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Proclamation declaring Tuesday, March 5, 2019 to be “No Plastic Please” awareness day in Allegheny County.
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WHEREAS, plastic waste can be found everywhere, affecting not only the aesthetic beauty of our planet, but the health and well-being of humans and animals alike; and
WHEREAS, recycling efforts are horribly ineffective. 91% of all plastic ever produced is still present in our oceans and landfills; and
WHEREAS, plastic, when exposed to the elements, releases methane and ethylene - two powerful greenhouse gases that can exacerbate climate change; and
WHEREAS, HUMANE ACTION Pittsburgh’s “no plastic please” campaign works to eliminate single-use plastics wherever possible to safeguard communities’ health, wildlife, and environment;
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WHEREAS, each year, around 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans; the equivalent to dumping a rubbish truck full of plastic in the water every single minute; and
WHEREAS, commercial fishing contributes 48% of all plastic in our oceans. Monofilament fishing lines take 600 years to degrade; and
WHEREAS, countries like Australia, Kenya, France, Taiwan, U.K., Canada, India and many U.S. cities now have long term strategies and laws in effect to eliminate single use plastic; and
WHEREAS, the average American deposits 65 lbs. of plastic into landfills annually; and
WHEREAS, educating our residents to say “no plastic please” in everyday business transactions and replace single use plastic with sustainable alternatives is key to ending our reliance
on plastic; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County is a progressive county, committed to protecting our children and future generations with a vision for sustainability;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the we, Allegheny County Council Members Patrick Catena and Anita Prizio, do hereby declare Tuesday, March 5, 2019 to be “NO PLASTIC PLEASE” AWARENESS DAY in Allegheny County. We encourage all citizens to replace single use plastic with sustainable alternatives wherever possible by saying “no plastic please” at stores and restaurants.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto caused the Seal of the County of Allegheny to be affixed this 5th day of March 2019.