A Colorado entrepreneur who engages in various philanthropic activities, Lin Merage pursues her interest in women’s leadership, social justice, and sustainability, Lin Merage also stays informed on current events and issues related to the environment.
The overuse of plastic continues to concern environmentalists and adversely affect the environment. In this regard, its use as product packaging is the leading generator of waste. Clamshell packaging is one of the biggest challenges to the recycling industry due to its popularity among major retailers and consumers who don’t recycle them. Clamshell packing resembles its namesake: an item is placed between two plastic pieces that fit around it in a shell-like way with a hinge on one side. The other sides snap together to seal the package, sometimes in a manner that requires tools to open them. Their transparency makes the object inside visible on both sides of the package, and its light weight allows for easy transport, which is why retailers favor them. Consumers contribute to the problem by failing to recycle or doing so improperly. While clamshells are made from a highly recyclable material, most material recovery facilities can’t sort them apart from other items. Moreover, clamshells with sticker residue or unremovable adhesive stickers cannot be recycled at all, nor can those that are destroyed while attempting to remove the item that they contain. However, consumers can make a difference by ensuring that clamshells and other plastics are properly recycled. They can also scrape away sticker residue by washing the area with warm water and dish soap or smearing a bit of peanut butter on it, both of which can make the residue easier to scrub off.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorA longtime advocate for sustainable living, Lin Merage currently serves as the CEO of Nature-In-Sync Real Estate, a company that retrofits buildings and homes using a variety of green and non-toxic materials. Archives
November 2022
|