I Have One Word for You, Benjamin: Plastics

Those of us old enough to remember the classic film The Graduate have seen a phenomenal change in attitude. While plastics were considered a business opportunity in 1967, they are now a grave environmental challenge.

The Shedd Aquarium estimates that 8.8 million tons of plastic find its way into our waterways each year. 

Not only that, but the plastics produced in Benjamin’s day are still with us, and increasing amounts of plastic are being produced. More plastic has been produced in the last ten years than during the last century. That’s nearly 300 million tons of plastic every year, according to the Shedd.

Plastic commonly ends up in single-use products: straws, Styrofoam cups, grocery bags, lighters, disposable diapers and beverage bottles. On average, each one of us tosses about 185 pounds of single-use plastic products every year. Amazingly, Americans drink 1,500 bottles of water every second and use 500 million plastic straws a day.

That doesn’t mean we should throw up our hands in frustration. There are ways of disposing of plastic that help protect the environment—and we’ll show you how. LWV Chicago plans to publish a regular column on Pitching Plastics that will focus on three principal ways to address the plastics problem: recycling, reducing, and repurposing. See the first column on recycling next month.

But first, let’s learn more about plastics.

Get to Know Your Plastics

Many plastic products are marked on their undersides to indicate whether they may be recycled or not. Brightly, a platform for highlighting sustainable and eco-friendly consumer products, categorizes plastic products, their safety, and effect on the environment. Brightly also identifies water bottles that can be reused. 

Chicago’s Blue Cart program accepts plastics numbered 1-5 and 7. Plastics with the number 6 or no number may not be recycled. Blue Carts ask for all plastic caps to be on the containers and not loose.

Blue Carts are only available for single-family homes and some of the Southside. Chicago residents in multi-family and high-rise living situations should refer to the websites of their contracted waste management companies for recycling rules.

Plastic shopping bags may be recycled by local grocery stores or pharmacies, and bottle caps are recyclable only at some of the city’s sorting facilities or local Aveda stores.

The Shedd Aquarium has a comprehensive program targeted at plastic pollution that involves finding reusable plastics, advocating against plastic pollution, restoring local habitats, receiving action alerts, and involving local restaurants in the effort. 

What’s more, the Emmy-winning documentary The Story of Plastic can be watched free though November 30. 

Be sure to check out the next Pitching Plastics column for more on recycling.

Please contact Debby Halpern or Claudia Jackson if you are interested in joining LWV Chicago's Environmental Action Group.