<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div dir="ltr">Hi everyone,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">A couple of weeks ago I attended a meeting hosted by a company offering Missoulians a way to deal with the hard-to-recycle plastics so <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ubiquitous in modern life. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Understandably, many people in attendance were excited by this possibility</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you are thinking about signing up for a \u201crecycle by mail\u201d program, please reconsider. While on the surface, these programs seem like a good idea, they don\u2019t hold up under scrutiny.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you\u2019re like me, your will to recycle is driven by a desire to protect the environment, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the planet, its climate, and its current and future inhabitants (us included!). That\u2019s why I decided to pursue a career in solid waste and became a Zero Waste consultant. Part of my job is to determine what is real and what is not when it comes to waste reduction solutions. It\u2019s also why I volunteer so much of my time trying to protect our world from plastic, locally, regionally, and nationally.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div dir="ltr">This new resource explains why \u201crecycle by mail\u201c programs for plastic are actually doing more harm than good: </div><div dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/recycle-by-mail">https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/recycle-by-mail</a></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Real solutions to plastic packaging do exist and are available to you right here in Missoula\u2014<i>for free</i>! Unfortunately, recycle by mail programs are not one of them.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I\u2019d love to chat about this with anyone who is interested. My family and I have found ways to cut down on unnecessary plastic packaging that I am happy to share. Please reach out!</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thanks for reading.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sincerely,</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Jeremy Drake</span><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span dir="ltr">406-493-5793</span><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span dir="ltr">Principal, <a href="https://strategyzerowaste.com">Strategy Zero Waste Solutions</a> </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span dir="ltr">Vice President, </span><a href="https://www.nrcrecycles.org">National Recycling Coalition</a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span dir="ltr">Conference Program Co-Chair, </span><a href="https://zerowasteusa.org">Zero Waste USA</a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span dir="ltr">Secretary, </span><a href="https://climatenorthstar.org">Climate North Star</a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Organizer, <a href="https://www.mtplasticfree.com/">MT Plastic Free</a></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">---</div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Why do I support a plastic-free Montana?</div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Find out here: <a href="https://www.mtplasticfree.com/" target="_blank">https://www.mtplasticfree.com/</a></div></div></div>
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