Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered both plastic generation and plastic waste management systems. With increased demand for household products, takeout dining, and personal protective equipment, came increased generation of plastic, and particularly single-use plastic. Consequently, many of the existing environmental problems related to plastic generation, disposal, and management were exacerbated. Even before the pandemic, recycling systems and policies aimed at reducing plastic pollution were not enough to cull the ever increasing rate of plastic going into our environment and particularly our oceans. Though the pandemic intensified an already indisputable plastic waste crisis, it also proved our society is capable of monumental adaptation to benefit the health and wellbeing of our communities. Focusing on this potential bright side, our white paper explores innovative ways of reducing plastic waste in commercial buildings, the largest generation category of plastic waste in California. With many office workers telecommuting until a vaccine is fully distributed in mid-2021, building owners currently have a unique opportunity to update building technologies and policies to curtail commercial building plastic consumption long-term.
Join the Los Angeles Sustainability Executives Roundtable (LASER) and USGBC-LA for a panel discussion to dive deeper into the issue of plastic waste and commercial buildings in Los Angeles. The expert panel will be followed by breakout Q & A session.
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