Challenges:
Tue, April 19 • Wed, April 20 • Thu, April 21 • Fri, April 22
Have you heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? It is an area in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of the state of Texas where plastic pollution accumulates due to ocean currents. This is just one glaring example of the devastating impacts of plastic pollution. Plastic pollutants both on land and in the ocean endanger animals who get stuck in them or eat them. In the ocean, plastic pollution has been found from the surface all the way down to the deepest ocean trenches. Plastics can also break down into harmful “microplastics” which are ingested by the smallest creatures and move up the food chain all the way to people.
Every day around 8 million pieces of plastic end up in the ocean. The biggest sources of plastic pollutants are food packaging, plastic bags, bottles and bottle caps. Many of these plastics come from littering and other forms of improper waste disposal.
Keep track of how many single-use plastics you use today. Then think about how much plastic that means you use every year. Think about the best ways to dispose of your plastics responsibly. The best way to dispose of plastics is to recycle them, but only if you know how to recycle properly! If plastic is not able to be recycled, make sure you throw it away in a trash can where it will not get blown away and end up in the ocean.
1. Which plastic can I recycle.
The State of Florida currently accepts all plastics labeled 1-7 for recycling
2. Is your plastic clean.
Before placing your item in the recycling bin, rid item of any of its remaining contents
(it is okay if there is a little residue)
3. When in doubt...
When in doubt, throw item into TRASH bin so as not to potentially contaminate recycling
bin
4. 1 in 4 items are improperly discarded
25% of items thrown in recycling bins are actually NOT recyclable
Common non-recyclable plastic items.
Common recyclable plastic items.
Did you know that on average one person uses 80 to 100 gallons of water a day? We all can make an effort to be more mindful of how much water we use.
Easy ways to conserve water:
The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. – Psalm 24:1
Come to the screening of Hidden Wild
Wednesday April 20, 6 p.m.
in Upper Weyenberg
Follow Alex Freeze as she leads three South Florida Students on an expedition through
the wilderness hidden in their own backyards.
Free pizza and desserts.
Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management (ERM) restores lost habitat with restoration projects including:
“Look at the birds of the air: they neith sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:23 (ESV)
Thursday April 21, 2022
5 – 6 p.m.
Fountain at Okeechobee and Flagler
In association with the PBA Running Club
Come join us as we pick up trash while running
Workship hours are offered
Cleaning materials will be provided (bags and gloves)
April 22, 10:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Rinker Green
Guests Attending Include:
Friday, April 22 • 2-3 p.m.
MacArthur Building 1291
TCPalm environmental reporter Max Chesnes will give a presentation and Q&A on "Unchecked Pollution, Starving Manatees and How Florida Journalists are Using Data to Make Sense of it All."
Max Chesnes is the environment reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers and the USA
Today network, where he covers issues facing Lake Okeechobee, the St. Lucie River
and Indian River Lagoon.
Learn about reporting, current environmental issues, handling politics, and more
Free Dessert Provided.
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases generated by our actions.
So what?
Our footprint contributes to climate change so living sustainably is important to
help minimize the impact.
We can each have a part in reducing our impact. Choose 3 things from the list below and challenge yourself to do them at least once a day!
Learn how to reduce, reuse, recycle: Less is More
Shop and eat locally in West Palm Beach: The Square, Downtown West Palm Beach