The Fourth R: Upstream and Don’t Waste Durham

April 27, 2023 (webinar)

Crystal Dreisbach wowed the audience at our 2022 conference with the story behind Don’t Waste Durham. We invited Crystal back to tell us more about the programs and how they are going. We also invited Upstream’s Community Engagement Officer, Macy Zander to give us an overview their re-use initiatives and results throughout the U.S.

Zander opened the webinar on how Upstream is working towards shifting from a throw-away economy to a new way of thinking of how goods are delivered to customers. Zander also highlighted legislative initiatives at the state and national levels as well as efforts among corporations to join the effort.

Next we heard from Dreisbach on how she has boosted re-use in Durham with innovative programs such as Bull City Boomerang Bag, GreenToGo and the ReCirculation Project. Dresibach talked about the 4th R – Recirculation, and how we can move from a linear economy to a circular economy where materials are reused over and over. Dreisbach shared how the programs work and the benefits derived from those programs. Learn more about the Don’t Waste Durham programs.

Listen in to the full conversation below.

Notes:

Throwaway economy: A system in which 15% of wood harvested, 22% of aluminum mined, 40% of plastic created, and 50% of glass produced goes primarily to making single-use packaging that is consumed often in a matter of minutes before it gets trashed recycled or littered. This system treats the resources of our planet as disposable, and negatively impacts our environment with the greatest burden people of color and low- income communities.

Reuse as an alternative: Studies have shown that in almost every single scenario, reusables have lower greenhouse gas emissions and more positive climate impacts. Additionally, reuse provides the opportunity for the creation of green jobs.

Linear Economy: Materials are extracted from the earth, manufactured, sold for use by consumers, and eventually end up in a landfill.
Circular economy: A product is designed from the beginning for maximum quality & material health and then put the product into a system where it can be used over and over again, and in the form in which it was originally intended.

Re:Circulation Project: A pilot program in Durham, NC,  that aims to shift current municipal recycling programs from recycling model to recovery and redistribution of reusable packaging.

GreenToGo (est. 2017): An award-winning reusable container system that takes the trash out of takeout.

Bull City Boomerang Bag: A 100% volunteer-operated effort that brings together community members to sew reusable shopping bags from discarded t-shirts and other cotton fabrics.