Transform the US Economy to a Circular/Eco-Sustainable & Profitable One. Letter to our NY State & Washington Leaders, and the Albany Times Union. By Ottavio Lo Piccolo, 9-3-19.

Senator Schumer, Gillibrand, and congressman Tonko,                                                                                                                                                              
I am a public school teacher, a retired veteran and, like you, I am concerned about the health of our planet and our future. I have been learning and teaching about ocean plastic pollution and how to reduce waste since 2016. You probably are aware of the serious threat that plastic and Styrofoam trash/pollution is posing to our State, our country and our planet; how it’s poisoning the land, the water sources and the oceans.

I would also like to present to you some of the solutions that experts are calling for- in order to avert an ecological disaster and possibly transform NY State and the US economy into a smart/profitable/sustainable one. And this can be done by reducing waste and improving our recycling efforts/infrastructure. If this is done, our state and country could become a leader in a profitable/healthy/circular economy, hence we would create jobs and prosperity for the near and distant future.

Single-use plastic and Styrofoam products are devastating to the planet; plastic bags, bottles, silverware, cups, lids/caps, straws, dishes, food containers, covers, etc. in addition to plastic/Styrofoam packaging for foods, electronics, appliances, etc). Disposable items (cigarette lighters, razors, markers, and many more) are also a threat to the planet. This pollution is contaminating the soil, the water, and the world's oceans. Scientists and environmental organizations, like National Geographic and Green Peace, tell us that only 9% of our plastic trash is recycled in the USA and most of it -79%- is accumulating in landfills or sitting in the natural environment.

This means, that at some point, much of it ends up in the oceans. And if present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic – that's a rubbish truck full every minute. Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals every year. In addition, scientists estimate that anywhere from 1/4 to 1/3 of seafood has micro plastic in it. And other sources tell us that 94% of all drinking water in the USA is polluted with plastic, and 70% of the world’s water contains plastic too! Micro plastic is in the food chain, in fish; hence it is already in our bloodstream!

NY State has already passed a ban on single-use shopping bags (it will take effect March 2020)- that's a good step in the right direction, however, the time has come to do more- we can no longer continue wasting natural resources (and money too!) by throwing them away- because they are becoming less and less scarce, and we can't continue filling the Earth with waste! Our federal government should also do more in this area.

I realize that improving the waste/recycling system and asking the food/plastic/oil industry to change/adopt; to recycle and to use biodegradable products (instead of cheaper plastic/Styrofoam items) will be costly, however, the benefits to our economy will outweigh the cost, and NY State could become a model of circular/sustainable/profitable economy! As those of California, many US cities, and the European Union- they are prime successful examples of this new model.

I invite you to learn more on about the plastic/Styrofoam pollution threat, please read and then sign my educational petition with Change.org – it has already been signed by almost 6,000 people!
GOVERNMENTS MUST DECLARE PLASTIC & STYROFOAM HAZARDOUS when RELEASED into the ENVIRONMENT at http://chng.it/YcnqrJJn

Thank you!
Ottavio Lo Piccolo 

LETTER TO THE ALBANY TU, 9-3-19
I am concerned about the health of our planet and our future, and i think that our State leaders should be too, and should start taking bold/effective action soon. Plastic and Styrofoam trash/pollution is threatening the health of our State and our planet; it’s poisoning the land, the water sources and the oceans.

Single-use plastic and Styrofoam products devastating to the planet; plastic bags, bottles, silverware, cups, lids/caps, straws, dishes, food containers, covers, etc. in addition to plastic/Styrofoam packaging for foods, electronics, appliances, etc). In addition to disposable items (cigarette lighters, razors, markers, and many more). This pollution is contaminating the soil, the water, and the world's oceans. Scientists and environmental organizations, like National Geographic and Green Peace, tell us that only 9% of our plastic trash is recycled in the USA and most of it -79%- is accumulating in landfills or sitting in the natural environment. This means, that at some point, much of it ends up in the oceans. And if present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic – that's a rubbish truck full every minute. Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals every year. And other sources tell us that 94% of all drinking water in the USA is polluted with plastic, and 70% of the world’s water contains plastic too! Micro plastic is in the food chain, in fish; hence it is already in our bloodstream!

Our State has already passed a ban on single-use shopping bags (it will take effect March 2020)- that's a good step in the right direction, however, the time has come to do more- we can no longer continue wasting natural resources (and money too!) by throwing them away- because they are becoming less and less scarce, and we can't continue filling the Earth with waste!

There are solutions that experts are calling for, in order to avert an ecological disaster and possibly transform NY State economy into a smart/profitable/sustainable one. Our state must work on reducing waste and improving our recycling efforts/infrastructure. If this is done, NY State could become a leader in a profitable/healthy/circular economy, by creating jobs and prosperity for the near and distant future.

I realize that improving the waste/recycling system and asking the food/plastic/oil industry to change/adopt; to recycle and to use biodegradable products (instead of cheaper plastic/Styrofoam items) will be costly, however, the benefits to our economy will outweigh the cost, and NY State could become a model of circular/sustainable/profitable economy! As those of California, many US cities, and the European Union- they are prime successful examples of this new model.

I invite you to learn more on about the plastic/Styrofoam pollution threat, please read and then sign my educational petition with Change.org – it has already been signed by almost 6,000 people!
GOVERNMENTS MUST DECLARE PLASTIC & STYROFOAM HAZARDOUS when RELEASED into the ENVIRONMENT at http://chng.it/YcnqrJJn

Letter to the Sch'dy gazette

LETTER TO THE ALBANY TU, 9-3-19
Our State has passed a ban on single-use shopping bags, which will be effective March 2020- that's a good step in the right direction- however, the time has come for all of our State leaders to do more- to act and take bold/effective action- to prevent/reduce the plastic/Styrofoam trash/pollution that is threatening the health of our State and our planet; it’s poisoning the land, the water sources and the oceans. We can no longer continue wasting natural resources (and money too!) by throwing them away- because they are becoming less and less scarce, and we can't continue filling the Earth with waste!
 
Single-use plastic and Styrofoam products devastating to the planet; plastic bags, bottles, silverware, cups, lids/caps, straws, dishes, food containers, covers, etc. in addition to packaging for foods, electronics, appliances, etc, and disposable items (cigarette lighters, razors, markers). This pollution is contaminating the soil, the water, and the world's oceans. In fact, National Geographic and Green Peace, tell us that only 9% of our plastic trash is recycled in the USA and most of it -79%- is accumulating in landfills or sitting in the natural environment. And at some point, much of it ends up in the oceans. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic – that's a rubbish truck full every minute. Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals every year, and other sources tell us that 94% of all drinking water in the USA is polluted with plastic, and 70% of the world’s water contains plastic too!

There are solutions that experts are calling for, in order to avert an ecological disaster and possibly transform NY State economy into a smart/profitable/sustainable one. NY state must work on reducing waste and improving our recycling efforts/infrastructure. If this is done, our State could become a leader in a profitable/healthy/circular economy, and create new jobs and prosperity for many years.

Improving the waste/recycling system and asking the food/plastic/oil industry to change/adopt; to recycle and to use biodegradable products (instead of cheaper plastic/Styrofoam items) will be costly, however, the benefits to our economy will outweigh the cost, and NY State could become a model of circular/sustainable/profitable economy! As those of California, many US cities, and the European Union- they are prime successful examples of this new model.

I invite you to learn more on about the plastic/Styrofoam pollution threat, please read and then sign my educational petition with Change.org – it has already been signed by almost 6,000 people!
GOVERNMENTS MUST DECLARE PLASTIC & STYROFOAM HAZARDOUS when RELEASED into the ENVIRONMENT at http://chng.it/YcnqrJJn