Another holiday season has come and gone, but plastic holiday decorations, knick knacks and gifts will live on for hundreds of years and then some. I started thinking about plastic and the holidays shopping for my nephews and niece’s Christmas presents. Walking bewildered through the toy department, I was overwhelmed by all the plastic. Pretty… [read more]
Recycle plastic, it’s worth it!
If you’ve been feeling lackluster about recycling lately, this graphic by OnlineEducation.net will spark you back into action! Creating plastic uses up tons of resources, so instead of making more new plastic, why not just reuse the plastic we already have? For this strategy to really work, everyone needs to chip in and do their… [read more]
Happy America Recycles Day!
Did you know that November 15th is America Recycles Day? It’s one more way to raise awareness about recycling and remind people to recycle every day of the year. And it’s the perfect time to expand your recycling consciousness. Instead of just focusing on recycling aluminum cans, newspapers, junk mail, plastic bottles and other items… [read more]
California plastic bag ban didn’t happen
Alas, the California State Legislature failed to get their act together and pass a state-wide ban on single-use plastic bags. AB 298 stalled in the State Senate Appropriations committee. I’m guessing most of you already figured this out because there hasn’t been any mention of a plastic bag ban in the news, but I still… [read more]
Help ban plastic bags in California!
Tomorrow (or today if you are reading this on Friday, August 31st) is the last day for California’s State Senate to approve a state-wide ban on single-use plastic bags. Please call your State Senator’s office and ask them to vote YES on AB 298 and make this happen! If the State Senate passes the bill… [read more]
In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s hot!
Summer heat has finally arrived in Los Angeles. I knew we couldn’t escape it, but I have to admit a small part of me was really hoping the heat might just end up somewhere else permanently. And yes, I know we are completely spoiled living in Los Angeles and I shouldn’t complain, but it’s hot!… [read more]
Oceans of garbage means plastic for dinner
Here is another great infographic by mastersdegree.net, which seemed extremely appropriate to post after writing about the Risso’s dolphin that died from eating too many plastic bags. All the plastic entering our oceans is completely disrupting the food chain and it’s inevitable that we will be eating plastic too. This graphic does a nice job… [read more]
Risso’s dolphin: death by plastic bags
Here is another photo featuring plastic bags from a stomach, this time from the stomach of a Risso’s dolphin. Dr. Alexandros Frantzis, Scientific Director at the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute in Greece sent me this photo and provided this explanation: “The photo shows the large quantity and size (the meter-tape used as scale is 2… [read more]
Jump start your creativity and help save the oceans!
Game on! There’s a pretty cool contest going on that ocean fans, recycling nuts and crafty creatives should participate in: the Summer Sustainability Creativity Challenge! This contest is all about taking things destined for the trash or recycling bin and giving them a second life as art (functional or not). For inspiration, check out the… [read more]
Contents of a sperm whale’s stomach: squid parts and plastic
After I wrote about the sperm whale that died from eating 100 plastic bags, Dr. Alexandros Frantzis, Scientific Director at the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute in Greece sent me another photo of a sperm whale’s stomach contents. This photo shows the new normal for a sperm whale’s diet in the eastern Mediterranean Sea as described… [read more]