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Plastics

The Dangers of Black Plastic and Safer Alternatives

Apr 30, 2025 ● By Kim Hankins

Black plastic, commonly found in kitchen utensils, food packaging, and electronics, poses significant health and environmental risks due to toxic chemicals and its impact on recycling efforts.

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Microplastic Overload REDUCING CHILDHOOD EXPOSURE
Microplastic Overload: Reducing Childhood Exposure

Apr 28, 2023 ● By Madiha Saeed, M.D.

Researchers are investigating the human health impacts of these synthetic materials, and while we have a growing picture of potential risks, additional scientific exploration is needed to know how petroleum-based polymers affect kids.

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Diagram of process to remove plastic from ocean
Mechanical Devices Inefficient at Removing Ocean Plastic

Dec 30, 2022

A study suggests that while mechanical devices like Seabin do remove plastics and other items of marine litter, the quantities can be comparatively low and they may trap marine organisms.

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Leather alternative purse made out of mushroom mycelium
The Perils of Plastic Clothing: Embracing Slow Fashion and Sustainable Fabrics

Dec 30, 2022 ● By Sandra Yeyati

Most clothes made today contain plastic, mainly in the form of polyester, which takes a large toll on the planet. Here are sustainable fabric options and eco-friendly fashion tips.

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Pile of plastics for recycling
Plastic Recycling Hoax Revealed

Oct 31, 2022

20 states have passed bills to exempt chemical recycling facilities from waste management requirements, despite evidence that most facilities actually incinerate the plastic they receive.

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Cigarette butt waste
Tobacco Industry is Big Plastic Polluter

Jul 29, 2022

Cigarette butts are the most common source of plastic pollution in the global environment, surpassing bottles, plastic bags and food wrappers.

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Plastic-free picnic set up outdoors with basket, small grill, blanket, serve wear and food
Planet-Friendly Picnicking: Strategies for a Plastic-Free Outing

Jul 29, 2022

It’s time to level up our picnicking game by going plastic-free. With a little planning, simple swap-outs are easy and less costly in the long run.

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Person shopping green packaged personal care items in store holding skin scrubber to face
The Greening of Packaging: Cleaning and Personal Care Products Go Eco

Jul 29, 2022 ● By Sheryl DeVore

Consumers are demanding that home cleaning and personal care products come in environmentally friendly packaging that reduces waste and plastic use.

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Free the Ocean logo
Ban Plastics in National Parks

May 31, 2022

Nonprofit Free the Ocean is circulating a petition to Get Single-Use Plastic Out of U.S. National Parks.

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Plasticware going into disposal bin
Plastic On its Way Out at National Parks

Mar 31, 2022

Poll finds that 82 percent of registered U.S. voters responding would like the National Park Service to stop selling and distributing single-use plastic items.

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Bacteria on empty plastic bottle
Bacteria May Become Plastic Pathfinders

Feb 28, 2022

A study has discovered that microbes in oceans and soils worldwide are evolving to eat plastic.

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Discarded Styrofoam container polluting waterway environment
The 411 on Styrofoam: Why We Should Just Say No

Feb 28, 2022

The harm Styrofoam causes to human health and the planet outweighs its convenience. Here are safer, eco-friendly alternatives.

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Graphic of hands holding globe
Plastic is the New Coal

Dec 30, 2021

A new report has found that emissions from the plastic industry may be greater than those from coal-fired power plants by 2029.

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Person cleaning up beach with gloved hands full of microplastics
Simple Ways to Reduce Microplastic Exposure

Oct 29, 2021

The microparticles that result from plastics breakdown are contaminating global waters, air, soil and snow, but with certain steps we can avoid adding to the toxic refuse.

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Clear recycled plastic bottles
Using Enzymes to Recycle Plastic

Sep 30, 2021

A more sustainable approach for recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic used in single-use beverage bottles, clothing and food packaging, has been found.

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Littered crumpled plastic bottle floating in water
Artificial Intelligence Joins Fight Against Marine Litter

Apr 30, 2021

MARLIT, an open-access web app based on a deep-learning artificial intelligence algorithm, will promote the detection and measurement of floating plastics in the sea.

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Filling water from tap to avoid microplastic particles
Plastic Particles Ingested in Food and Water

Jan 29, 2021

Researchers estimate people that drink bottled water ingest an additional 90,000 microplastic particles annually compared to 4,000 microplastics for those that drink only tap water.

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Recycled Plastics
Wishful Recycling: What Not to Put in the Bin

Sep 30, 2020 ● By Yvette C. Hammett

"Wishful recycling" is when residents place waste items in the recycling bin that cannot be recycled. Here are ways to avoid wishful recycling with dos and don'ts for proper disposal.

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Biodegradable Compostable Recyclable
Starchy Solution: A Plant-Based Alternative to Plastic

Aug 31, 2020

Manufacturer Kuraray has introduced a renewable and sustainable starch-based barrier film called Plantic. The plant-based packaging material can be recycled or composted.

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Microplastics in the environment
Plastic Rain: Airborne Particulates Blanket Wilderness

Aug 31, 2020

Researchers estimate more than 1,000 tons of microplastics are deposited from the air into national parks and wilderness areas each year.

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