policies that are more relevant to our unique local contexts.

The 2021 Florida Legislative Session began on March 2nd, and it is scheduled to end on April 30th. During this time, state-level House and Senate members meet with their issue-specific committees to discuss bills. Legislators decide which bills will be put on their committee meeting agendas based on how important they determine the different issue areas to be for their constituencies. When residents don’t express their interest in a bill, it’s unlikely to make it very far in the legislative process. There’s a chance that any bill won’t be heard, so potentially beneficial proposals may miss their chance to become state law.

This month, some members of the Debris Free Oceans team logged onto Zoom with hundreds of fellow Floridians to express our support for two plastic-related bills:

One of the biggest obstacles that plastic-free advocates face are preemptions. These laws essentially block local governments from prohibiting the use of certain single-use plastic products. HB 6027/SB 594 Preemption of Recyclable and Polystyrene Materials would repeal the existing preemptions on plastic bags, plastic containers, and polystyrene foam.

→ In 2008, lawmakers passed a bill prohibiting local governments from regulating plastic bags until the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issued recommendations. In 2010, the FDEP completed a detailed report on strategies to discourage the use of single-use plastic bags, but the Legislature still hasn’t acted on those findings.

→ In 2016, lawmakers passed a bill to preempt local regulation of polystyrene foam in food-service-ware. Polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, is a petroleum-based plastic material commonly used in single-use take-out containers. It is rarely recycled properly, often shows up as litter in our communities, and never biodegrades.

If you’ve been wondering why plastic straws are such a common target for local bans, meanwhile there isn’t as much regulation addressing bags, bottles, or take-out-ware … It’s largely because of these preemptions! If HB 6027/SB 594 were passed, you could expect to see more city and county-level actions taken to manage plastic pollution and reduce non-essential plastic consumption.

It’s important to know that banning non-essential single-use plastics isn’t something we’d be doing on our own. To-date, 127 countries, 400 U.S. cities, and eight states have banned single-use plastic bags (which each affect more producers and consumers at a time than individual city or county-level actions). In the U.S. there’s been some variability in the efficacy of bag bans based on how they are implemented, what alternatives are offered, and what other legislation accompanies the bans. Removing Florida’s preemptions on local regulation is an important first step for local leadership to start addressing the ways that plastic consumption and pollution affect their residents. Our municipalities will likely take action based on local interests, but they can also learn lots from successful policy bundles and programs in other jurisdictions.

The second bill we are supporting is HB 1563/SB 1348 Auxiliary Containers, Wrappings, and Disposable Plastic Bags Used by Retail Establishments. This directs the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to update its plastic bag report and requires the Legislature to act upon the findings of this new study.

As we’ve seen in the recent past, public participation and pressure will be critical to ensure that plastic pollution prevention is prioritized by our state lawmakers.

Ready to take action? Plastic Free Florida has loads of action items, resources, and information about these bills! I encourage you to browse their site and use the tools to build a relationship with your legislators.

Find your FL state representative here.             Find your FL state senator here.

You can start with a simple email, phone call, or Zoom meeting. Plastic Free Florida has some sample scripts and prompts to streamline the process, but we encourage you to put your own personal spin on the contents.

Phone calls have been proven extremely effective, and video calls are a great way to forge a more personal, face-to-face connection with your representative(s). Access to digital communication is a major advantage for advocates; neither type of call takes up too much time from your schedule or theirs. Make the most of that privilege, and be sure to encourage your colleagues and neighbors to do the same! Legislators are elected to represent our communities, and they’ll certainly benefit from hearing about what we’ve all experienced and hope for the future of our Sunshine State.

Every week or so, it seems as though there are new studies and striking headlines drawing our attention to yet another terrible consequence of plastic production, consumption, and waste. Researchers are finding tiny microplastics in the deep ocean sediments, diverse marine species, presumably clean drinking water, and human organ tissues. These advancements are helpful for scientists to better understand the scope and scale of the plastic pollution crisis, but their progress remains very disconnected from the day-to-day interactions we have with plastics products and packaging.

Scientists have been sounding the alarm about our reliance on plastics for decades, and the conclusions of their studies aren’t much different now than they were as far back as the 70s. See, for example: Edward J. Carpenter’s 1972 research articles on “plastic particles” found in the Sargasso Sea and plastic nurdles found along the southern coast of New England.

Although plastic pollution wasn’t making news headlines decades ago, the research did continue, and leading scholars published several important early findings. Early research suggests that scientists were particularly concerned about the persistent and resilient chemical structure of plastics. Because they do not readily break down, plastics pose a unique threat to coastal communities, humans, and marine life that persists and accumulates over generations. Material consequences of marine debris were unclear, but scientists did recognize that plastics could absorb and leach out toxic chemicals – amplifying possible damages far beyond the already complicated mix of different plastic polymers.

Meanwhile, top manufacturers within the petrochemical industry heavily marketed the utility of single-use items without assuming responsibility for the proven and possible harms that their production, use, and disposal would cause. See, for example, Rebecca Altman’s story on “how plastic bags came to rule our lives.”

Low-income and racial and ethnic minority communities in the Global North and historically oppressed populations throughout the Global South were among the first forced to deal with the real consequences of the single-use plastics boom. Plastics are noxious at every stage of their life cycle: from the air, water, and land pollution created throughout production to the economic, public health, and safety consequences of mismanaged plastic waste.

As plastics became more convenient and single-use consumerism was assimilated into mainstream culture, demand for new plastics wasn’t the only factor on the rise. Plastic waste has consistently been accumulating at a rate that exceeds the capacity of global waste management infrastructure. Industrialized countries producing the greatest share of plastic and single-use waste funnel their garbage into developing countries that lack the necessary capacity to process and manage all the waste that comes from more developed countries.

It’s clear that the consistent flurry of daunting plastic-related headlines about scientific studies isn’t compelling a strong enough response from the system churning out single-use products. As the problem increases in scope and severity, there is no better time for us to tap into the local knowledge of communities that are actively adapting to the harms caused by plastic production, consumption, and wastage.

High level government and corporate actors have historically overlooked and devalued the rich intergenerational, collaborative, and experiential knowledge that community members hold. Those living on the frontlines of petrochemical plants have unique insights on the consequences of industrial activity that are most harmful to their community. Families up-cycling and repurposing all they already own and value out of necessity have unique insights on how we can foster a culture of regeneration and transition away from a throw-away economy. Those living overseas with limited resources to pursue the same educational and workforce opportunities as those of us in industrialized countries have unique insights on pathways to innovation that do not require invasive or extractive forms of technology.

I believe that we have all the tools we need to transition away from single-use plastics. When we tap into the unique value of the knowledge and skills that different groups possess, we have all we need to construct a system that meets our needs while valuing the health of our populations, land, and waters. See Intersectional Environmentalist’s Waste page for resources on waste, regenerative economics and circularity.

One of the most powerful ways we can contribute to solving the global plastic pollution problem is by amplifying the voices of those whose knowledge has historically been excluded from critical conversations about development and social well-being. We can construct economic and sociopolitical institutions that uplift present and future generations by taking this charge in our work, in our schooling, in our civic engagement, and even in conversations across the dinner table!

Throughout their noxious life cycle, petrochemical products used to make household plastics inflict persistent harms on human health and the environment. It’s becoming very clear that we need to break free from plastic, so what’s stopping us?

“Research shows that knowledge isn’t the only thing that will change behavior. You usually need much more,” according to Caitie Nigrelli, an environmental social scientist at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant.

Plastics are nearly impossible to avoid, so for those of us strapped for time or cash plastic-free living can easily seem unrealistic. That’s one of the main motivations behind Debris Free Oceans’ Sustainability Consultation program! Individuals, groups, and businesses at all levels need effective and accessible alternatives to successfully phase-out a material that is so embedded in our lives. DFO provides consultation services, free of cost, to facilitate local businesses’ transition away from single-use plastics and towards more sustainable alternatives.

The program was initially developed as a means to assist businesses because, just as the responsibility for addressing this crisis does not all fall on consumers, many small businesses lack the capacity to align their purchasing policies with their values. DFO’s sustainable business consultations are individually tailored to make that connection a reality! In turn, businesses are equipped to contribute to the health and well-being of their communities into their long and fruitful future.

While businesses may reach out to DFO when seeking consultation services, our team often initiates contact with the leadership teams of local ventures that would benefit from this program. Buyers with the ability to use their purchasing power are seeking out more plastic-free alternatives by the day, and businesses need to be ready to play their part!

According to a recent survey of consumers from the US & UK by Globalwebindex:

• More than half of the participants said they’ve started making a conscious choice to use less disposable plastic in the last year.
• 42% of consumers said that recycled and/or sustainable packaging materials are important in their day-to-day shopping.
• In only seven years, the percentage of consumers who are willing to pay more for these alternatives has grown from 47 to 59%.

That said, avoiding plastics is no easy feat for buyers or businesses. There are a host of distracting and misleading products promoted as alternatives. In reality, many of these “greenwashed” materials are still contributing to economic, social, and environmental damages. Ethical small businesses often have the right intentions of creating positive social impact, but are forced to dodge the misinformation that’s out in the markets.

“It’s basically when organizations succumb to the temptation to present a different image from what’s really there,” according to Renee Lertzman, Ph.D., Project Inside Out founder and a psychologist who specializes in the mental toll of climate change. “It’s a particular image or facade that purports to be in alignment with sustainability and climate issues—but it’s not the real deal.”

DFO is proud to play a role in making compostable and reusable products more easily accessible through our virtual tools and one-on-one consultations. Be sure to check out the “Sustainable Business” drop-down menu to browse some of our suggested responsible products, submit your favorite plastic free-alternatives, and plug n’ chug metrics for a quick calculation of how much you could save by swapping reusables for plastics.

At the end of the day, the economic burdens associated with phasing-out plastics should not fall on any one small business or organization. In order for alternatives to truly be more accessible, we need systemic change. DFO targets businesses that are more likely to need cost-free consultation services in order to make the switch, and our work isn’t possible without the support of city and county governments.

“Business practices closely intersect with standards set by law and policy, which is ultimately a reflection of society’s shared values.” – Caiti Waks, Co-Founder and Director of Debris Free Oceans

The public sector (including different levels of government and policy-making bodies) plays an important role in making sustainable business practices more accessible. DFO’s team is proud to be working alongside the City of Miami Beach as they pave the way for municipalities to play an active role in this transition through their #PlasticFreeMB initiative!

In 2019, the DFO team worked with the City of Miami Beach to launch the #PlasticFreeMB Program, which recognizes businesses as they voluntarily progress along a spectrum of plastic-free practices:

• Level 1 Businesses, such as Surfcomber Hotel or Buenos Aires Bakery & Cafe, have phased out plastic straws or plastic bags.
• Level 2 Businesses, such as Ben & Jerry’s or David’s Café Cafecito, have phased out plastic straws, plastic bags, and one of the following eligible items.
• Level 3 Businesses, such as Biscayne Cowboys or the Miami Beach Convention Center, have eliminated all single-use plastic utensils, stirrers, straws, take-out containers, coffee cups, lids, and bags and/or switched over to 100% reusable products.

The timeline of developing, implementing, and enforcing local ordinances is often slow to create change, but this voluntary business recognition program has already created a ripple of positive impact through the promotion of sustainable business practices. In addition to promotional support and access to interactive consultation resources, the #PlasticFreeMB Program includes a unique educational component in which DFO will be working with schools to reach at least three hundred students and leading three community workshops for adults and businesses to learn more about their role in mitigating the plastic pollution crisis. This will be a critical component for the collective shift in purchasing policies and consumer preferences in the City of Miami Beach. We can only truly begin to create change once we achieve a strong shared understanding of the challenges at hand.

Just as each business consultation is unique, so are our partnerships with municipalities. The City of Miami Beach and the DFO team are currently in the process of growing our capacity to extend these working partnerships to more cities and businesses. The City of Miami Beach distributes their #PlasticFreeMB marketing package to cities interested in replicating the program and DFO provides the tools and consultation services to bring the transition to life. During the Summer of 2020, the City of North Bay Village joined in to launch #PlasticFreeNBV!

For more information about our business consultation services, visit our Sustainable Business page. To connect with our team regarding partnerships or the forthcoming Plastic Free Cities initiative, email hello@debrisfreeoceans.org!

Plastic is problematic from cradle to grave: all stages of the life cycle of plastics release pollution and create physical hazards that plague frontline communities with chronic illnesses, negatively impact local economies, and contribute to the decline of our natural environment. Our dependence on plastics for day-to-day tasks has become a characteristic of the modern industrial era, and it may be difficult to imagine a world without so much waste.

That’s why Debris Free Oceans has recently endorsed the #PlasticFreePresident campaign to amplify demands that can help our country to begin the large-scale transition to a circular economy. A circular economy is an economic system that eliminates waste by keeping products and materials in use through innovative design and technology. 

We can transform our extractive, throwaway economy to a regenerative, inclusive one that’s good for our environment and creates quality job opportunities. We need to stop plastic pollution at its source while improving our waste-management systems, developing new business models, phasing out the worst plastic offenders, and shifting to reusable non-plastic alternatives. The federal government needs to be a catalyst for innovation!

Our sustained civic action and participation in the 2020 general election have led to a moment where this type of change is within reach. We’ve elected a President and Vice President who prioritize environmental justice, environmental stewardship, and economic growth through a sustainable economic system. Once in office, President-elect Joe Biden can take action on the following eight demands without Congressional approval. While some have the potential to catalyze immediate changes, others are longer-term measures that will require consensus at all levels of government and consistency from the general public to be most effective.

The #PlasticFreePresident campaign is advancing the following 8 actions for advocates to promote for President-Elect Biden and his administration:

1. Use the purchasing power of the federal government to eliminate single-use plastic items and replace them with reusable products.

There is a long history of consumer activism in the United States (suggested read: Buying Power by Lawrence B. Glickman). The concept of buying or purchasing power refers to the potential for collective shifts in spending patterns to determine the trajectory of the markets. When it comes to plastics, this would look like diverting our hard-earned dollars from low-quality plastic items and favoring longer-lasting, plastic-free reusables. When sufficient consumers make this change, our preferences are amplified and clearer to producers. Companies selling more sustainable products should succeed, and overtime increased demand for their products enables them to scale their operations and reach more consumers. Meanwhile low-quality plastic producers are forced to assimilate more sustainable alternatives or risk suffering losses. This is an indirect way that market forces can change production and consumption norms over the long-term.

The federal government is the single largest purchaser of goods and services in the United States, spending more than $450 billion on products and services each year. That means the government is likely the country’s largest consumer of disposable plastic products.

By reforming their purchasing practices, the federal government could greatly reduce the footprint of plastic waste and bolster demand for plastic-free and reusable goods.

2. Suspend and deny permits for new or expanded plastic production facilities, associated infrastructure projects, and exports.

When we think about the negative effects of plastic production, it’s easy to focus on the end of the plastic life cycle: its contribution to our global waste footprint and potential to end up as marine pollution. However, it is just as important to recognize that every piece of plastic is derived from fossil fuels and emits excess greenhouse gases throughout each phase of its life cycle (suggested read: Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet).

In the next 10 years, the petrochemical industry is projected to increase plastics production by at least 35 percent. This includes over 300 new projects slated for territories within the United States. New and expanded facilities produce raw material for single-use plastics using fossil fuels. Because plastics are made from crude oil or fracked natural gas, these bans would curb the impacts of plastic pollution and the climate crisis simultaneously.

3. Make corporate polluters pay and reject false solutions.

Plastic producers must be held accountable for the social, financial, and ecological damage they are causing. The President can hold corporations accountable by supporting legislation such as the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act; calling for investigations on plastic producers, transporters, and manufacturers; and imposing more stringent regulation to minimize disinformation about recycling and product sustainability.

Additionally, the Biden administration can minimize greenwashed, false solutions to the plastic pollution crisis by rejecting funding for projects that ultimately worsen the scope and scale of environmental injustices. Some of these false solutions heavily marketed by the petrochemical industry include: chemical recycling, waste-to-fuel, waste-to-energy, incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, and plasma arc.

4. Advance environmental justice in petrochemical corridors.

Plastic production and refining facilities are often sited near fossil fuel infrastructure. In the United States, these clusters marginalize low-income and racial and ethnic minority communities in the Gulf Coast, Appalachia, and the Ohio River Valley (to name a few).

Fenceline communities are most directly impacted by the air, land, and water pollution released throughout the production of plastics. The #PlasticFreePresident campaign demands that executive agencies conduct their responsibilities transparently and facilitate spaces for historically excluded individuals living in fenceline communities to contribute meaningfully in petrochemical permitting decisions.

In order to advance a transition away from the petrochemical and fossil fuel industries, executive actions will be critical. The President can direct federal agencies to collect more data on environmental quality and the health of affected communities, develop mechanisms to increase investment in their local economies, and call for investigations on violations of their rights to sovereignty, dignity, and quality of life.

5. Update existing federal regulations to curtail pollution from plastics facilities by using the best available science and technology.

The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. This federal agency is required to ensure that our nation’s air, water, land, wildlife and human life are not harmed by industry activities. However, the EPA is not as effective in curbing the effects of advancing industrial processes when its standards are not updated. Public health and the natural environment are increasingly harmed by their reliance on standards that are growing decades old. The President has an important responsibility to direct the EPA to update its performance standards, regulatory guidelines, and research agenda.

6. Stop subsidizing plastic producers.

For most of our nation’s history, the federal government has subsidized the fossil fuel industry. In 2020, the United States provided more unconditional financial support to the fossil fuel sector than any other G20 country has provided to all energy sectors combined (suggested read: The Climate Transparency Report 2020). It’s time to stop the flow of federal funds to the petrochemical industry and the fossil fuel industry (which supplies the inputs for plastic production). These funds can be redirected to advance innovation in sustainable waste management and support the growth of reusable plastic-free alternatives.

7. Join international efforts to address the global plastic pollution crisis through new and strengthened multilateral agreements.

The United States’ extractive and wasteful economy does not exist in a bubble. Our actions have a direct effect on the global economy and an indirect effect on the decisions made by other countries. For many years, the United States has been counterproductive in others’ efforts to address the global plastic crisis. It is time for the U.S. to become an active champion of circular economics, encourage our allies to address the global plastic crisis, and begin targeting global patterns of production, consumption, and disposal. This can be achieved by forging legally-binding agreements with other major players in the production and waste management of plastics. Cooperative action can be a powerful agent in bringing justice to the low-to-middle income groups that have been marginalized by the life cycle of plastics beyond our borders.

8. Reduce and mitigate the impacts of discarded and lost fishing gear.

Some of the most dangerous hazards posed by marine debris come from lost or discarded fishing gear in the open ocean. This includes gill nets, traps, and heavy metal equipment that change the biochemical composition of the marine environment, entangle and kill marine organisms, impede navigation, introduce toxic chemicals into the food web, and impose massive cleanup costs for coastal communities. The President can work with other federal agencies to mandate more stringent reporting, monitoring, and retrieval projects to recover lost materials. There are many unique, innovative solutions that can be employed generate new products from the materials that are recovered. One example is Netplus, an alternative to virgin fibers that’s made of recovered fishing nets. They’ve worked with 50 fisheries in South America and collected over 2.6 million pounds of discarded material to date!

In 2021, we will urge President Biden to take these actions during his first year in office so that we may collectively build a safer, healthier, and more equitable society. We urge you to learn more about the power of having an actively plastic-free president and join us in this advocacy throughout the coming year!

The holiday season is quickly approaching! Over the next two months you’re likely to be bombarded with ads, flyers, and promotions urging you to purchase gifts for your family and friends. Gift-giving is a great way to express how much you value relationships with the special people in your life, but it can be difficult to find vendors that align with your aims to lead an environmentally and socially conscious lifestyle.

I’d argue that experiential gifts are the most meaningful and memorable! Planning an intentional activity that you and the person you are gifting for can enjoy together is a great way to celebrate and strengthen your relationship. But, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about new risks and challenges for social gatherings, and it is likely that you will find yourself in need of a gift for those you are unable to physically be with in the near-future.

When we decide to invest in a product—whether stocking up on a weekly grocery staple, purchasing a gift, or making the big decision to furnish a new space—we have the opportunity to express our values and priorities as consumers. This blog post will highlight some of the environmentally and socially conscious, local businesses in Miami that are worth looking into and supporting this holiday season.

For household items and bulk-buying, Verde Market is the DFO Team’s top pick! They offer plant-based, organic, and waste-free products sure to meet your needs year-round. To learn more about all that Verde Market’s team does to promote conscious consumption, check out our IG live interview featuring Co-owner Pamela Barrera.

Throughout Miami, there are many farmers and vendors growing and selling fresh fruits and vegetables. The option to purchase locally grown food offers many benefits! Although it is not accessible or affordable for everyone to make weekly purchases in this way, each time you make the decision to buy locally sourced foods, you strengthen this aspect of the local economy. Over time, as more consumers express their interest in advancing local and sustainable systems for food production, Miami’s local farmers and vendors can increase their capacity to make the fruits of their labor more accessible for all. Some of our favorites are: Urban Oasis Project, Bee Heaven Farm, Harpke Family Farm, and Little River Cooperative.

Verde Market

Urban Oasis Project

Little River Cooperative

If you’re interested in dabbling in organic gardening yourself, check out Tree Amigos Growers for an abundance of information and supplies!

A great gift for all ages is a set of reusable utensils to stay clean and plastic-free when enjoying meals on-the-go. Pauji Outdoors offers great sets, and they’re also based in sunny South Florida!

In addition to the purchases that’ll help to keep you healthy on the inside, it’s also important to identify vendors that will help you stay healthy on the outside. Cruda Soaps, Tree Hugging Soap, Sarada Craft, Vita Vibe Organics, and Camellia Naturals each offer all-natural, minimal-waste personal care products to keep you refreshed and rejuvenated. Any of their high quality products would make a thoughtful gift to encourage your friends and family to take some time for themselves after this long year.

Cruda Soaps

Waterlust

Pauji Outdoors

A great place to find many different local businesses and handmade goods is Etsy. They have a vibrant stock of children’s toys, home-ware, event decor, accessories, clothes, art and more! As you’re searching for the item or gift of your choice, you can learn about sellers’ businesses, filter results by shops located closest to you (again, it’s great to support local entrepreneurs!), and message sellers directly.

If you are looking to refresh your wardrobe, we suggest you scope out the racks at a nearby thrift store. Shopping second hand is a more ethical and environmentally friendly alternative to buying new, and it’s a great way to find one-of-a-kind pieces to make your own!

Fortunately, there are lots of great second hand stores in Miami, but one of my personal favorites is the Lotus House Thrift Chic Boutique. They are consistently stocked with treasures, and the store’s success directly benefits the house-less women, youth, and children serviced by the Lotus House Shelter. You can support the Lotus House through the Thrift Chic Boutique by indulging in a bit of shopping or donating clothing, furnishings, small appliances, kitchenware, decor, and other household goods that are new or gently used.

Gift giving is a fun way to celebrate your relationships, but it’s important to stay grounded in the meaning of the holiday season beyond the material or non-material joys that you exchange with those around you. We all have the power to give back to the people and places we love through acts of kindness and gratitude!

Some pieces, such as active-wear and swimwear, may be a bit more difficult to find in your specific size and style at a second hand store. As part of our Positive Impact Partnership, you can give back to DFO by shopping at Waterlust: www.waterlust.com/DFO. This locally owned and operated apparel company offers unique and sustainable pieces to meet those needs. Plus, when shoppers use our link, the company donates 25% of the proceeds from your purchase to advancing our work!

We can’t talk about fashion without mentioning face masks—after all, it’s 2020! Sea Jasper is one of many local vendors hand-making masks to keep our communities safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the support of their customers, the company has donated over 600 masks to frontline workers since March.

Finally, keep an eye out for Boho Birch’s site launch! This up-and-coming local business will be offering customizable, sustainable plant gifts to streamline your searches for special occasions.

As we all strive to lead more environmentally and socially conscious lives, recycling has become an increasingly contentious topic. This blog post will address some of the key questions and associated opportunities!

What is recycling?

The term recycling is often used inaccurately to refer to other forms of reusing or re-purposing items. It’s important that anyone participating in municipal recycling understands that this specifically refers to breaking down and reprocessing waste materials to convert them into new materials for manufacturing.

What is recyclable?

For recycling to work, your local waste management service needs to accomplish 3 key steps: (1) accumulate a large supply of homogeneous materials, (2) establish a method for collecting and processing those materials, and (3) identify a market demand for the recycled material.

Specifics for recycling procedures vary between states and even most local municipalities. This means that even traveling a short distance to visit a friend may change what items are considered acceptable for recycling (which plastics, glass, paper, etc.), how to separate these materials (single stream or categorized bins), and where you leave your recycling (curbside bins, drop-off centers, etc.).

For more information about what is recyclable where you live, visit your municipality’s website or contact your waste hauler directly.

Your waste hauler could tell you exactly what they are accepting and recycling based on current market trends. For example, in Miami-Dade County, most recycling is collected by Waste Management, and anyone can reach out to them for current information on the fate of their community’s recyclables.

For more information about what is recyclable Miami-Dade County, how those items are determined and managed locally— check out our previous post, 50 Shades of Green: Recycling in Miami.

It seems as though nearly all consumer products have some sort of labeling that resembles the iconic recycling emblem nowadays. Use of these symbols often indicates the subcategory, as for plastics shown below, but labeling of recyclables is not consistent or regulated overall. Unfortunately, this means that labeling is often misleading and should not be used as a guide. Your most accurate guide will be the recycling rules established by your municipality and waste hauler.

Your city or county may offer additional waste management solutions such as specific collections for e-waste or textile waste, or even composting for food scraps and yard waste!

How is recycling problematic?

All used plastic can theoretically be reprocessed into new things, but picking it up, sorting it out, and melting it down is expensive and complicated by contamination. Plastic also degrades each time it is recycled, so it can only be reprocessed a limited number of times. Meanwhile, making new plastic from fossil fuels is very cheap and already streamlined by existing industry technology.

NPR and PBS Frontline conducted a thorough investigation of documentation and messaging coming from the fossil fuel industry, and the results shed light on the problematic history of recycling. They surveyed internal industry documents and interviewed former top officials to reveal that the industry invested massive sums of money to promote recycling as a solution that would qualm the general public’s concerns about plastic waste. Meanwhile, they knew the majority of plastic would not be effectively recycled, and they continued accumulating billions of dollars in profit by selling the world new plastic.

This investigation found that “the industry’s awareness that recycling wouldn’t keep plastic out of landfills and the environment dates to the program’s earliest days.”

“There is serious doubt that [recycling plastic] can ever be made viable on an economic basis,” one industry insider wrote in a 1974 speech.

All the seemingly pro-environmental ads promoting circularity and consumer consciousness were funded by companies like Exxon, Chevron, Dow, DuPont and their lobbying and trade organizations attempting to conceal the reality that most plastic is burned or littered into the ocean.

Realistically, the entire concept of plastic waste recycling has only become less feasible: there are more types of plastic, it’s more cost effective to make new than recycled plastics, and there is exponentially more plastic waste than we had to deal with 30 years ago.

The oil industry profits more than $400 billion each year from plastic production, and as demand for oil for transportation declines, the industry projects that future profits will increasingly come from the plastic sales. In fact, analysts project that plastic production and consumption will triple by 2050.

What can we do?

Sorting plastic waste perfectly into the blue bins we’ve been accustomed to for the last several decades will not be the solution to the plastic waste crisis, but individuals like you and I certainly have a role to play in this imperfect system.

Public officials are noting that plastic recycling is more expensive than profitable for many municipalities. Rescinded recycling programs throughout the United States have been met with public outcry and disappointment with local officials for eliminating a service to their local environment. Although the notion of recycling is great in theory, it’s largely broken at this point. We can contribute to making recycling more feasible by learning the rules of what is acceptable recycling in our municipalities and cleaning those items before placing them in a recycling bin.

Nonetheless, it will be drastically more effective for individuals to advocate for other mechanisms to reduce our collective reliance on plastic. We can advocate for extended producer responsibility mandated through public policy or institutional bans on non-essential plastic products at our universities, places of work, or residences.

It’s unlikely that you will be able to completely break-up with plastic products. Their versatility and durability has made them a component of nearly every consumer product sold in the United States, but there are some notable exceptions. You can opt for products made by companies striving to build a more sustainable supply chain by using recycled inputs or avoiding plastic altogether by using alternative materials. Some of our favorites are Love Beauty and Planet’s cruelty free hair and skin products packaged in 100% recycled bottles and For Days’ 100% cotton face masks produced in a closed-loop, zero waste system. This post is not sponsored by either company, we sincerely find their products to be accessible and effective solutions.

The best thing to do with any plastic product you already own, is to give it a long life of re-use! Brainstorm ways to re-purpose packaging materials and consider sharing plastic products that you no longer need with a family member or friend before discarding them. For more ideas on how to make the most of things you already own— check out our previous post, 3 Key Strategies for Low Waste Living on a Budget.

Finding hobbies or passions can be really refreshing, especially during this time of great uncertainty. If you’re anything like me, and I take it you are since you’re reading this, you likely want to make sure that your interests align with your goal of living a sustainable life. Just because you’re passionate about the environment doesn’t mean you have to give up other  interests or hobbies- there are definitely ways to pursue them while keeping the planet’s well-being in mind.

It’s easy to make photography into a fairly eco-friendly hobby, it’s just a matter of being more aware of materials you use and implementing the five Rs into this aspect of your life. Seemingly small changes create a big impact, so let’s talk about how photography can be wasteful vs how we can help alleviate that waste

FILM PHOTOGRAPHY

I personally prefer film photography over digital, but something I think about is how wasteful it can be if one is unaware of how items can be properly used. Here are some ways to keep sustainability in mind when shooting film photos:

The Issue with “Disposable Cameras”: These are a popular way to document life using film, but they can be highly wasteful if not properly taken care of. Disposable cameras arguably create the most amount of waste when it comes to film photography.

The Alternative: This “disposable” aspect of disposable cameras can be eliminated without getting rid of the fast-paced, raw quality of disposable film camera photos. The alternative that mirrors this kind of camera the most is this one. It looks very similar to a disposable camera and acts just like it, but can be reloaded! Plus, it’s inexpensive so you’ll be helping out your wallet along with the planet. Another great alternative to disposable cameras is purchasing an inexpensive automatic 35mm point and shoot camera on eBay or at a garage sale. This way you can still take photos on the go, be more resourceful, and not sacrifice that disposable look.

You will also save a lot of money by purchasing one camera rather than repeatedly buying a new disposable each time. After purchasing a camera, you only need to buy film,  which ends up being much less pricey after a couple purchases. Buying film and paying for developing and scanning processes will cost half the price after buying a multi-use camera than it would if you also had to buy that disposable camera each time. Additionally, you get to call this camera your own and you’re able to have a more personal connection to the camera, which is something I really appreciate about film photography and how you get to be a part of the whole process.

The Issue with Film Canisters: Film canisters can create a lot of plastic waste if not reused.

The Alternative: Film canisters can be reused, and doing so is really easy. Here are a few ways you can reuse these:

1. Storage for small items like screws, matches, pins, coins, etc.
2. Toothbrush holder (cut out a hole in the lid big enough so your toothbrush can fit through it, then close it so the head is inside the canister)
3. Vitamin / pill holder

The main idea is to not throw these away- they are waterproof, scent proof, and durable little canisters that are extremely versatile in how they can be used after holding film.

Something that’s almost inherently sustainable about film cameras specifically is that for the most part, all film cameras that have been created are already in existence. Most camera companies are not creating new film cameras, which means there is no demand for new materials to make these products. When purchasing a film camera, we are already buying from the pool of cameras in existence, similar to buying clothes at a thrift store rather than at a new clothing store. So instead of creating a demand for new materials, we are alleviating the issue of waste by purchasing and re-purposing items that have already been created.

If you wanted to learn more about the sustainability of developing film and what chemicals are used and the effects they may have, feel free to email me at lizzie@debrisfreeoceans.org. This is a whole other realm of film photography, but it is one that’s worth looking into, if you want  to be as sustainable as possible. Another aspect of supporting sustainability in photography is to look into how different film labs dispose of their chemical waste and how they reuse their products. For example, the lab I send my film to, Thacker’s Film Lab creates key chains out of used film canisters and sends them out along with your developed film. Supporting environmentally responsible businesses is a good way to support the businesses investing in these efforts financially.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

The Issue with Batteries: Batteries can be wasteful and harmful for the environment. They are often single use, and their production is extremely energy intensive. Some batteries take around 100 times more energy to be manufactured than it can deliver throughout its lifetime.

The Alternative: Buy rechargeable batteries for your digital camera and flash in order to reduce waste caused by batteries. Reusable batteries can be better for the environment if used to their fullest potential. Luckily, most cameras come with rechargeable batteries, and flashes can potentially drain batteries pretty quickly, which means that the best option for these higher intensity items is using a rechargeable battery. By doing this, you are saving money and reducing negative environmental impacts, assuming you are using these reusable batteries for their entire lifespan.

The Issue with Lenses: Lenses aren’t inherently wasteful, but with how quickly cameras are changing and upgrading, continuing to buy new lenses each time you get a new camera can get pricey and ends up using a lot of materials.

The Alternative: Instead of buying several cheap lenses for your new cameras, invest in a long-lasting, good quality lens that best fits your needs. To support that investment, you can  then purchase a lens adapter to be able to continue using that lens even if you switch camera brands. This company sells camera gear, including lens adapters, and focuses on implementing positive environmental change with each purchase. They do this by focusing on creating products that will last a lifetime, using recycled packaging, and partnering with an organization that plants 5 trees for every item purchased.

In an ever-changing world, most photography related brands make it so that you always need to have the best and newest gear in order to be a relevant photographer. This creates the expectation that photographers need to constantly purchase new products to continue to stay afloat. Still, a big part of sustainability is about learning how to be creative with the things we already have, and the importance of properly taking care of them so that they last throughout our lifetimes and beyond.

Photography allows us to slow things down and take in moments and spaces in a way that we can’t otherwise. It’s about being more mindful about life and how we view it. The concept of environmental sustainability is similar: it’s about being aware of how we’re existing and properly utilizing the resources we have access to. In the long-term, it’s not about going to the most extreme lengths in order to achieve the greatest possible change; it’s about changing the little things we are able to change because collectively, doing so makes a greater impact than we think.

It’s election season! The COVID-19 pandemic has created unfamiliar, new circumstances for even the most experienced voters to navigate this year. This blog post breaks-down the upcoming phases of the electoral process to make our roles as voters and advocates as clear as possible.

First things first, let’s run through the timeline.

August 18th, 2020 is the primary election date for the State of Florida. In simple terms, you can consider this the “first round” that narrows the field of candidates for offices specific to your district. For the primary election, it is in your best interest to have a declared political party in your voter registration. This is because Florida is a closed primary state where only members of political parties get to vote in the partisan races, such as for congressional seats. There are also very important non-partisan races that we vote on in the primaries, such as county judges or mayor.

Throughout Miami-Dade County, ballots will differ based on the district that you are a registered resident of. You may see candidates for county mayor, county commissioners, school board member seats, state attorney, property appraiser, state legislators, county judges, and party committee persons (among others).

You can register for the first time or update an existing registration any time before the deadline: July 20th, 2020.

November 3rd, 2020 is the general election for all US states. In simple terms, you can consider this the “final round” in which voters make their final choice from the party nominees and independent candidates running for the presidency and other offices specific to your district.

You can register for the first time or update an existing registration any time before the deadline: October 5th, 2020.

As early as you can in the election season, it’s important to (1) if you are a first time voter, register or (2) if you have voted in the past, verify and update your registration. If you will be living at a different address during the different elections, it will be especially important to update your registration before the deadlines.

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, all Florida voters can request to vote by mail in the upcoming elections. Fortunately, requesting to vote from home with an absentee ballot does not require an excuse in most states.

All Florida residents can successfully request a vote-by-mail ballot by following these 3 steps:

1. Visit https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/supervisors/
2. Select your county for the Supervisors of Elections’ contact info.
3. Request a vote-by-mail ballot via the application on their website; or by email, fax, mail, telephone call, or in-person meeting.

It is recommended that you do this at least 10 days before the date of the election. For example, you would be on the right track if you’ve requested a mail-in ballot before August 8th for the primary election on August 18th. This is because we want to be mindful of delays in the time it takes for the request to be received, ballot to be mailed, completed, and returned. I strongly encourage you to submit this request sooner rather than later!

Once you receive a vote-by mail ballot, you can complete it on your own time just as you would in-person. It is very important that you follow the steps for packaging/mailing or turning in your ballot to make sure it is submitted in time and can be counted. There will be clear instructions on the ballot itself and in the other materials included in the envelope, but there are a host of additional resources to help you along the way provided by the County.

Mail-in ballots must be returned (1) by mail via USPS or (2) in person at a secure drop box.

If you choose to mail your ballot, it may be returned via the United States Postal Service and must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Postage is paid for you, so no stamp is required. Once mailed out, you can also track the status of your ballot online!

If you choose to submit the completed ballot in-person, be prepared to respect the COVID-19 protocol at your polling place. This will likely include wearing a face covering, using hand washing stations, and maintaining 6-feet of distance between yourself and other community members. You can drop off the ballot in a secure drop box at an Early Voting location or the Stephen P. Clark Center Voter Information Center (VIC) during their open hours or at the Miami-Dade Elections Department no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Whether you choose to vote-by-mail or submit your ballot in-person, it is recommended that you make use of the Early Voting window to avoid crowds or lines for all elections. Click here for updated access to early voting locations and schedules.

For answers to additional questions regarding the vote-by-mail process, reference this resource.

If you chose to vote in-person, you will be required to bring a form of photo ID that includes your name, photo, and signature such as a valid driver’s license. If you are unable to provide that, reference page 11 of this resource for alternatives.

Before election day, it is recommended that you learn about the positions and candidates that you’ll be voting on. Miami-Dade County has an excellent resource that generates a custom sample ballot, based on your address, so that you can get a sense of exactly what you’ll be asked at the polling place.

Additional Resources:

If you have any questions about the electoral process at all, do not hesitate to reach out to a local civic engagement organization or county official to ensure that you are able to effectively participate in this important process.

A collaboratively-developed resource on the candidates and their platforms, as well as this collection of questionnaire responses organized by issues and candidates for the primary elections in Miami-Dade County.

Voter Help and Election Protection Hotlines:

English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)

Arabic: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)

Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urudu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Vietnamese: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)

Information that residents of any state may find useful on: new registration, registration status, vote-by-mail and absentee ballots, early voting periods, election dates and reminders, voting rights, in-person voting at polling places, voting in the age of COVID-19, and completing the 2020 census.

On June 30th, the US House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America. The report outlines policy recommendations for the federal government to address the risks posed by climate change in a way that advances justice and equity, benefits workers and the national economy, and protects public health.

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis was created by Speaker Pelosi at the outset of the 116th session of Congress to make science-based policy recommendations to the standing committees of jurisdiction on how to solve the climate crisis.

Here’s a glimpse at some of the themes addressed in the Committee’s recent report:

Investment and Economic Growth

A great deal of the plan addresses the need for investment in clean energy technology and infrastructure in order to propel our economy to thrive at net-zero emissions no later than 2050. Advancement of renewable energy generation coupled with more efficient transmission systems would support a transition to clean energy for households and businesses across the Nation. The report also calls for congressional action to support the launch of new economic sectors that would catalyze progress on different aspects of our climate goals. Expanding research on low-carbon building materials, for example, would address the often overlooked waste and carbon footprint of the construction industry.

Did you know that cement, a key ingredient in concrete, is responsible for approximately 8% of global carbon emissions? If cement were its own country, it would rank among the top 5 highest contributors of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

By investing in the manufacturing of clean energy, electric vehicles, circular supply chains, and zero-emission technologies; the federal government can promote economic activity in a way that aligns with the urgent demands of the climate crisis.

This plan also calls for investments to elevate the electrification and transportation sectors. Advances in energy storage technology will be particularly important for the clean energy transition to be scaled across residential districts and economic sectors.

With investment and economic growth comes the opportunity for job creation! The recommendations laid out in this plan set the stage for the creation of high-quality, good-paying jobs that build local workforce capabilities, acknowledge and uplift vibrant regional economies, and strengthen workers’ rights to organize.

New Standards for Innovation

In addition to funneling federal dollars into the economic sectors that will propel the Nation forward in this transition, Congress can encourage innovation that aligns with climate action goals by setting new regulatory standards.

One well-known recent example are the Obama-era fuel economy standards which were established to push for production of vehicles that travel further on the same amount of fuel. This is also known as fuel efficiency, and it’s an excellent transitional mechanism for reducing the need for gasoline and decreasing air pollution associated with fuel combustion and transportation in general.

The plan sets forth recommendations for new standards for clean energy generation, energy efficiency, vehicle emissions, fuel carbon, infrastructure resilience, industry performance, labor and economic opportunities, and the pollution and leakage coming from the declining fossil fuel industry.

Justice and Equity

In setting forth a national net-zero emission goal, one of the most important aspects of measuring progress and maintaining accountability will be assessment of how costs and benefits are being distributed. This requires specific attention on interventions and impacts in historically marginalized communities of color and low-wealth communities. Many of the 12 pillars in this plan integrate the principles of environmental justice, in such a way that the health and knowledge of historically marginalized communities may be centered in federal climate and environmental policy.

The urgency for environmental justice is addressed through clean-up initiatives for remediation in communities that have been disproportionately exposed to pollution (also known as “EJ communities”). The report calls for prioritization of EJ communities in new federal spending, meaningful engagement with these individuals, and support of academic and government research on how the impacts of federal policies are affecting their neighborhoods.

Community Resilience

Another critical theme of the recommendations is the need for adaptation in currently and foreseeably vulnerable communities. Climate scientists have been warning of the human health and public safety risks associated with the increasing global mean surface temperatures and unpredictability of extreme weather events for over four decades. As such, there is no doubt that mitigation and innovation must be coupled with emergency preparedness and adaptation as priorities.

One of the many initiatives outlined in this report is the establishment of a National Climate Adaptation Program. This is intended to support state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in making sure their homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure can withstand the impacts of climate change. Risk management needs will range vastly: to bolster the structural integrity of industrial and manufacturing facilities, the resilience of our homes and local infrastructure, and the stability of agricultural systems fronted with climate-related hazards.

Notably, there is an entire pillar dedicated to making the agricultural industry a tool for climate action. Agriculture is arguably one of the most profoundly threatened systems that we rely on in the context of climate change. Recommendations in the report include the integration of adaptation and mitigation practices for new and otherwise disadvantaged farmers, incentives for them to implement efficiency and renewable energy technology on their lands, and expanded resources for the protection of farmland.

There are many important steps that have been and must continue to be taken in order to advance a global agenda for just climate action. I encourage you to learn more about climate action proposals from the local to the transnational level, including the US House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis’s report Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America.