WORKING TO ADDRESS

THE PROBLEM OF
Organizing for Plastics
Alternatives SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

Organizing for Plastics Alternatives (OPA) is a citizen’s initiative that seeks

to draw attention to the problem of single-use plastics and to develop policy solutions to address this
burgeoning problem that has implications for climate change and waste stream management as well as
for human and ecological health. The number of single-use plastics currently being utilized has exploded
over the past years with additional increases during the global pandemic. These end up as waste and
contaminants in our waterways (22 million tons of plastic ends up in Lake Michigan each year), soil, air,
landfills, streets and communities—basically everywhere. Recycling has been pitched by corporations as
a solution to the problem; however, less than 9% of plastics are recycled, most plastics are not recycled
and all plastics ever created remain with us today even if in alternate forms. Recycling is not the solution
to the problem; the solution is in source reduction and reuse strategies.

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OPA is focusing its efforts on the enormous plastic footprint in all of our large, corporate
grocery stores. OPA completed a yearlong investigation into the problem of single-use
plastics in our grocery stores. We believe that grocery stores are releasing staggering
amounts of plastic into our environment and waste streams. Our report, released on
January 7, 2022, found that corporate-owned grocery stores have enormous single-use
plastic footprints and their use is accelerating. Smaller, locally-owned grocers, on the other
hand, are taking measurable steps to reduce their single-use plastic footprint. Our findings
further suggest that consumers overwhelmingly want grocers to reduce the use of single-use
plastics: 80% of respondents are concerned about the use of single-use plastics and 75% want
legislation limiting single-use plastics. For more information about our report, go here:

OPA is a member of the statewide COALITION FOR PLASTIC REDUCTION (CPR) made up of 25
grassroots organizations and cultural institutions. CPR is advocating for legislation in Illinois that will
reduce our single use plastic footprint. We encourage Illinois residents to support the following legislation
in 2022: Styrofoam Ban (SB1973 & HB5169) bans the use of Styrofoam in food services.

OPA is also a member of the national PLASTIC POLLUTION COALITION.

We urge you to contact congressional representatives today to support the
Break Free From Plastic Pollution legislation, which enables ambitious action to
reduce plastics: https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/pollution-act/. Currently Illinois
Senator Tammy Duckworth and several Illinois Representatives have failed to endorse
the legislation.

We invite you to join OPA as we fight to preserve the health and sustainability of our city, state and world.
• Join an OPA organizing action or event.
• Become a member of OPA.
• Contact or meet with your alderman, state rep, or senator to express your support for the three actions above.

Contact us OPA.in.Chicago@gmail.com
Web https://opa-chicago.weebly.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OPAinChicago/

Alternatives to using single use plastics in daily life +

Alternatives to using single use plastics in daily life

For Chicagoans, there is a Zero Waste Store:

Eco and Flamingo
4650 N. Rockwell, Chicago, IL 60625 and
1551 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201
https://www.ecoandtheflamingo.com/

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Shower and hand soap: Use bar soap in the shower and next to the sink.

Dish soap: Use bar dish soap or save your plastic containers and then take to stores that have bulk soap
and refill your container.

Dishwasher detergent: Use dishwashing tablets in cardboard containers or dishwashing powder.

Shampoo and conditioner: Use bar shampoo and bar conditioner.

Laundry detergent: Use powdered soap in cardboard boxes or strips that come in cardboard packages.

Water bottles: Buy stainless steel or aluminum refillable water bottles instead of plastic water bottles.

Takeout food containers: Ask to have your food put in cardboard or aluminum containers.

Restaurant leftover containers: Bring your own container in anticipation of needing to take some leftovers
home, or ask if they have cardboard containers or if they can wrap the leftovers in aluminum foil.

Body and facial creams: Use facial creams that come in glass jars or stainless steel containers with pumps,
some of which can be refilled.

Lip balm: Use lip balm that comes in plastic-free packaging.

Grocery shopping: Bring your own shopping bags and buy reusable produce bags for vegetables. Some
grocery stores might allow you to bring and use your own containers for bulk items, but if they don’t bring
or use their small paper bags for bulk produce. We also recommend beeswax covered cloth bags.

Toothpaste: Alternatives to plastic toothpaste tubes are toothpaste tablets in glass jars and tooth paste that
comes in glass jars or in metal tubes.

Toothbrush: Use a bamboo toothbrush.

Toilet paper: Use toilet paper made from recycled bamboo that is wrapped only in paper and there is no
plastic wrapping.

Deodorant: Use deodorants that come in cardboard containers.