Gimmie5

I started writing this blog post, then realized that Beth said what I was trying to say, but did so much more eloquently, so I'll just copy her suggested Letter to the Editor here instead:

Plastic waste is a serious environmental problem. It is made from fossil fuels and does not biodegrade, lasting virtually forever and wreaking havoc in the natural world.

Fortunately, a new program called Gimme5 is attempting to deal responsibly with some of our plastic waste. Customers can return used #5 (polypropylene) plastic containers as well as Brita pitcher water filters and used Preserve products to select Whole Foods markets or mail them back to Preserve for recycling.

Full details of the program are at http://www.preserveproducts.com/gimme5.

This program is the culmination of lots of hard work by Beth Terry and her Take Back the Filter campaign which convinced Brita to find a way to recycle used water filters. Brita partnered with Preserve and will be turning those filters (and other #5 plastics) into their toothbrushes and razors. If you haven't seen or used Preserve products, check out their website. We've been using their toothbrushes and razors for a little over a year now and really like them.

There are two ways to get filters and other #5 plastics to Preserve:

• Drop your #5's at a Preserve Gimme5 bin available in select Whole Foods Market stores. Click here for a list of locations. If your Whole Foods isn't on the list, be sure to check back because they'll be adding new locations.
• If you don’t live near a Preserve Gimme5 location, you can send your #5's and filters to: Preserve Gimme5, 823 NYS Rte 13, Cortland, NY 13045.

This program will only be continued and expanded if people use it, so be sure to take advantage of it and spread the word!