Plastic Free April
- by Lisa Monti
When a small group of residents set out to eliminate plastic straws, water bottles, grocery bags and takeout containers, the momentum to do more started to build.
Organizers Ann Weaver, Carole McKellar, and Kerr Grabowski have seen their early efforts get off to a vigorous start with growing community support. To read more about why the group formed, read this February Cleaver story. A new Facebook page and website, Plastic Free April, is spreading the word about the effects of single-use plastic on the environment, particularly the oceans. Plans for Plastic Free April are growing to include a Plastic Free Second Saturday Artwalk and educational film showings (like this one at the Bay St. Louis library on April 7th!). |
Beach to Bayou
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To keep the momentum building, everyone is invited to take the Plastic Free April challenge. All you have to do is try to omit all single-use plastic (plastic bottles, straws and shopping bags) for the month of April. Avoiding plastic for a week is OK too, organizers say.
Social media is playing a large role in this plastic free community effort. The Plastic Free April Facebook page, which just went up Feb. 20, is adding information about local events plus lists of restaurants that have agreed to join in with the effort.
Three film showings of three films — “BagIt,” “Addicted to Plastic,” and “Tapped” — will be available to show how pervasive plastic has become in the world’s environment and ways to curb its use. Other events will include workshops and children’s activities.
One high-profile promotion is slated for April 9, when some downtown merchants have agreed to make the Second Saturday Art Walk plastic free.
More ideas and plans for events and community involvement are in the works as enthusiasm, information, and participation spread. Organizers feel that Bay St. Louis will lead the way in eliminating plastic and promoting alternatives.
www.facebook.com/ plasticfreeapril
Instagram: #plasticfreeapril
Recycle Your Printer Ink Cartridges for Charity!
Instead of throwing your used ink and toner cartridges in the trash, take them to S&L Office Supply, 129 Hwy 90 in Waveland. They'll send them to be refilled or recycled as part of a special program called Carts 4 Kids. The proceeds are donated to CASA to help local children. In 2015, the project raised $3,100 for the charity!
Read more here! |