Plastic Bag and Film Forum
A new coastal campaign that focuses on reducing plastic pollution is starting up on the Outer Banks this month.
The Carolina Recycling Association is putting on a Plastic Bag and Film Forum on July 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. There will be a networking lunch following the event. This forum is part of its Community Outreach Series.
The North Carolina Coastal Federation is helping to coordinate this forum. Reducing marine debris is one of the federation’s top priorities. It hosts regular volunteer cleanups along the coast and is working on a comprehensive marine debris strategy for the coast.
"This event is a great educational opportunity and will include relevant information for residents, visitors and businesses,” said Sara Hallas, coastal education coordinator for the Federation's Wanchese office. “I hope this forum helps inspire action and participation on the Outer Banks and that people walk away with a better understanding of how to properly recycle plastic bags and plastic film."
The event starts off with a talk on why plastic bags and film are not recyclable curbside. It continues with presentations and discussions about why reducing plastic pollution is important in the coastal region, what the best practices are for recycling plastic bags and where best practices are in use.
The forum will close with a round-table discussion, a Q&A session and an optional networking lunch at Pamlico Jacks. The lunch is sponsored by the Carolina Recycling Association.
Speakers at the forum include staff from the North Carolina Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service, the Eastern Carolina Vocational Center, the North Carolina Coastal Federation, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Wrap Recycling Action Program and Onslow County.
Hallas will be giving the talk on why reducing plastic bag and film pollution is especially important on the North Carolina coast. Plastic bags are harmful to many types of marine animals and are easily blown away in the wind.
For a full agenda and more information about the Plastic Bag and Film Forum, visit www.cra-recycle.org/cos_plasticbagfilm/. More information on the event is also available at nccoast.org/events, and more detailed information on the Federation's marine debris strategy is available at nccoast.org/marinedebris.
