According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. is the world’s largest producer of plastic waste, generating nearly 58 million metric tons annually. This is equivalent to approximately 255 pounds of plastic waste per person each year! The vast majority of this plastic waste goes into landfills or waterways, with less than 10% actually being recycled. A plastic bag, used to hold your groceries, has a lifespan of about 12 minutes after leaving the store. That same bag can take up to 1,000 years to break down in a landfill.

We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to avoid purchasing and using plastic bags,  containers and other products whenever possible. Instead, use reusable totes and bags when shopping, don’t buy anything in plastic containers, avoid plastic straws, dinnerware, etc. 

Unfortunately, we know that plastic bags and food wraps are unavoidable. Our breads, produce, cereal, mailers and more come sealed in plastic. These “soft plastics” are not recyclable with our other #1, #2, or #5 household plastics that go in our bi-weekly pick-ups. While many of us take our plastic bags back to the grocery store for recycling, too many just get tossed in the trash and end up in the landfill.

Local grocery stores like Festival, Piggly Wiggly, and Pick N Save are doing a part in helping this problem. They are drop-off locations to collect these plastic bags and films. The stores then send them to a company called NexTrex – a recycling solution that turns these qualifying plastics into eco-friendly outdoor products, such as high-performance composite benches and furniture. 

Last month, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) enrolled in the NexTrex Recycling Challenge Program. CSA is dedicated to collecting, sorting, weighing, and dropping off 250 pounds of plastic quarterly. While doing their part for the environment, they also hope to add composite benches to their outdoor spaces – any maybe ours?!  CSA is inviting members of Pilgrim UCC to join them in their efforts. Other partners in this project are Badger Soft Water and the Fondy Food Pantry. Members of Pilgrim’s Green Team have been making weekly stops at Badger and the Food Pantry and picking up their soft water salt bags and box wrap that would otherwise go into landfills. Gary Ring reports that approximately 100 pounds of plastic waste is collected in soft water salt bags from Badger and 25 pounds of plastic wrap from the Food Pantry monthly.

Will you join us in keeping plastics out of landfills? Start collecting your plastic bags and films. Instead of taking them to your local grocery store, bring them to church. There will be a tall white collection container in the Narthex. Please be sure that plastics are clean, dry and free of food. Cut off or remove any stickered labels, especially if they contain personal information. You should be able to stick a fingernail through the stretchy plastic for it to be included. A shortened list of what is and what is not acceptable is below. The full list will be posted on the collection box itself. Items include:

Acceptable:
• Produce bags, store bags, ice bags
• Ziploc and reclosable bags, cereal box liners, case overwrap, bread bags
• Newspaper sleeves, dry cleaning bags, bubble wrap, plastic e-commerce mailers

Not Acceptable
• Frozen food or pre-washed salad mix bags, hot dog or meat wrap packaging
• Pet food bags (unless marked otherwise)
• Shiny, crinkly films like floral wrap
• Net or mesh produce bags, vinyl shower curtains or tablecloths
• Degradable or compostable bags

Please contact Tracy Abler for any questions at tabler@csasisters.org or call 920-907-2315.