Our “Take a Pass on Plastics” campaign is moving into a new phase this summer as Pat Nuccio steps into the team leader role.

“Pat has been active on our team as well as in the Northwest Cook County Group of the Sierra Club,” said Sharon Starr, the Woods & Wetlands volunteer leader who launched the plastics campaign in 2021. “Pat has taught environmental science at the college level and brings a wealth of knowledge to our cause.”

The campaign focuses on reducing consumption of single-use plastics in northeast Illinois communities.

As part of the campaign's first initiative, team members started visiting local restaurants just as pandemic-driven demand for takeout meals was surging. They encouraged staff to provide plastic cutlery and straws by request only. It was a win-win: Restaurants saved money and customers discarded less plastic.

This spring, the team began educating grocery retailers and customers about ways to reduce single-use plastic consumption. Volunteers set up resource tables in stores to talk with shoppers about the importance of shopping with reusable bags and buying products with sustainable packaging. They also worked with Fruitful Yield stores in Schaumburg and South Elgin to put on in-store Earth Day events.

Our Take a Pass on Plastics website page is a good starting point for anyone who wants to learn about the environmental impact of plastic and what individuals can do about it. In addition, team members are available to speak to groups of all kinds, including schools, libraries, clubs, and communities of faith.  

Monthly meetings of the plastics team will resume later this summer. For more information, email Sharon Starr.

Photo: Plastics team volunteers Janet Sullivan, Amy Hartsough and Renee Gladstone talked with customers at Fruitful Yield in Schaumburg on Earth Day 2023.