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A switch back to single-use plastics does nothing to stop COVID-19, but it does undermine recent efforts to reduce our reliance on a material that pollutes our world in every stage of its life: manufacture, disposal, and eventual breakdown in our oceans.

The weather is getting warmer, which means it is time for picnics, parties, and BBQs. That also means we are likely to see more waste from single-use disposable products like paper plastics, plastic utensils, party cups, and more. Most of those items cannot be recycled, especially if they are soiled with food waste. This contributes to a very large waste stream – more than 40% of plastic is used just once before it becomes trash.

We need to rethink our current use of single-use products, especially because plastic does not decompose – they eventually break down into micro-plastics and can

We are halfway through the Minnesota 2018 legislative session and it’s been made clear that some of our lawmakers are not willing to put our environment and public health first. They are placing policies that ignore science and weaken protections for our land, air, and water before people.

Even after 10 years of working with the Minnesota Legislature, I shouldn’t be surprised when I see legislators putting special interests and corporate profits first – and yet, I am. The only chance we have is to continue to have a strong voice at the capitol and many strong voices out in the districts to