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The Global Problem of Plastic Waste — and How to Reduce It
Plastic production and consumption is a global problem. From 1950 to 2015, the world produced 8.3 billion tons of plastic. In 2015 alone, the production of plastic was 380 million metric tons. Of all this plastic, over half was designed to be used only once then discarded. Most of this plastic does not get recycled. The rate of plastic recycling from 1950 to 2015 was only 6%, and despite significant gains, the recycling rate in 2015 was only 20%. Further, much of the recycling of plastic waste from the U.S. is diverted to other countries, many of which are unable to manage their own waste or do not want it.…
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Join MWEG
Thank you for your interest in Mormon Women for Ethical Government! We hope you will join us in the important cause of working for ethics, decency, and compassion in government. Before requesting to join, we ask that you please carefully read our mission statement and the welcome message under ABOUT US. While our website and Facebook Page are available to everyone, only members may join our private discussion groups. If you are a woman and have read through our materials, understands our vision, and agrees to abide by our guidelines, you may request membership with this form. Once you’ve submitted your information, you will be added both to our general…
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Recycling: The Whys and the Hows
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that in 2017, 35.2% of waste generated was recovered through recycling. Within individual categories, paper and cardboard were recycled at about a rate of 66%, and yard waste/grass clippings were composted or recovered at a rate of 69%. Materials like plastic and glass came in at only 8% and 27%, respectively. Contrast these statistics with the estimated time it takes each of these materials to biodegrade: Glass takes a whopping 1 million years to decompose! Plastic can take upwards of 500 years to decompose, with some types taking less time. Cardboard can take as little as a few months to biodegrade if soaked, shredded,…
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Food Waste: The Impacts, and Ways to Reduce It
Sustainable management of food is a systematic approach that seeks to reduce wasted food and its associated impacts over the entire life cycle, starting with the use of natural resources, manufacturing, sales, and consumption, and ending with decisions on recovery or final disposal. Sustainable management of food can save money, help those in our communities who do not have enough to eat, and conserve resources for future generations. Building on the familiar concept of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” this approach shifts the view on environmental protection and more fully recognizes the impacts of the food we waste. “Most people don’t realize how much food they throw away every day — from…
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Media Releases
April 15, 2020 — Announcing New Blog; Guidance on Finding the Official Positions of MWEG March 10, 2020 — Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on Judiciary Independence February 6, 2020 — Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on Impeachment Acquittal and Senator Romney’s Vote December 18, 2019 — Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the House Impeachment Vote November 25, 2019 — Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the Testimonies of Marie Yovanovitch and Dr. Fiona Hill September 25, 2019 — Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on Whistleblower Complaint, Truth, and Transparency August 23, 2019 —…
