Nothing we use for a few minutes should litter our streets, pollute our waterways, and threaten our environment for hundreds of years.
A collaboration of organizations and individuals looking to introduce solution-based reduction of single use plastics within the City of Lancaster.
Based on the impact of our six week program The Plastics Awareness Project (see below) held in the spring of 2024, the College Park Climate Action Neighborhood, in conjunction with other community groups and individuals, is actively working towards meaningful reductions in single use plastics. As other Pennsylvania cities, towns and municipalities introduce reduction of single-use product measures, we feel that with a thoughtful, solutions and equity based approach, Lancaster City businesses and the communities they serve will embrace these environmentally impactful step.
Many consumers both local and visiting Lancaster are more aware of climate impacting behaviors, and expect or search out businesses with sustainable practices. Beyond the obvious unsightly appearance of plastic bags caught up in trees and creeks, taxpayers bare the brunt of costs involved with the clean up of our waterways and the clearing of our water treatment and sorting facilities. Additionally degrading plastics in our environment are a health concern to us all both locally and downstream.
Please consider being a part of the solution to a cleaner environment that benefits all residents of our community, including businesses, large and small, and those most affected by unnecessary plastic waste.
How can you or your community organization contribute your talent/s- find out HERE!
Email: RedRoseReuses@gmail.com
for more information, or use the QR Code or link provided to complete a quick interest form.
QR CODE to Get involved with Red Rose Reuses and other education and advocacy opportunities.
Red Rose Reuses: A collaboration of organizations and individuals looking to introduce solution-based reduction of single use plastics within the City of Lancaster.
Plastics Awareness Project - we're not done yet! Get involved with your community - sign up here.
After completing 6 weeks of classes (in the Spring of 2024) through the Plastics Awareness Project, and hearing from Eileen Ryan from Beyond Plastics, the College Park Climate Action Neighborhood, advocates for a more plastic free world have decided to take the next steps in community action. Inspired by Eileen who worked to reduce single use plastics in her hometown in Watertown, MA, as well as encourage big name stores like Trader Joe's to take back their own unnecessary plastic packaging, we felt compelled to do similar work here in Lancaster.
It’s easy to get discouraged or to put our heads in the sand, but finding hope or strength of purpose through the collective work of our community was and still is one of the reasons we started our College Park Climate Action Neighborhood.
We're ready to put that inspiration to work, attempting to change the systemic failure of managing our plastic waste, especially single-use plastics.
We all come with our own specific and abundant skill sets and talents. We also all come with our own time constraints and commitments. But we’ve also been showing up to the Plastic Awareness Project, or perhaps you've been following along on our website. So how do we pull all of that together with our goals to assess, minimize and advocate?
Take a moment to complete this short Next Steps to Collective Plastic Reduction Advocacy form and see how you too can be a part (however large or small) of making a difference in our community.
For more information please email: CollegeParkCAN@gmail.com
WHAT WE'VE DONE TO DATE
Summation of the 6 Week Program
Keep these 6 thoughts in mind when thinking about plastics
We have a Youth Version too - download the power point and work with your school age children or grandchildren to learn more about plastics in our environment.
Stay tuned here for additional ways to take action on plastics!
Start a Beyond Plastics Group or Affiliate
Educate Yourself via Climate Solution Podcasts
Host an Environmental Book Club or Study Group
Start a Plastic Free July Event
Speaker Dr. Ned Ketyer, Physicians for Social Responsibility PA
USE THE QR CODE TO ACCESS THE YOUTH VERSION of THE PLASTICS AWARENESS PROJECT POWER POINT