With the long days at home due to the isolation I have been looking for educational and sustainable toys. I think it is very important to buy toys with an impact on nature in mind, in addition to being an intelligent toy that will arouse the interest of boys for a few hours, several days in a row. And it was thinking about all this that I loved it when the Mega Bloks brand contacted me to review some of their toys. The Mega Bloks is a brand that began more than 30 years with an iconic line of large blocks stackable specifically designed for small hands of younger builders. One of the company's motto is to unite families to create moments of joy, fun, discovery and learning. In April 2020 Mega Bloks partnered with the international recycling leader TerraCycle to recycle branded (non-electronic) products and create new products in Canada. This program is called Blocks and Bricks Recycling Program and works as follows: (1) consumers must enroll in the program and send their items by mail using a prepaid card, (2) after they are collected, the blocks are cleaned, melted and remolded to produce new products. Through TerraCycle's free recycling programs, you can earn redeemable TerraCycle points or choose a school or non-profit organization to make a donation. The company has several sustainable initiatives and they can all be found here . Some examples of these initiatives include the blocks being made from plants (with a minimum of 90% bio-based), the plastic used in the blocks being of vegetable origin is made from ethanol extracted from sugar cane (100% renewable material ) and the packaging is fully recyclable.   I hope you enjoyed the tip. The boys loved the blocks and the fact that we can fit them together to assemble animals. They are sold in several places here in Canada, including online by Mastermind Toys. Here is a tip for you when you are doing a spring cleaning and throwing old toys away, to use this service and help with product recycling and nature conservation.  

  Clean makeup is invited into our kit for our greatest good and that of Mother Nature. And is about to revolutionize the entire cosmetic industry.   At first glance, the displays in the Sephora department store in downtown Montreal are very similar. From lipstick to foundation: there is all the arsenal necessary for the makeup bag.   But as you wander the islands, you will notice that green tablets bearing the words "Pure and healthy" are affixed to certain displays. Who is entitled to this distinction? The ranges free from harmful and ecologically responsible ingredients. Launched in 2018, the stamp now brings together around sixty brands.   An offer impossible to imagine barely 10 years ago, when beautists looking for clean makeup had very little to get on their skin. What happened? Sephora listened to its customers. "We have noticed a change in the concerns of consumers, who are increasingly looking for quality cosmetics with no suspicious substances," said Jane Nugent, vice president of merchandising at Sephora Canada.   In the target market there are millennials and generation Z, demanding customers looking for transparency and who read the labels carefully. "Companies even go so far as to modify some of their formulas to meet our selection criteria," says Jane Nugent.   Sephora is not the only business responding to this trend. The American retailer The Detox Market, created in 2010, has slowly established itself as the leader in healthy beauty. “When we started talking about clean makeup, it made everyone laugh. People associated green beauty with the hippie movement, ”says Romain Gaillard, founder of the chain, which has three branches in Toronto. Each product found on their site or in store must go through a rigorous evaluation process. "More than 1,000 companies contact us each year to be sold here ... It is essential to choose what we really like," he says.     Sea Surfer Curl Volumizing Mascara, Tart , $ 30  

What is clean makeup?

  In the absence of established regulations, the definition of clean makeup varies from brand to brand and remains open to interpretation. In principle, any component suspected of being carcinogenic, endocrine disruptor, neurotoxic or allergenic should not be present in the formula. In addition, the packaging, boxes and flasks must be biodegradable, with a low carbon footprint.   What client wants ...   This awareness has been brewing for a long time according to WGSN, the renowned London trend office whose expertise consists in anticipating the major consumer trends of tomorrow. "Several years ago, we predicted that ethical responsibility would become a non-negotiable criterion for buyers," said Jenni Middleton, WGSN beauty director.   Since then, the growth of this phenomenon has been observed in the food, fashion and, now, beauty industry. To such an extent that, according to a report published on the company's website, "cosmetic companies that neglect their environmental impact risk losing consumer confidence". The polling firm Nielsen has also revealed that internationally 73% of consumers were ready to change their purchasing habits to reduce their environmental footprint and that 38% preferred to buy ethical cosmetics.   This enthusiasm does not go unnoticed by opportunistic banners who see it as a golden marketing opportunity: being seen as eco-responsible is a sales strategy rather than a real value, which gives rise to the famous greenwashing). “Some brands distribute misleading information to give the impression of being green in order to arouse the interest of customers. This can result in misleading statements about the list of ingredients, the packaging (less environmentally friendly than it seems) or even the production chain (falsely carbon neutral) ", argues Jenni Middleton. Fortunately, the expert notes that the consumer is increasingly demanding to see evidence of these claims. And when the client wants something, everyone answers the call. Hence the “Pure and healthy” seal offered by Sephora.  

Precursors of yesterday, leaders of today

  These pioneering brands of clean makeup have paved the way towards a more responsible cosmetic industry.   Dr. Hauschka   Founded in 1957, the German company launched its make-up range in 1999 as a complement to the skin products it already offered. “We use the same raw materials as in our care. Infused with extracts of medicinal plants and certified organic vegetable oils, our make-up aims to sublimate women's beauty and not to mask it, ”specifies Marie Calas, head of research and development.     © Supplied by Châtelaine Eye and brow palette, Pierre shade, Dr. Hauschka , $ 65   Bite   "When we heard that a woman would ingest 3.17 kg of lipstick during her life, that made us think," reveals Sylvie Rouaix, vice president of product development at Bite. Originally from Toronto, the company has become a cult in the world of lipsticks. "We wanted to prove that makeup could be both safe and effective," she adds. In addition to being now 100% vegan, the Bite brand is launching foundations this year, pressed powders and foundation perfecting foundations.     © Supplied by Châtelaine Changemaker modular coverage pressed powder, Medium 2 shade, Bite Beauty , $ 48 for 7.5 g. Sublimating micellar foundation, shade L20, Bite Beauty , $ 52 for 30 ml.   Ilia   It is by peeling the ingredients listed on the boxes of her cosmetics that the Vancouver resident Sasha Plavsic wanted to create her own brand. What she did in 2011. “I loved a tinted lip balm. My first challenge was to reproduce it in a non-toxic version, ”says the entrepreneur. Nine years later, its illuminators, eyebrow gels and multipurpose sticks are sold like hot cakes. One of the secrets of its success? The formulas are enriched with beneficial ingredients, such as hibiscus extract or rosehip oil.   Green vs black   The European Union prohibits the use of more than 1,300 ingredients in cosmetics sold on its territory. In Canada, only 600 components are banned - which is still better than in the United States, where there are only about thirty. But why is there such a big difference between us and our cousins from across the Atlantic? According to Health Canada, this is notably due to the fact that the European Union studies substances individually, whereas here, they are grouped rather by family (for example, aniline dyes).   As for controversial substances such as parabens, phthalates and others, which are still permitted despite the concerns they raise, Health Canada claims to be watching them. The ministry follows “international scientific and regulatory reports closely, and regularly reviews the safety of chemicals in cosmetics in the form of risk assessments.”   The problem is simultaneous exposure to these ingredients, says Lise Parent, ecotoxicologist and professor at TÉLUQ University. In other words, a mascara used alone may not be a threat to health, but added, every day, to the foundation, lipstick and eyeshadow ... "We have no idea of their long-term effect, says the expert. However, we do know that phthalates have direct consequences for the rat's reproductive system and thyroid.”   Even if the human body is a wonderful machine for filtering out harmful substances, Lise Parent reminds us that it is not without its shortcomings, particularly in the case of endocrine disruptors. "They tend to accumulate in the body and, since they are similar to the hormones produced by it, our body is not always able to detect them and set in motion the process necessary to get rid of it, ”she explains.  

Green container

  According to the Zero Waste Week website, 120 billion packages of cosmetics are produced each year ... and most of them are not recyclable. A dizzying number to which several brands are responding with green initiatives. "At Maison Jacynthe, all the boxes are made of wood and aluminum, in addition to being reusable thanks to refills of eyeshadows," argues Marco Marsolais, make-up artist for the stars and co-creator of the range of cosmetics offered by the company. . For its part, Burt's Bees collaborates with TerraCycle, a company specializing in the management of non-recyclable waste, to ensure the recovery of its small pots.     © Supplied by Châtelaine Reusable case , $ 19. Terracotta , Mattina shade, and blush , In Love shade, Maison Jacynthe, $ 32 and $ 29.50   Where do the color pigments come from?   Most manufacturers of clean makeup - like Dr. Hauschka and Burt's Bees - opt for pigments of mineral origin, often identified on the packaging as iron oxides. At Maison Jacynthe, certain shades come from plant sources, such as the turmeric present in eyeshadows.   The red color, on the other hand, is more controversial. Brands choose carmine, a natural dye used for centuries and derived from crushed mealybugs (insects living on cacti). Vegan ranges will prefer to introduce some synthetic pigments.   As for the iridescent effect of certain illuminators and lip glosses, we owe it to an ore, mica. However, it is its extraction that is controversial. Many miners do in fact work with children, their small size being advantageous for digging wells and tunnels in deposits. Fortunately, ethical players make it a point of honor to source from responsible sources.  

Apps using

  How to take a closer look at the composition of products without carrying around a chemistry manual? Applications have been designed to scan the barcodes and the INCI list (the nomenclature of components) written on the packaging.   © Provided by Châtelaine Skin Deep App   Skin Deep   Works with ratings from 0 to 10 (10 being the level most harmful to health).     © Provided by Châtelaine Clean Beauty App Clean Beauty   We photograph the list of ingredients, then the application extracts the controversial components in seconds. Glossary of 800 ingredients.   © Provided by Châtelaine Think Dirty App   Think Dirty   Canadian application which evaluates, after reading the barcode, the ingredients according to ratings (from 0 to 10) combined with a color system. A substance rated 10 and highlighted in red = danger!   Performance at the rendezvous   Clean makeup has long suffered from a lack of hold. The eyeshadows spun in the folds of the eyelids, the mascara had to be reapplied several times a day, the textures were not in focus… Today, the cosmetic giants have corrected these weaknesses. Makeup artist Alexandre Deslauriers, who acted as a consultant for the makeup component at Burt's Bees, believes that we must still moderate our expectations. "It's not normal for a lipstick to last for 16 hours!" he exclaims.   An infallible outfit often betrays the presence of silicone. To maintain color on the lips, Burt's Bees has replaced plastic particles with mixtures of vegetable oils and waxes. In its tinted cream formula, it is squalane, a plant component extracted from olive oil, which solves the problem of spreading and adhesion to the skin. Bite, a brand recognized for its ultra-pigmented lipsticks, has traded dimethicone (silicone) for orange peel wax accompanied by agave nectar, both rich in antioxidants.   © Supplied by Châtelaine   Matt stick, Rippling Rose shade, Burt's Bees , $ 9.99   Maison Jacynthe Complexion Fluid is the favorite product of make-up artist Marco Marsolais. Its formula is enriched with borage oil, which gives it a malleable texture and hydrating power. "By applying it repeatedly on my clients' faces, I saw their skin change," he says. Green ingredients are also used in place of BHA and BHT (synthetic antioxidants) or formaldehyde (antimicrobial preservative) to preserve the products and avoid rancidity of fatty substances. To do this, Maison Jacynthe had previously used coffee extract, but will soon opt for Labrador tea to promote the natural riches of Quebec.  

BIC has just announced a new partnership with TerraCycle, a company that offers free recycling programs (funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers) for hard-to-recycle waste.   Through the BIC Stationery Recycling Program, U.S.-based consumers are now able to send in “all brands of pens, markers, mechanical pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, watercolor dispensers and paint sets” to be recycled for free. The program also takes the soft, flexible plastic packaging that some writing instruments are packaged in. Customers sign up online and are provided with a prepaid shipping label for the items they want to send in.   “As an added incentive, for every shipment of used stationery products collected and sent to TerraCycle through this program, collectors earn points that can be donated to a school or charitable organization of their choice.”   “Sustainability has always been at BIC’s core,” noted Mary Fox, North American general manager for BIC. “We are thrilled to expand this program to the U.S. from Europe, where we have successfully recycled an astounding 46 million items.”   This is the latest step BIC has taken on to further enhance the sustainability of its products and to minimize its impact on the environment.  

  Governor Phil Murphy today announced the formation of a statewide council of leaders to advise on New Jersey’s restart and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.   The Governor’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council will work in conjunction with the commission named last week and will bring together leaders from various industry, community, and faith-based groups and institutions across New Jersey to advise state leadership on economic issues impacted by the pandemic.   “As we begin the difficult task of restarting New Jersey’s economy and recovering from the damaging effects of COVID-19, this advisory council brings together leaders from all walks of New Jersey life,” said Governor Murphy. “This group will not only help us gather the local intelligence we need to get our economy running again, but also will help us create the framework for coping with our new long-term economic realities.”   In addition to focusing on issues surrounding the short-term restarting of New Jersey’s economy, this council also will begin the task of positioning the economy and creating a framework for the long-term recovery.   The council will be co-chaired by New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis, New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan, and Choose New Jersey President and CEO Jose Lozano. The council will have nine subcommittees, each of which will be chaired by a council co-chair.   “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every facet of life and every sector of our economy in some way. As we plan for how we can ensure New Jersey remains a place where opportunity meets innovation, I am honored to join many of our state’s most talented thought leaders, as well as my state colleagues, to ensure we are not overlooking any aspect of a successful recovery,” said Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis, Secretary of Higher Education. “The work of this council will complement a group of higher education leaders who will consider the role of higher education in the state’s restart and recovery efforts.”   “COVID-19 is first and foremost a public health crisis, but it’s also an economic crisis on a scale that outpaces anything in recent memory. Restarting and then driving a recovery of our economy will require comprehensive input from a wide spectrum of economic and community stakeholders, and Governor Murphy has assembled an extraordinary group of New Jerseyans to help guide these efforts via this council,” EDA CEO Tim Sullivan said.   “I’m honored to join Zakiya, Jose and the Governor’s Office to help lead this effort to build a stronger, fairer and more resilient economic future for New Jersey.”   “I look forward to working with New Jersey Higher Education Secretary Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis and NJ Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan to co-chair the Governor’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council, as well as various industry leaders and community members to rebuild our economy in the wake of the worst pandemic of our lifetime,” said Jose Lozano, CEO of Choose New Jersey. “It is critical that we engage our state’s business community and help them every step of the way on the road to recovery. As a blueprint for restarting New Jersey’s economy is developed, we’ll look to the council to advise on  short and long-term considerations and opportunities. I  look forward to working with committee members to ensure New Jersey rebuilds stronger than ever from this crisis.”   The advisory council subcommittees will begin virtual meetings next week. The nine subcommittees are Facilities and Construction; Government; Health Care; Main Street; Manufacturing and Supply Chain; Professional Services; Social Services and Faith; Tourism and Entertainment; and Transportation and Infrastructure.   While the commission named by Governor Murphy last week will focus on national, state and macroeconomic issues surrounding the restarting, the advisory council will take a microeconomic view of the recovery, determining the individual challenges that each sector faces. The advisory council is expected to remain empaneled for as long as necessary to advise the Governor on the state’s recovery.   “We understand that we need a smart, granular approach to recovery. How you reopen a restaurant at the shore is different from how you restart a factory in South Jersey,” Governor Murphy noted.  “This council will also be guided by our core principle of building a New Jersey that is stronger and fairer and works for every family.”   Members of the council and their respective committees can be found here or viewed below.   Copy of Executive Order #140   Facilities and Construction:

Marlene	Asselta	SNJDC
David	Barry	Ironstate Development
Joe	Baumann	McManimon, Scotland, & Baumann
Staci	Berger	Housing and Community Development
Wassem	Boraie	Boraie Development LLC
David	Brogan	NJ Apartment Association
Sarah	Clarke	DEVCO
Bill	Colgan	Community Healthcare Associates
Jeff	Crum	Community Asset Preservation Corporation
Morris	Davis	Rutgers Center for Real Estate
Eileen	Della Volle	KS Engineers
Mike	Demarco	Mack Cali Realty Corp
Joe	DeMark	Sheetmetal Workers
Jeremy	Farrell	LeFrak Organization
Carl	Goldberg	Canoe Brook Management LLC
Lori	Grifa	Archer Greiner
Derrek	Griggs	Affordable Housing Alliance
Michael	Hanrahan	American Institute of Architects NJ
Joe	Jingoli	Joseph Jingoli & Son Inc.
Lisa	John-Basta	CSG Law
Vinnie	Lane	Painters
Mike	Maloney	Pipetrades
Nevins	McCann	Connell Foley
Mike	McGuinness	NAIOP
Gil	Medina	CBRE
Bill	Mullen	Building Trades Council
Wendy	Neu	Hugo Neu
Darwin	Roman	National Association of Latino Professional Realtors
John	Saraceno	Onyx
Carol Ann	Short	NJBA
David	Simon	Simon Property Group
Ron	Simoncini	Axiom Communications
Bill	Sproule	Carpenters
Elizabeth	Tice	K. Hovnanian Homes
Richard	Tolson	Bricklayers
Jerry	Zaro	Sills Cummis

  Government:

Peggy	Anastos	LUPE
Ras	Baraka	Urban Mayors
Joe	Calabro	IBEW
Eugene	Caldwell	Jail Wardens
Mike	Cerra	League of Municipalities
Pat	Colligan	NJ State PBA
Tom	DeGise	Hudson Executive
Joe	DiVincenzo	Essex Executive
John	Donnadio	NJAC
Ed	Donnelly	NJ FMBA
Bob	Fox	NJ FOP
Brian	Hughes	Mercer Executive
Al	Kelly	Urban Mayors
Janice	Kovach	Mayor/ NJLM
Colleen	Lapp	Tax Collector NJ
Dennis	Levinson	Atlantic Executive
Mike	Mastronardy	Sheriffs- COA
Steve	McConlogue	NJ PFA
John	McCormac	Former Treasurer
Dave	Miller	County Finance Officers
Janice	Mironov	NJ Conf Mayors/NJLM
Frank	Moran	Urban Mayors
Teri	O’Connor	VP NJA County Admins
Steve	Peter	Clerks- COA
Hetty	Rosenstein	CWA
Gerry	Seneski	Finance Officers
Connor	Shaw	IUJAT
Susan	Shin Angulo	Mayor
Amol	Sinha	ACLU
Jim	Tedesco	Bergen County Executive
Steve	Tully	AFSCME
Jaclyn	Veasey	Mayor
Matt	Watkins	Municipal Managers

  Healthcare:

David	Baiada	Bayada Home Health Care
Mike	Beson	Guide Strategies
Kevin	Conlin	Horizon
Joan	Dublin	NJPA and Metropolitan FQHC in Jersey City
Shereef	Elnahal	University Hospital
Nancy	Fitterer	NJ Home Healthcare Hospice Association
Dr. Dovid	Friedman	CHEMED
Robert	Garrett	Hackensack Meridian Health
Perry	Halkitis	Rutgers School of Public Health
Heather	Howard	Princeton, RWJF
Ev	Liebman	AARP
Al	Maghazehe	Capital Health
Ana	Montero	Formerly Red Cross Leader
Kevin	O’Dowd	Cooper Hospital
Barry	Ostrowsky	RWJ Barnabas Health
Dr. Jubril	Oyeyemi	Cherry Hill Free Clinic – General Practice
Dr. John	Regis	Doctors Representative
Milly	Silva	SEIU 1199
Kevin J.	Slavin	St. Joseph’s Health
Mark	Taylor	NJ Pharmacist Association
Keeanga	Taylor	Princeton University
Dr. Mitchell	Weiner	NJ Dental Association
Debbie	White	HPAE

  Main Street:

Stephen	Blazejewski	NJ LGBT Chamber
Linda	Bowden	PNC Bank-Small Business
Francisco	Cortes	New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce
Jeanne	Cretella	NJRHA
Luis	Delahoz	Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Leon	Fraser	NJSBDC
Barri	Gibson	Ruby Red Roots
Bill	Granfield	SEIU Local 100 – Unite Here (restaurant workers )
John	Harmon	AACCNJ
Paul	Hoffmann	Liberty Science Center
Duvi	Honig	Orthodox Chamber of Commerce
Frank	Isoldi	Caldwell Banker
Jill	Johnson	Institution for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Raymond	Lamboy	Latin American Economic Development Association, Inc.
Richard	Lawton	NJ Sustainable Business Council
Brandon	McKoy	NJPP
Vonda	McPherson	Restaurant Operater Newark
John	McWeeney	New Jersey Bankers
Carmen	Mendiola	Restaurant and Small Business Advisory committee in Jersey City
Maria	Neives	HOLA
Priti	Pandya-Patel	NJ Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce
Vipul	Patel	Asian American Retail Association
Ben	Pearlman	NJRMA
Corinne	Power	Camden-Restaurant Operater
Christina	Renna	Southern NJ Chamber
Nadeem “Nick”	Saleem	ICSJ/ United Wealth Group LLC
John	Sarno	Employers Association of NJ
Michele	Siekerka	NJBIA
Dean	Smith	NJ Main Street Alliance

  Manufacturing and Supply Chain:

Jeff	Altschuler	Allied Beverage Group
Tiffany	Bohlin	FullBlue360
Laurel	Brennan	AFL-CIO
Patricia	Campos Medina, PHD	The Worker Institute, ILR Cornell University
Kim	Case	R&D Council
Gail	Ciccione	Becton Dickinson
Jessica	Culle	CATA
Sara	Cullinane	Make the Road
Linda	Doherty	NJ Food Council
Lisa	Dreilinger	RB
Adam	Glauberg	Johnson & Johnson
Dennis	Hart	NJ Chemistry Council
Debbie	Hart	BioNJ
Dr. John	Impellizeri	Rutgers University
Dr. Jean-Pierre	Issa	Coriell Institute for Medical Research
John	Kennedy	NJMEP
Shirley	Kline	Ag Community
Roxanne	Lagano	Zoetis Inc
Wendy	Lazarus	Pfizer
Samuel	Nesbit	Fedex
Dean	Paranicas	HINJ
Mark	Patterson	BASF
Alphonse	Rispoli	Teamsters
Charles	Rosen	Ironbound Farms
Nancy	Rurkowski	Bristol-Myer Squibb
Tony	Russo	CIANJ
Joe	Sheridan	Wakefern
Tom	Szaky	Terracycle
Kim	Van Utrecht	UPS
Dave	Young	UFCW

  Professional Services:

Neil	Bhaskar	Bode
Tom	Bracken	NJ Chamber
Charlene	Brown	ATT
Kevin	Brown	SEIU 32-BJ
Cathleen	Callahan	Bank of America
Art	Cifelli	The Venn Group
Kevin	Cummings	Investors Bank
Marilyn	Davis	Altice
Alma	DeMetropolis	JPMorgan Chase
Brenda Ross	Dulan	Princeton Chamber
Marcus	Dyer	WithumSmith + Brown
Don	Katz	Audible
Mitch	Livingston	New Jersey Manufacturers
Laura	Matos	Kivvit, Lupe PAC
Carlos	Medina	Hispanic Chamber
Michelle	Meyre Ship	KPMG
Pamela	Miller	Global Strategies
Christine	O’Brien	Insurance Council of NJ
Evelyn	Padin	NJSBA
Raj	Parikah	Genova Burns
Braxton	Plummer	Verizon
Aaron	Price	NJTC
Jatinder	Singh
Jackie	Taylor	EY
Gina	Tedesco	Golden Seeds
Ian	Trombley	NBC Universal
Kelly	Watson	KPMG

  Social Services and Faith:

Mohsen	Badran	ACCSES New Jersey Inc.
Tom	Baffuto	The ARC of NJ
Jessica	Berrocal	NJ Sisterhood
Jacob	Caplan	EasterSeals NJ
Tiffany	Cardwell	Coalition of Day Care Centers in Jersey City- New Brunswick
Peter	Chen	Advocates for Children NJ
Joshua	Cohen	Jewish Federation
Ronsha	Dickerson	Camden We Choose
Eric	Dobson	UBA/Fair Share Housing
Rev. Raymond	Fawole	African Pastors
Christian	Fuscarino	Garden State Equality
Kiran	Gaudioso	United Way Northern New Jersey
Susan	Haspel	Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey
Elaine	Helms	Rain Foundation
Renee	Koubiadis	Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey
Adele	LaTourette	Food Bank
Sara	Lilja	LeamNJ
Wendy	Martinez	Latino Pastors and Mininsters
Rev Marilyn	Mornoe Harris
Salah	Mustafa	ICPC
Joshua	Rodriguez	National Latino Evangelical Coalition, New Jersey Coalition of Latino Pastors and Minsters
Carlos	Rodriguez	Community FoodBank of New Jersey
Rev. Louis	Roundtree	Newark office of Clergy Affairs
Phyllis	Salowe-Kay	Citizen Action
Avi	Schnall	Agudath Israel of America
Rev. Dr. Danny	Scotton	Alpha Baptist Church
Rev. John	Taylor	Rev in Trenton
Rev. Lester	Taylor	General Baptist Convention
Imam	Uhmar	Salahuddin Pleasantville
Wei Han	Zhou	Community Options

  Tourism and Entertainment:

Curtis	Bashaw	Congress Hall
Steve	Callender	Casino Association of New Jersey
Brian	Cheripka	iStar Development
Vicki	Clark	NJ Tourism Industry Association
Dennis	Drazin	Monmouth Racetrack
Haime	Elhai	New York Jets
Curtis	Farrow	Irving Street Rep
Jarrod	Grasso	NJ Realtors
Peter	Guelli	New York Giants
Jeff	Gural	GFP Real Estate
Marilou	Halvorsen	NJ Restaurant & Hospital Association
Bishop	Hargrove	Atlantic City Minister Coalition
Amy	Herbold	Triple Five
Jim	Kirkos	Meadowlands Chamber
Dan	McCarthy	Lake Hopatcong Commission
Bob	McDevitt	Local 54
Will	Morey	Morey Piers
Kevin	O’Brien	IATSE
Scott	O’Neil	Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
Sheila	Reynertson	NJPP
Marilyn	Schlossbach	New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association
Brendan	Sciarra	Cape May Brewing
Ron	Vandeveen	Metlife Stadium
Peter	Ward	Hotel Trades Council
Roberto	Yañez	Univision

  Transportation and Infrastructure:

Amit	Bose	HNTB, Coalition for Northeast Corridor
Nat	Bottigheimer	Regional Plan Association
Dave	Smith	UTCA
Alixon	Collazos	Public Affairs Expert
Dennis	Dagget	ILA – 1094
Jim	Fakult	Jersey Central Power & Light Company
Reva	Foster	NJ-BIC
Pam	Frank	Charge EVC
David	Gahl	Solar Energy Industry Association
Steve	Gardner	LiUNA
Dan	Gumble	IBEW Local 164
Kim	Haneman	PSE&G
Jerome	Johnson	SMART
Jill	Kaplan	United Airlines
Glen	Kartalis	Council of Engineers
Jack	Koscic	ACCNJ
Greg	Lalavee	Operating Engineers 825
Nadine	Leslie	Suez Water
Ev	Liebeman	AARP
Ali	Maher	Center for Advanced Infrastructure & Transportation
Lauren	Moore	Atlantic County Economic Alliance
Jon	Nardi	New York Shipping Association
Cheryl	Norton	American Water
Fred	Potter	Teamsters
Mike	Renna	South Jersey Industries
Orlando	Riley	ATU
Nick	Sifuentes	Tri State Transportation Campaign
Scott	Sprengel	Executive VP of Coach USA and VP of the BANJ
Fred	Warner	AECOM
Steve	Westhoven	NJ Natural Resources
Ray	Woodall	Ironworkers
Charlie	Wowkanech	AFL-CIO

F. Gaviña & Sons, Inc., makers of Don Francisco’s Coffee®, Café La Llave®, and a wide variety of other family-crafted coffees, has teamed up with international recycling company TerraCycle^® to offer coffee lovers a free, easy way to recycle Don Francisco's Coffee Family Reserve® and Café La Llave® single serve coffee pods and espresso capsules. Through the Coffee Pod Recycling Program, the latest eco-friendly initiative from the family-owned company, consumers can now send in their used single serve coffee pods and espresso capsules to be recycled for FREE. Participation is easy: sign up on the TerraCycle program page at www.terracycle.com/gavina and mail in the used pods and capsules using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned, separated by material type, melted and remolded to make new recycled products while the residual coffee is sent to an industrial composting facility. Additionally, with every shipment sent to TerraCycle through the program, consumers can earn points that can be used for charitable gifts or converted to cash and donated to the non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced a Restart and Recovery Advisory Council, a group of New Jersey business and municipal leaders who will help organize plans to restart the state’s economy. The council will be divided into nine sector-based groups. Here are the members, by sector, as provided by the Governor’s Office:

Facilities and Construction

• Marlene Asselta, SNJDC
• David Barry, Ironstate Development
• Joe Baumann, McManimon, Scotland & Baumann
• Staci Berger, Housing and Community Development
• Wasseem Boraie, Boraie Development LLC
• David Brogan, N.J. Apartment Association
• Sarah Clarke, DEVCO
• Bill Colgan, Community Healthcare Associates
• Jeff Crum, Community Asset Preservation Corp.
• Morris Davis, Rutgers Center for Real Estate
• Eileen Della Volle, KS Engineers
• Mike DeMarco, Mack-Cali Realty Corp.
• Joe DeMark, Sheetmetal Workers
• Jeremy Farrell, LeFrak Organization
• Carl Goldberg, Canoe Brook Management LLC
• Lori Grifa, Archer & Greiner
• Derrek Griggs, Affordable Housing Alliance
• Michael Hanrahan, American Institute of Architects N.J.
• Joe Jingoli, Joseph Jingoli & Son Inc.
• Lisa John-Basta, CSG Law
• Vinnie Lane, Painters
• Mike Maloney, Pipetrades
• Nevins McCann, Connell Foley
• Mike McGuinness, NAIOP
• Gil Medina, CBRE
• Bill Mullen, Building Trades Council
• Wendy Neu, Hugo Neu
• Darwin Roman, National Association of Latino Professional Realtors
• John Saraceno, Onyx
• Carol Ann Short, NJBA
• David Simon, Simon Property Group
• Ron Simoncini, Axiom Communications
• Bill Sproule, Carpenters
• Elizabeth Tice, K. Hovnanian Homes
• Richard Tolson, Bricklayers
• Jerry Zaro, Sills Cummis

Government

• Peggy Anastos, LUPE
• Ras Baraka, Urban Mayors
• Joe Calabro, IBEW
• Eugene Caldwell, Jail Wardens
• Mike Cerra, League of Municipalities
• Pat Colligan, N.J. State PBA
• Tom DeGise, Hudson executive
• Joe DiVincenzo, Essex executive
• John Donnadio, NJAC
• Ed Donnelly, N.J. FMBA
• Bob Fox, N.J. FOP
• Brian Hughes, Mercer executive
• Al Kelly, Urban Mayors
• Janice Kovach, Mayor/NJLM
• Colleen Lapp, tax collector N.J.
• Dennis Levinson, Atlantic executive
• Mike Mastronardy, Sheriffs COA
• Steve McConlogue, N.J. PFA
• John McCormac, former treasurer
• Dave Miller, County Finance Officers
• Janice Mironov, N.J. Conference of Mayors/NJLM
• Frank Moran, Urban Mayors
• Teri O’Connor, NJA County Admins
• Steve Peter, Clerks COA
• Hetty Rosenstein, CWA
• Gerry Seneski, Finance Officers
• Connor Shaw, IUJAT
• Susan Shin Angulo, mayor
• Amol Sinha, ACLU
• Jim Tedesco, Bergen executive
• Steve Tully, AFSCME
• Jaclyn Veasey, mayor
• Matt Watkins, Municipal Managers

Health Care

• David Baiada, Bayada Home Health Care
• Mike Beson, Guide Strategies
• Kevin Conlin, Horizon BCBSNJ
• Joan Dublin, NJPA and Metropolitan FQHC in Jersey City
• Shereef Elnahal, University Hospital
• Nancy Fitterer, N.J. Home Healthcare Hospice Association
• Dovid Friedman, CHEMED
• Robert Garrett, Hackensack Meridian Health
• Perry Halkitis, Rutgers School of Public Health
• Heather Howard, Princeton, RWJF
• Ev Liebman, AARP
• Al Maghazehe, Capital Health
• Ana Montero, formerly Red Cross leader
• Kevin O’Dowd, Cooper Hospital
• Barry Ostrowsky, RWJBarnabas Health
• Jubril Oyeyemi, Cherry Hill Free Clinic – General Practice
• John Regis, doctors representative
• Milly Silva, SEIU 1199
• Kevin J. Slavin, St. Joseph’s Health
• Mark Taylor, N.J. Pharmacist Association
• Keeanga Taylor, Princeton University
• Mitchell Weiner, N.J. Dental Association
• Debbie White, HPAE

Main Street

• Stephen Blazejewski, N.J. LGBT Chamber
• Linda Bowden, PNC Bank-Small Business
• Francisco Cortes, New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce
• Jeanne Cretella, NJRHA
• Luis De La Hoz, Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of N.J.
• Leon Fraser, NJSBDC
• Barri Gibson, Ruby Red Roots
• Bill Granfield, SEIU Local 100 – Unite Here (restaurant workers)
• John Harmon, AACCNJ
• Paul Hoffman, Liberty Science Center
• Duvi Honig, Orthodox Chamber of Commerce
• Frank Isoldi, Caldwell Banker
• Jill Johnson, Institution for Entrepreneurial Leadership
• Raymond Lamboy, Latin American Economic Development Association Inc.
• Richard Lawton, N.J. Sustainable Business Council
• Brandon McKoy, NJPP
• Vonda McPherson, restaurant operator, Newark
• John McWeeney, New Jersey Bankers
• Carmen Mendiola, Restaurant and Small Business Advisory Committee in Jersey City
• Maria Neives, HOLA
• Priti Pandya-Patel, N.J. Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce
• Vipul Patel, Asian American Retail Association
• Ben Pearlman, NJRMA
• Corinne Power, Camden restaurant operator
• Christina Renna, Southern N.J. Chamber
• Nadeem “Nick” Saleem, ICSJ/United Wealth Group LLC
• John Sarno, Employers Association of N.J.
• Michele Siekerka, NJBIA
• Dean Smith, N.J. Main Street Alliance

Manufacturing and Supply Chain

• Jeff Altschuler, Allied Beverage Group
• Tiffany Bohlin, FullBlue360
• Laurel Brennan, AFL-CIO
• Patricia Campos Medina, the Worker Institute, ILR Cornell University
• Kim Case, R&D Council
• Gail Ciccione, Becton Dickinson
• Jessica Culle, CATA
• Sara Cullinane, Make the Road
• Linda Doherty, N.J. Food Council
• Lisa Dreilinger, RB
• Adam Glauberg, Johnson & Johnson
• Dennis Hart, N.J. Chemistry Council
• Debbie Hart, BioNJ
• John Impellizeri, Rutgers University
• Jean-Pierre Issa, Coriell Institute for Medical Research
• John Kennedy, NJMEP
• Shirley Kline, Ag Community
• Roxanne Lagano, Zoetis Inc.
• Wendy Lazarus, Pfizer
• Samuel Nesbit, FedEx
• Dean Paranicas, HINJ
• Mark Patterson, BASF
• Alphonse Rispoli, Teamsters
• Charles Rosen, Ironbound Farms
• Nancy Rurkowski, Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Tony Russo, CIANJ
• Joe Sheridan, Wakefern
• Tom Szaky, Terracycle
• Kim Van Utrecht, UPS
• Dave Young, UFCW

Professional Services

• Neil Bhaskar, Bode
• Tom Bracken, N.J. Chamber of Commerce
• Charlene Brown, ATT
• Kevin Brown, SEIU 32-BJ
• Cathleen Callahan, Bank of America
• Art Cifelli, the Venn Group
• Kevin Cummings, Investors Bank
• Marilyn Davis, Altice
• Alma DeMetropolis, JPMorgan Chase
• Brenda Ross Dulan, Princeton Chamber
• Marcus Dyer, WithumSmith+Brown
• Don Katz, Audible
• Mitch Livingston, NJM Insurance Group
• Laura Matos, Kivvit, Lupe PAC
• Carlos Medina, Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of N.J.
• Michelle Meyer-Shipp, KPMG
• Pamela Miller, Global Strategies
• Christine O’Brien, Insurance Council of N.J.
• Evelyn Padin, NJSBA
• Raj Parikh, Genova Burns
• Braxton Plummer, Verizon
• Aaron Price, NJTC
• Jatinder Singh
• Jackie Taylor, EY
• Gina Tedesco, Golden Seeds
• Ian Trombley, NBC Universal
• Kelly Watson, KPMG

Social Services and Faith

• Mohsen Badran, ACCSES New Jersey Inc.
• Tom Baffuto, the ARC of N.J.
• Jessica Berrocal, N.J. Sisterhood
• Jacob Caplan, Easterseals NJ
• Tiffany Cardwell, Coalition of Day Care Centers in Jersey City-New Brunswick
• Peter Chen, Advocates for Children N.J.
• Joshua Cohen, Jewish Federation
• Ronsha Dickerson, Camden We Choose
• Eric Dobson, UBA/Fair Share Housing
• The Rev. Raymond Fawole, African Pastors
• Christian Fuscarino, Garden State Equality
• Kiran Gaudioso, United Way Northern New Jersey
• Susan Haspel, Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey
• Elaine Helms, Rain Foundation
• Renee Koubiadis, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey
• Adele LaTourette, Food Bank
• Sara Lilja, LeamNJ
• Wendy Martinez, Latino Pastors and Ministers
• The Rev. Marilyn Monroe Harris
• Salah Mustafa, ICPC
• Joshua Rodriguez, National Latino Evangelical Coalition, New Jersey Coalition of Latino Pastors and Ministers
• Carlos Rodriguez, Community FoodBank of New Jersey
• The Rev. Louis Roundtree, Newark Office of Clergy Affairs
• Phyllis Salowe-Kay, Citizen Action
• Avi Schnall Agudath, Israel of America
• The Rev. Dr. Danny Scotton, Alpha Baptist Church
• The Rev. John Taylor, reverend in Trenton
• The Rev. Lester Taylor, General Baptist Convention
• Imam Uhmar Salahuddin, Pleasantville
• Wei Han Zhou, Community Options

Tourism and Entertainment

• Curtis Bashaw, Congress Hall
• Steve Callender, Casino Association of New Jersey
• Brian Cheripka, iStar Development
• Vicki Clark, N.J. Tourism Industry Association
• Dennis Drazin, Monmouth Racetrack
• Haime Elhai, New York Jets
• Curtis Farrow, Irving Street Rep
• Jarrod Grasso, N.J. Realtors
• Peter Guelli, New York Giants
• Jeff Gural, GFP Real Estate
• Marilou Halvorsen, N.J. Restaurant & Hospital Association
• Bishop Robert Hargrove, Atlantic City Minister Coalition
• Amy Herbold, Triple Five
• Jim Kirkos, Meadowlands Chamber
• Dan McCarthy, Lake Hopatcong Commission
• Bob McDevitt, Local 54
• Will Morey, Morey Piers
• Kevin O’Brien, IATSE
• Scott O’Neil, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
• Sheila Reynertson, NJPP
• Marilyn Schlossbach, New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association
• Brendan Sciarra, Cape May Brewing
• Ron Vandeveen, MetLife Stadium
• Peter Ward, Hotel Trades Council
• Roberto Yañez, Univision
• John Schreiber, NJPAC

Transportation and Infrastructure

• Amit Bose, HNTB, Coalition for Northeast Corridor
• Nat Bottigheimer, Regional Plan Association
• Dave Smith, UTCA
• Alixon Collazos, Public Affairs Expert
• Dennis Dagget, ILA-1094
• Jim Fakult, Jersey Central Power & Light Co.
• Reva Foster, NJ-BIC
• Pam Frank, Charge EVC
• David Gahl, Solar Energy Industry Association
• Steve Gardner, LiUNA
• Dan Gumble, IBEW Local 164
• Kim Haneman, PSE&G
• Jerome Johnson, SMART
• Jill Kaplan, United Airlines
• Glen Kartalis, Council of Engineers
• Jack Koscic, ACCNJ
• Greg Lalavee, Operating Engineers 825
• Nadine Leslie, Suez Water
• Ev Liebeman, AARP
• Ali Maher, Center for Advanced Infrastructure & Transportation
• Lauren Moore, Atlantic County Economic Alliance
• Jon Nardi, New York Shipping Association
• Cheryl Norton, American Water
• Fred Potter, Teamsters
• Mike Renna, South Jersey Industries
• Orlando Riley, ATU
• Nick Sifuentes, Tri State Transportation Campaign
• Scott Sprengel, Coach USA, BANJ
• Fred Warner, AECOM
• Steve Westhoven, N.J. Natural Resources
• Ray Woodall, Ironworkers
• Charlie Wowkanech, AFL-CIO

BIC has partnered with an international recycling company, TerraCycle, to offer consumers a free way to recycle their fully-used pens, mechanical pencils, markers and other stationery products and parts of packaging nationwide.   As an added incentive, for every shipment of used stationery products collected and sent to TerraCycle through this program, collectors earn points that can be donated to a school or charitable organization of their choice.   “As families spend more time writing, drawing and coloring together, we want to provide them with a responsible way to dispose of their products once they are used,” said Mary Fox, North American general manager for BIC. “Our collection program with TerraCycle gives consumers a simple way to recycle their writing instruments and art supplies to make a difference in the world.”   “Sustainability has always been at BIC’s core,” added Fox. “We are thrilled to expand this program to the U.S. from Europe, where we have successfully recycled an astounding 46 million items.”   Through the BIC Stationery Recycling Program, consumers can now send in all brands of pens, markers, mechanical pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, watercolor dispensers and paint sets to be recycled for free. The program is also collecting the soft, flexible plastic packaging that some writing instruments are packaged in. Sign up is on the TerraCycle program page www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/bic and the used items are mailed using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the waste is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that is remolded to make new recycled products. The program is open to any interested individual, school, office or community organization.   “Through this free recycling program, BIC offers consumers the unique opportunity to learn about the value of recycling products they use every day while learning, playing or working that would otherwise end up in landfill,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “We are proud to partner with BIC to offer consumers an easy solution for these typically unrecyclable items.”   This is the latest step BIC has taken on to further enhance the sustainability of its long-lasting products, which are made with the least amount of material, and to minimize its impact on the environment, one of the goals in its 2025 “Writing the Future, Together” program, an announcement said.   BIC and TerraCycle began partnering in 2011 to collect and recycle used stationery products in Europe. A similar program was launched in Australia and New Zealand last year.   The two organizations have also partnered to promote the circular economy by offering BIC products through LOOP, an e-commerce circular economy platform created by TerraCycle aimed at eliminating waste and reducing dependence on packaging.   For more information, visit www.terracycle.com.  

 

BIC has partnered with an international recycling company, TerraCycle, to offer consumers a free way to recycle their fully-used pens, mechanical pencils, markers and other stationery products and parts of packaging nationwide.   As an added incentive, for every shipment of used stationery products collected and sent to TerraCycle through this program, collectors earn points that can be donated to a school or charitable organization of their choice.   “As families spend more time writing, drawing and coloring together, we want to provide them with a responsible way to dispose of their products once they are used,” said Mary Fox, North American general manager for BIC. “Our collection program with TerraCycle gives consumers a simple way to recycle their writing instruments and art supplies to make a difference in the world.”   “Sustainability has always been at BIC’s core,” added Fox. “We are thrilled to expand this program to the U.S. from Europe, where we have successfully recycled an astounding 46 million items.”   Through the BIC Stationery Recycling Program, consumers can now send in all brands of pens, markers, mechanical pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, watercolor dispensers and paint sets to be recycled for free. The program is also collecting the soft, flexible plastic packaging that some writing instruments are packaged in. Sign up is on the TerraCycle program page www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/bic and the used items are mailed using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the waste is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that is remolded to make new recycled products. The program is open to any interested individual, school, office or community organization.   “Through this free recycling program, BIC offers consumers the unique opportunity to learn about the value of recycling products they use every day while learning, playing or working that would otherwise end up in landfill,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “We are proud to partner with BIC to offer consumers an easy solution for these typically unrecyclable items.”   This is the latest step BIC has taken on to further enhance the sustainability of its long-lasting products, which are made with the least amount of material, and to minimize its impact on the environment, one of the goals in its 2025 “Writing the Future, Together” program, an announcement said.   BIC and TerraCycle began partnering in 2011 to collect and recycle used stationery products in Europe. A similar program was launched in Australia and New Zealand last year.   The two organizations have also partnered to promote the circular economy by offering BIC products through LOOP, an e-commerce circular economy platform created by TerraCycle aimed at eliminating waste and reducing dependence on packaging.   For more information, visit www.terracycle.com.

Recycling isn’t the same as it used to be. A few years ago, China accepted much of the world’s plastic, textile, and paper recycling. But in 2018, China tightened restrictions on what it would accept due to the high level of contaminated material sent by the U.S.   Now, it’s time for the United States to take responsibility to recycle these streams of waste domestically in order to improve the “materials security” of the nation. That means keeping and processing more recyclable material inside the U.S., which will also reduce the carbon footprint of the current approach to recycling.   In the United States, plastic recycling is becoming a challenge, especially number 5 plastics. We’ve collected a few solutions to help you keep these plastics out of the landfills.   What Are Number 5 Plastics?   The recycling symbol on the bottom of a plastic product does not necessarily indicate that the item can be recycled. That number surrounded by chasing arrows is a resin identification code and tells users what kind of plastic they’re holding.   The number 5 with the recycling symbol indicates polypropylene, often just shortened to PP. This plastic type is particularly hard and heat resistant. It’s often used in prescription medicine bottles, yogurt cups, hummus tubs, single-use cutlery, and some packaging for personal care products like deodorant, lotion, or shampoo.   Lids of single-use drink bottles are often also made of number 5 plastic as well as a great deal of single-use laboratory and medical supplies at hospitals, clinics, and labs.   Number 5 plastics were widely accepted in both curbside and drop-off recycling centers before China’s National Sword policy was introduced in 2018. That is when china stopped accepting our plastic waste for recycling.  

Recycling Mail-in Programs

  Currently, there a few mail-in options for recycling polypropylene. Do check with your local solid waste district to check local options in your region before going to this effort and expense.  

Gimme 5 Program

  The Gimme 5 program is run by Preserve, a company that makes fully recycled plastic home and kitchen goods. Formerly, Preserve offered recycling drop-off locations for polypropylene at Whole Foods stores but discontinued the program in 2019. A limited number of stores still accept plastic “disposable” cutlery only. Preserve now asks interested recyclers to mail in their number five plastics. They welcome medicine bottles, yogurt containers, hummus tubs and more. Preserve also closes the lifecycle loop with their mail-in toothbrush takeback program.   Note: During the COVID-19 crisis, Preserve has had to temporarily pause their mail-in recycling program and toothbrush takeback program. See what kinds of number 5 plastics they accept and save your plastics to mail in when pandemic restrictions have lifted.  

Matthew 25: Ministries

  The international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization Mathew 25: Ministries accepts clean, empty pill bottles. They welcome prescription medicine bottles as well as small pill bottles that may be too small to recycle curbside. The ministry reuses bottles in countries where such supplies are limited and recycle those they cannot use.  

TerraCycle

  The giant in recycling the unrecyclable arena is TerraCycle. This company’s motto is “eliminating the idea of waste” and they have programs that allow you to recycle almost any type of waste.   TerraCycle does not have a recycling program specifically for number 5 plastics, so you’ll have to hunt around their website for the best solution. There are free recycling programs as well as Zero Waste Boxes, which can be filled with plastic and mailed to Terracycle, that you must pay for. If the bulk of your number 5 plastics come from a specific brand, check to see if there is a Terracycle brigade program available that allows you to recycle the products for free.   Simply keeping plastics separate makes a big difference to the success of the recycling process. Consider ordering a kitchen separation box or boxes for specific items like personal care products, plastic packaging, or vitamin bottles (which also accepts additional medicine packaging) for a not-so-small fee.  

Keeping Number 5 Plastics Out of the Trash

  We’re experiencing a plastics crisis in the United States and around the world.   We encourage you to do what you can to eliminate plastic waste. One good place to start is to avoid plastics, like polypropylene, that can’t be recycled in your normal curbside or drop-off location.   If possible, skip the plastic and buy your yogurt in bulk or in glass containers — or make your own! Order a three-month supply of medicine instead of one, cutting down on packaging while saving a trip to the pharmacy.   You might also consider, Loop, a TerraCycle company that delivers household products and food in reusable containers. When your goods are used up, you send the container back, and they send you a new one. A zero-waste loop! Loop isn’t in every U.S. state yet, but it’s expanding and still adding countries.   Additionally, look for ways to reuse or upcycle your plastic containers. We love the idea of making suncatchers out of clear lids and playing a plastic bottle bowling game. Your number 5 plastic yogurt containers also just make great organizers!   It’s also a good idea to contact the manufacturer of your favorite product and ask them to come up with more earth-friendly packaging. You could even coordinate with the Earth911 community through the Earthling Forum to organize a mass email writing campaign!   Feature image by Artur Konik from Pixabay