Sheila McMenamin’s Post

Plastic has become an integral part of human life because of its convenience, but should it be at the detriment of our local wildlife? This weekend I was enjoying the waterfront view in Victoria Park when I witnessed two Coots working together to build their nest. Whilst Coots normally utilise the natural scraps of nature like leaves, roots and twigs to build their bedding, I was saddened to see they were also collecting plastic wrappers, cups and even a vape which had made its way into the pond. This raises the question, should convenience outweigh the cost? Inapt disposal and a lack of recycling leads to an accumulation of litter in the homes of our wildlife and their ecosystem. And as shown by this video, it’s happening at an alarming rate. Simply not putting one item in the bin can have cascading effects on the health and wellbeing of animals. #Wastemanagement #Recycling #Sustainability #Climateresilience #Pollution Video @ Victoria Park, London.

The GALL! The ego! The superiority complex! Who are we to think this is okay?? It is unacceptable (and NOT normal!) to so recklessly trash the very #ecosystems we value for our mental and physical and social health. I believe that if you are a park concessionaire—who benefits directly from the physical and aesthetic health of the park and all the customers that leads to—that it’s your obligation to treat that park well. And I believe that if you’re a park visitor and appreciator, it is your duty to T R Y to not #pollute so much during your reading break, happy hour, or meet up. Vendors MUST stop serving beer, coffee, and ice cream in #singleuseplastics that cause irreparable damage to our environment. And park goers MUST walk their talk and TRY to bring reusable cups and cutlery. We must do both. ✍️ If you haven’t yet, sign the petition to tell McCarren Park House that there’s no place for plastics in parks. Send to a friend, and then hold each other accountable to #votewithyourdollar and pack your next picnic in reusables. Because ICYMI: plastics (which come from #fossilfuels) don’t get recycled. They sit around for hundreds of years and break down into #microplastics that leech chemicals into our bodies. They are poison, and they are a leading contributor to our #climate and #ecological crisis. And no one’s gonna stop you from using and normalizing them accept: you. You trying on a personal level, and you speaking up at a societal level. 😈 Get radicalized about plastics—we didn’t use to live this way, and we don’t have to keep living this way! Only we can change #consumption culture! NYC Department of Parks & Recreation #PlasticOrPlanet #ClimateActionNow #NYCpolicy #NYCadvocacy #plasticsAreKillingUs

Rivers are the lifeline of all living beings, but they are facing a grave danger - plastic pollution. It's high time we take simple actions and start from basics to tackle this issue. Being minimalistic and cleaning trash at the source of pollution can go a long way in saving our rivers. Let's do our part to ensure a cleaner and healthier future for all. #SaveOurRivers #PlasticPollution #CleanEnvironment https://lnkd.in/d6C6gMu

Vetiver’s Green Guardianship” In the heart of our bustling city, where concrete and asphalt meet, there lies a narrow drain that serves as a breeding ground for litter and plastic waste. Vetiver Hedgerows: Nature’s Sentinels Along both sides of the drain, vibrant green vetiver grass stands tall. These resilient plants, with their long, slender leaves, form a protective barrier. Their roots grow deep into the soil, anchoring themselves firmly. But their purpose extends beyond mere aesthetics; they are the guardians of cleanliness. How The Vetiver Magic will work on the drains Plastic Trapping: As rainwater flows down the drain, it carries debris—plastic bags, wrappers, and discarded bottles. But the vetiver plants intercept these floating pollutants. Their leaves act as natural nets, capturing plastics before they can escape downstream. Roots as Filters: The vetiver roots are the unsung heroes. They filter out microplastics, absorbing harmful particles and preventing them from leaching into the soil or water. Gradually, the roots become a repository of plastic waste, hidden beneath the surface. Clean Drain, Happy City: Thanks to this ingenious system, the drain remains pristine. No more clogged pipes, no more flooding during heavy rains. The city’s residents marvel at the clear water flowing through the vetiver-lined channel.

𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗻𝗼𝗿! 🌍 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘆 I’m excited to share that on September 26th, Ventnor, NJ officially passed its 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, marking a major win in our fight against plastic pollution. That’s not pretty, white, snow in the picture below. It’s harmful microplastic debris left over from unsustainable construction practices. The ordinance requires contractors to contain and remove these plastic particles and dust from chemically treated lumber and composite plastics like TREX and AZEK - materials that release harmful microplastics into our environment. Ventnor now joins a growing list of municipalities - 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁, 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 - that are taking serious action. This shows what we can achieve when local governments listen to the science and take proactive steps to protect our communities. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. With a clear blueprint for success, I am ready to help other towns take up this important cause. If you’re a New Jersey resident and want to bring this to your community, let’s talk. Let’s keep pushing for cleaner, safer neighborhoods, one town at a time. #EnvironmentalJustice #PlasticPollution #Surfriders #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateAction #LocalAction #CleanerNeighborhoods #SustainableJersey

If a tire catches fire, it can smolder for days. If it doesn't burn, it will retain water, create a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and attract rodents. That’s where you come in! ♻️You are the true recyclers. Every individual, corporation and municipality that purchases products made from recycled rubber helps get rid of waste and save on the costs to the environment. Not a single pound goes back to the landfill. Instead, the steel is recycled, and the nylon fibre is used by the oil industry to clean up oil spills. The rubber is turned into child-safe paving for children’s playgrounds, durable paved surfaces and driveways, pool decks, garden mulch and so much more. Thank you for your commitment to purchasing products made from recycled rubber and for being part of our sustainable solution. ♻️ https://lnkd.in/g2dYFgns #sustainabilityatwork #drivingchange #rubberpaving #shercom #recycledrubber #ecofriendly #rubbersurfacing #sustainability #environmentallyfriendly #madeinsaskatchewan #saskmade

Meet Bill and Wayne, an octogenarian and septuagenarian who are unerring models of consistency: every single morning, rain or shine, they are out in our local park for their 1-hour walk. Today, Wayne was toting a large bag and collecting garbage left by others over the weekend. There were at least 10 spots in the park where litter was left on the ground, many close to the nearby river which drains into the Chesapeake. Of course littering is abhorrent and unacceptable, as is the pollution of our natural spaces and waters. But, are more trash cans and recycle bins a solution to this problem? Spoiler alert: No. Until we turn off the tap of garbage at its source, problems like this will continue to manifest and worsen. What’s needed is a reliable, easy-to-use system of products in reusable packaging, which would eliminate the need for these single-use disposables in the first place. We are building SpringEats.Com to create this solution. But we need your help to transition to a cleaner, trash-free world. Please do your part and join us on this mission! You can become a part of the solution by participating in this conversation and many more by discussions being driven by Anukampa Freedom Gupta-Fonner. Fairfax County Park Authority #CircularEconomy #pollution #climateaction #reuse #refill #return #circularpackaging #maketrashhistory #reverselogistics #packaging #plastics #singleusepollution #beyondsingleuse #socialentrepreneurship 

🛌 Sofas, washing machines, beds.......all these items (and more) are classed as 'bulky waste'.    Twice a week our bulky waste crew go out to clear the bulky waste areas located on the estates. 🤔 A lot of the time these items still have plenty of life left in them - so how can you make sure they carry on being used?    💚 If your items are in good condition, British Heart Foundation will collect them from you, free of charge. ♻ There are plenty of platforms such as Freegle and The Freecycle Network or Facebook Marketplace where you can ensure items get passed on. ♻ Put a shout out to friends and family to see who may want your items.  ♻ Have you tried upcycling? Maybe giving a chair a new lick of paint, or trying your hand at a bit of upholstery to give the item a new lease of life.    📞 If you do need to dispose of items, be sure to get in touch with our contact centre on 020 7606 3110 to arrange a collection (please note: this is service is only for City of London residents).    📍 If you live on one of our estates, then check out where your nearest bulky waste point is on site.    #circulareconomy #reuse #GreenSqMile #upcycle #furniturereuse Veolia UK 👉 https://lnkd.in/eG5WZ5xf for more information

Spring Cleanup. Annuals swap outs. Revolutionizing yard debris collection in municipalities and neighborhoods around the world. Eliminate single-use bags and tarps with our reusable Leaf Burrito Year Round Yard Debris Bag. Stock up at www.leafburrito.com. #landscaping #sustainability #leafburrito #burritobrands #landscapingservices #greenliving #reusable #reusablebags #blogalert #newblog #marketing #branding #contentmarketing #brandbuilding #wasteindustry #wastemanagement #recycling #wasteremoval #wastereduction #recyclingindustry #zerowaste #circulareconomy

appreciating CBC coverage '...PortsToronto said its #network of #trash #traps includes eight #Seabins, which are #floating #garbage cans that suck in trash, and two #WasteSharks, which are small remote-controlled vessels that skim the surface of the #water to collect floating #debris. Apart from the volume of #plastic taken out of the #harbour last year, however, both #organizations say there are signs that the amount of #plasticgarbage floating in the water is on the decline this year and the drop may be due to #outreach and #education efforts. Chelsea Rochman, a University of Toronto #ecology professor and a co-founder of the #UniversityofTorontoTrashTeam, said the items pulled from the water by the traps include #plasticpellets, #plasticbottlecaps, pieces of #foam from #food #containers and #fatbergs. "Of course, we should #focus on #prevention," she said on Monday. "But #cleanup #literally #protects #wildlife by removing that amount of plastic out of the water now, which they can #eat and become #entangled in." Consider taking #reusable #cups to #coffee #shops Rochman recommended that City of Toronto #residents bring reusable food #containers, including cups, when they go to their favourite coffee shops and #restaurants and that they don't throw their #cigarettebutts on the ground. "There's a lot of trash, unfortunately, plastic pollution in our harbour," she said...' #intergenerational #intercultural #bioregional #placebased #clean #safe #biodiverse #watershed #airshed #foodshed #culturalheritage #naturalheritage #zerowaste #circular #design #urban #recycling #partnership Swim Drink Fish Canada Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Biophilic Cities Waterfront Toronto Birds Canada https://lnkd.in/gzXaeuBP