Preserve Teams with the Health Food Industry Offering New Option for Eco-Friendly Consumers

Photo courtesy of Preserve.

WALTHAM, Mass.- Most municipal recycling center throughout the country reject what are know as #5 polypropylene plastics - such as yogurt and other dairy containers - which then end up in landfills due to their low rate of recyclability.

In an effort to curb this mounting waste, Preserve, a producer of 100 percent recycled household products, has partnered with Stonyfield Farm, Organic Valley, and Whole Foods Market in launching the Preserve Gimme 5 recycling program.

“This program will save thousands of pounds of #5 plastics from being sent to landfills. We are thrilled to join this program and to empower our customers to increase their recycling efforts,” said Jeremiah McElwee, senior Whole Body coordinator for Whole Foods Market.

Click to read more ...

Working to Reduce Toxic Waste in Landfills, New York Passes Its First Plastic Bag Recycling Legislation

A NYS landfill. Provided by the Concerned Citizens of Cattaraugus County, Inc

ALBANY — Statewide plastic bag recycling legislation has just been signed by New York State Governor David A. Patterson. The legislation was co-sponsored by Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney (A. 11725) and State Senator Carl L. Marcellino (S. 8643-A).

The introductory clause of this legislation states that “Each year an estimated 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags are used worldwide…and of which billions of bags end up as litter each year.

Most plastic carryout bags do not biodegrade which means that the bags break down into smaller and smaller toxic bits that contaminate the soil and waterways, and enter into the food web when animals accidentally ingest those materials.

It is the intent of this legislation to encourage the use of reusable bags by consumers and retailers, and to encourage the reduced consumption of single-use bags.” This legislation will go into effect on January 1, 2009.

Click to read more ...