Lasso your trash, Paso
When you think about your favorite snack, the last thing on your mind is where the wrapper ends up. From chips bags to candy wrappers and all other plastic packaging, the negative effect of a snack package left behind lasts far longer than the food we quickly gobble up!
One bag or wrapper may not seem like much, but taking a moment to pick it up and throw it away properly can prevent thousands of wrappers from littering our waters later. Help keep Paso Robles clean.
All that and a bag of chips
In 2019, during the International Coastal Cleanup, 1,140,222 food wrappers were picked up. Most food wrappers are not biodegradable and just sit at the bottom of sea floors or are blown into forests and open spaces - waiting for an animal to mistake them for a snack.
Packaging the impacts
Sadly, most food packaging is designed for a single use. Typically, these types of plastics are thrown away rather than recycled. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food and food packaging materials make up almost half of all municipal solid waste. In 2014, more than 63 percent of the 258 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the US, was of packaging materials (for food and other purposes) and, overall, only 35 percent (89 million tons) was recycled or composted.
Chip away at litter
While it’s hard to find unpackaged food on the go, there are several choices that are less harmful to animals and the environment and ensure our beautiful city stays this way. Follow these four tips to help keep Paso Robles #CentralCoastClean.
- Lasso every bit of trash. If you see a rogue chip bag or a pile of plastic on the ground, take a moment to pick it up (with a gloved hand of course!) and safely place it in the appropriate trash or recycling bin.
- Buy fewer packaged foods. Avoid plastic packaging, wherever and whenever possible. Every piece of plastic we avoid reduces the potential for litter. It starts with choosing to opt-out of packaged foods whenever you can.
- Buy the largest container available. Single-serving sizes require more packaging. When possible, buy foods from the bulk bin section of the grocery store, using your own containers.
- Cook at home. Make your own food from scratch when you can: whole foods require less packaging.
Learn more about how we can keep our community and our water clean at iwma.com/clean.