Plastics Recycling Drive

Vital Stats

Matt E

Helena, MT

  • people helped3400
  • People Doing It 15

The Problem

In Helena Montana, residents have few options to recycle their plastic. Plastics recycling in the Helena community is limited, costly and inaccessible. Because recycling is difficult, residents don’t recycle their plastic sending tons plastic to the landfill each year. Failing to recycle plastic has many harmful environmental impacts. Plastics production uses non-renewable fossil fuels and harsh chemicals which leach carbon dioxide and toxins into our environment. In order to guarantee a clean and healthful environment to each of Montana’s citizens, recycling plastic is paramount.

Plan of Action

The Student Advocates for Valuing the Environment Foundation, 501(c)3, is a Helena based non-profit dedicated to environmental stewardship through daily habits, conservation policy and recycling. S.A.V.E. works to directly expand recycling infrastructure, affect positive environmental policy, and provide educational resources and events in Helena and across Montana. One of the most important operations of the S.A.V.E. Foundation are the bi-monthly, community recycling drives for plastic. The drives are the only cost free option for residents to recycle their plastic. Just this year, S.A.V.E. collected over 100,000 thousand pounds of plastic. At the drives, S.A.V.E. collects Type 1 and Type 2 plastic, makes the recycled plastic into bales and sends them to manufacturing companies. Because Montana has lots of space for landfills and is located far away from markets, recycling is not always the easy choice. Through community outreach and education however, S.A.V.E. hopes to draw in more residents to our recycling program.
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Recycling

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