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Some Grocery Stores Continue To Ban Reusable Bags, Despite Low Risk Of COVID-19 Spread
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 2/1/21 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 2/1/21

Some Grocery Stores Continue To Ban Reusable Bags, Despite Low Risk Of COVID-19 Spread

The pandemic has led to a lot of confusion about whether it's safe to bring reusable bags into grocery stores. While some stores allow them, others don’t. The science on how the virus spreads has evolved — and some question the need to continue reusable bag bans.

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All my takeout has delivered a mountain of trash. So I asked experts how to minimize it.
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 1/20/21 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 1/20/21

All my takeout has delivered a mountain of trash. So I asked experts how to minimize it.

Until March, I could count on one hand the number of times I ordered takeout or delivery this year. Food critics tend to eat away from home a lot — in my case, 10 or so meals a week, give or take a salad night off.

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How Covid-19 is changing packaging
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 11/18/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 11/18/20

How Covid-19 is changing packaging

Experts are already of the opinion that the Covid-19 outbreak will change the way we do business. We may be seeing the signs already. A WhatPackaging? report

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Reuse & Redesign: An Interview with Matt Prindiville
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 9/20/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 9/20/20

Reuse & Redesign: An Interview with Matt Prindiville

"Reuse & Redesign: An interview with UPSTREAM's Matt Prindiville," Conservation Law Foundation - Sep 20, 2020

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What COVID-19 Means for Coastal Cleanups
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 8/31/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 8/31/20

What COVID-19 Means for Coastal Cleanups

Reports suggest that plastic pollution—made up of plastic bags and personal protective equipment—is proliferating because of COVID-19. Researchers hope planned coastal cleanups can help give insight into how widespread the problem is. Photo by Aleksej Sarifulin/Alamy Stock Photo

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IntroductionCreating a Plastic Free Future: A Story of Plastic Virtual Film Screening & Panel Discussion
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 7/30/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 7/30/20

IntroductionCreating a Plastic Free Future: A Story of Plastic Virtual Film Screening & Panel Discussion

"Creating a Plastic-free Future," Ecology Center - July 30, 2020

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Trading One Disaster For Another – We Can Do Better, and We Will
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 7/1/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 7/1/20

Trading One Disaster For Another – We Can Do Better, and We Will

"We can do better, and we will," Women's Environmental Network - Jul 1, 2020

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With single-use bag ban back, you’ll be paying for grocery sacks again
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 6/30/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 6/30/20

With single-use bag ban back, you’ll be paying for grocery sacks again

The law was temporarily suspended because of concerns reusable bags could spread the coronavirus.

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COVID-19 Fallout: Tons of Trash
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 6/29/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 6/29/20

COVID-19 Fallout: Tons of Trash

For Milli Martinez of North Hollywood, CA, recycling has been a way of life. For years, she has taken her own reusable bags to the grocery store. At retail stores, she would also decline their bags and use her own.

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Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 6/25/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 6/25/20

SF to lift ban on reusable shopping bags amid complaints about waste

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How Covid-19 Has Impacted the Environment
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 6/15/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 6/15/20

How Covid-19 Has Impacted the Environment

"COVID-19 and the Environment," LUSH Cosmetics - Jul 15, 2020

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THE FUTURE: Solutions, Policy, & Resistance Around Plastic - Plastic Plague Pt 7 - Ep. 66
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 5/28/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 5/28/20

THE FUTURE: Solutions, Policy, & Resistance Around Plastic - Plastic Plague Pt 7 - Ep. 66

"The Future: Solutions, policy & resistance around plastic" (podcast), EcoJustice Radio - May 28, 2020

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The Future is Durable: The plastic pollution problem & messaging solutions for a sustainable world
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 5/20/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 5/20/20

The Future is Durable: The plastic pollution problem & messaging solutions for a sustainable world

"The future is durable" (audio), Waterkeeper Alliance - May 6, 2020

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Plastic bags were finally being banned. Then came the pandemic.
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 5/20/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 5/20/20

Plastic bags were finally being banned. Then came the pandemic.

Single-use plastics are all over the front lines of the Covid-19 response.

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Four environmental issues in the Pittsburgh region to keep your eyes on in the age of COVID-19
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 5/6/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 5/6/20

Four environmental issues in the Pittsburgh region to keep your eyes on in the age of COVID-19

COVID-19 cost jobs, closed businesses and limited travel. But the economic ruin has also led to record low levels of pollution and huge reductions in climate change emissions globally.

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How to Eat Less Plastic
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 4/30/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 4/30/20

How to Eat Less Plastic

Each of us might ingest up to a credit card’s worth of plastic weekly through food and water. Here, how to minimize exposure.

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Coronavirus Could Change Our Relationship With Trash
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 4/30/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 4/30/20

Coronavirus Could Change Our Relationship With Trash

The coronavirus caused Lauren Singer to do something she hasn’t done in eight years: she created waste.

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EP 42: Matt Prindiville | Executive Director of UPSTREAM
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 4/22/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 4/22/20

EP 42: Matt Prindiville | Executive Director of UPSTREAM

"The Charity Charge Show: Interview with Matt Prindiville," Charity Charge - April 22, 2020

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Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 3/26/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 3/26/20

Virus concerns churnght over single-use plastics

The Plastics Industry Association is asking the U.S. Health and Human Services Department to make a public statement in support of single-use plastics and to speak out against bans, linking it to theght against the coronavirus outbreak.

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People with Purpose: S’well Shares Stories from #ForTheFrontlines
Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 3/20/20 Upstream in the Media Ryann Russ 3/20/20

People with Purpose: S’well Shares Stories from #ForTheFrontlines

"Coronavirus questions: Reusables can be the solution?" S'well - March 20, 2020

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