The GTLA Zero Waste Team has collected these resources to help spread the word about the plastic pollution crisis AND share ways we can all pitch in to help.
Learn from experts tackling the problem and see how to make meaningful changes at home, school and work to reduce the plastic we use locally.
Equally if not more importantly, help us advocate at the city, state and federal level in support of policies that will reduce plastic production (especially single-use) and protect our environment and health.
Lastly, let’s speak out directly to companies that offer us only single use packaging!
If you watch just one thing to get you started… check out this Oceania Tedx Talk:
13 minutes well spent!
See below for more resources:
Please contact us if you have suggestions to add to our list! waste@greentownlosaltos.org
1. Documentaries
The Story of Plastic (1.5 hour documentary from The Story of Stuff Project)
Rent from Amazon, or stream from Apple, DiscoveryGo, Xfinity video-on-demand
Describes how we came to be a single-use plastic society, and points out how the relationship to the petroleum and gas industry connects plastic to climate change and environmental injustices
Short on time? Watch the 4 minute CONDENSED VERSION here.
Is Recycling Worth It Anymore? The Truth Is Complicated (16 minutes; National Public Radio NPR)
Plastic Wars (1 hour, Frontline & NPR)
Looks at how the plastics industry has used recycling to help sell more plastic
Links to many additional stories and resources on plastics and recycling in general
The Plastic Problem: A PBS NewsHour Documentary (54 minutes, with Amna Nawaz reporting)
Examines how we got to this crisis
Offers a look at potential solutions
Bag It (2 minute trailer, full length 1hour 19 minutes)
One average citizens realization that plastic just doesn’t “go away” motivates him to learn more
A “lighter” film, suitable for all ages, that still shares an important message
Available on Amazon, iTunes and at many libraries
Curriculum guide available
Microfiber Madness (trailer available, full length is 1 hour 19 minutes)
56 fifth-graders in Brooklyn take on the fight against plastic pollution
Charming, educational and moving film that traces their growth from naïve students to active advocates
Excellent for teachers or those working with kids
Check the website for free screenings or to request to host a screening
2. Short Videos
The Story of Plastic (4 minute condensed version; from The Story of Stuff)
5 Things Plastic Polluters Don’t Want You to Know about Chemical Recycling (2 minutes)
From GAIA, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
How to Eat Less Plastic (4 min, Consumer Reports)
The Story of Microfibers (3 minutes, from The Story of Stuff)
Is Your Fleece Jacket Polluting the Oceans? (6 minutes, part of KQED’s Above the Noise Series)
By kids and for kids, but adults will like this too
Entertainingly explains the microplastic problem with our textiles
Preventing Plastic Pollution (5 minutes, California Academy of Sciences’ Flipside Science Series)
Hosted by teens, reviews the problem of ocean pollution from plastics
Offers practical tips for reducing plastic use
On the lighter side, but still with a message:
The Majestic Plastic Bag (4 minutes, a “mockumentary”-- recommended!)
Night of the Living Plastics (2.5 minutes, be sure to turn up volume; Californians Against Waste)
Bring Back the Milk Man! (2.5 minutes, be sure to turn up volume; Californians Against Waste)
3. Organizations Working to Reduce Plastic Pollution
Terrific background articles on plastic pollution.
EXCELLENT health guides for pregnancy, babies and many other practical guides to avoid plastic.
Consider signing up for “Above the Fold – Plastics”--a terrific free newsletter from this group.
Monthly Webinar Series (sign up for live webinars, or listen to recordings of past webinars)
Provides fabulous background and resources on the problems of plastics and how to advocate for legislation to reduce plastic
Become a plastic pollution expert! Take Beyond Plastics fun and highly educational 7-week online class, Beyond Plastic Pollution, offered by Bennington College’s Center for the Advancement of Public Action (more info available from Donna Staton, donna@greentownlosaltos.org )
#breakfreefromplastic is a global movement of organizations and individuals working to build a future free from plastic pollution by tackling the plastic problem from extraction to disposal.
Excellent toolkits and resources for making change.
Through a variety of campaigns, Oceana protects and restores the world’s oceans.
The inspirational 13-minute Tedx Talk mentioned above is on their website.
Dive deeper into the issues facing us here in California.
Many tips on how to advocate for local plastic reducing policy.
California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).
Provides helpful “how to” information for proper recycling and waste reduction in general.
Updates businesses on how to comply with recent changes to recycling requirements.
Upstream provides practical solutions that help businesses and communities shift from single-use to reuse.
EXCELLENT resources for restaurants considering the switch to reusables, and for those who want to persuade them to do so!
California Stewardship Action Council
Network of governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and individuals supporting projects and policy where producers share in the responsibility for managing problem products at their end of life.
Advocates for EPR (extended producer responsibility) and the circular economy.
From a movie to a movement, The Story of Stuff address the current culture of consumerism to excess.
The Story of Plastic (1.5 hour documentary) is a must-see! Available on Amazon, Apple TV, etc.
Or, view the 4-minute condensed version here.
Empowers shareholders and investors to change corporations for good.
Plastic pollution is one of their six initiatives.
4. Podcasts
How To Save A Planet (hosts journalist Alex Blumberg and policy scientist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson)
Each week a topic related to climate change, plastics, recycling, energy etc. is covered
Despite the occasional goofy humor, each episodes provides up-to-date information in a relaxed conversational style
Each episode ends with practical action items we can all take to make a difference
The Indisposable Podcast (by Upstream, host Brooking Gatewood)
Highly rated and popular podcast that guides and inspires businesses and communities to shift from single-use to reusable.
These podcasts are solution-focused and present guests who have made the change to reusable successfully
5. Books
My Plastic Free Life, Beth Terry
The book’s website has links to other posts, and be sure to watch her TEDx talk there!
Learn how she kicked the plastic habit, and how you can too. Available from Amazon.
Great reference veteran plastic-reducers or for those new to the challenge.
Available at the Life Without Plastic website.
6. Health Effects of Plastics
How to Eat Less Plastic (4 minute video, Consumer Reports)
Will Humanity Survive Plastic Pollution? Toxic Impact of Plastics’ Chemicals on Fertility (webinar)
Part of the Plastic Pollution Coalition’s series of monthly webinars (recordings available)
With Dr. Shanna Swan, PhD, author of Count Down (see books below)
Global Human Health and Ocean Pollution: A Conversation With Dr. Phil Landrigan
Part of the Plastic Pollution Coalition’s series of monthly webinars (recordings available)
Dr. Landrigan is a highly respected pediatrician epidemiologist from Boston College
Children and Environmental Toxins: What Everyone Needs to Know
Book by Pediatrician Researcher Philip J. Landrigan and Mary M. Landrigan
Covers toxins from plastic as well as other environmental sources
Protecting Your Child’s Health: Expert Answers to Urgent Environmental Questions
Book by pediatricians Ruth Etzel and Sophie Balk
Published by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Book by Shanna H. Swan, PhD
How our exposure to environmental toxins, many from plastic, is affecting our reproductive health and neurodevelopment (children and adults).
Please contact us if you have suggestions to add to our list! waste@greentownlosaltos.org