For a better plastic future

Better products: Manufacturers are developing plastic that breaks down quickly, with few toxins. The Europeans are trying products made of lignan, waste from the paper-making process, instead of petroleum. In this country, they're using starch such as corn.

Better recycling: All plastic, once simplified, should be recycled curbside, even yogurt containers, bottles and their caps. It should be turned into the same product it was, or another product, repeatedly, not just into one-stop detours to the trash. Make manufacturers responsible for their products from beginning to end. It can be done. In groundbreaking legislation, Minnesota made electronics manufacturers responsible for recycling their products, and giant multinational corporations complied.

Better stewardship: We can all become diligent recyclers and choose nonplastic whenever possible.