The banning of plastic straws in restaurants has been a hot topic lately, but for one Lansdale resident, the discussion led her to start a Facebook group dedicated to helping local residents live greener lives and take better care of the environment.
Christina Ottaviano created Ecofriendly Lansdale Residents for a Conscious Community on July 9, 2018 to continue the conversation about banning straws in Lansdale. Originally, the conversation took place on the Citizens for the Revitalization of Lansdale, but there was debate on whether or not the conversation was relevant, so she created a separate group.
The group only has 33 members currently, but Ottaviano is hoping that once momentum gets going, the group will be able to take action in the streets.
“The main goal of the group initially was to share information about green living opportunities, such as clothing swaps, thrift store sales, maybe host some park and Main Street cleanups, and then also share information about ecofriendly living,” said Ottaviano.
While straws were the beginning of the conversation, the group has gone on to talk about how other single-use items, such as coffee mugs and cups, napkins, and takeout container, have a negative impact on the environment since they are used and thrown away, with the trash system taking them out of sight.
“This convenience factor combined with our trash system has given us the notion that our trash just disappears when our bins are emptied,” Ottaviano said. “This couldn't be further from the truth. All of this garbage ends up somewhere on this planet, and while we have been successful as humans, taking over the planet, proliferating every part of this world with human beings, we have also begun a destructive process that we absolutely need to be mindful of.”
The group is aimed at providing conversations and tips for how to live more environmentally-friendly lives. The goal of the group is to educate people on small tips for creating larger change by creating a ripple effect of environmental living. These tips include buying second hand items at yard sales, lessening our dependence on plastics, reducing food waste and encouraging compost.
“I believe that as neighbors, we can begin to inspire one another on a local level,” said Ottaviano said. “Any movement that has ever begun started with a small group of people and grew from there. “
See also:
‘Crackerjack’ Clean-Up Crew Spruces Up Downtown Lansdale
Chemical Spill at Whites Road Park Deemed Non-Hazardous
Volunteers Add a Shine to Whites Road Park
