Mid-Hudson Bridge

Hudson Valley Kids, Parents & Caretakers’ Guide to Going Plastic Free

  • Kids' Books About Plastic Pollution

    Click Here

  • The STUFF

    Tips on how to get rid of all that stuff - and how to get more stuff - with a minimal impact on our environment.

    Manage Your Stuff

  • Recycling

    Wherever you are on your plastic-free journey, you probably have plastic stuff that can be recycled.

    Learn More

  • Plastic Free Lunch

    Organize a plastic-free lunch day or get your school completely off plastic with these resources.

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  • Presentations

    Request a presentation at your school or your child’s school.

    Learn More

  • Microplastic Madness

    Host a free screening of Microplastic Madness at your school.

    Learn more

Kids’ Books About Plastic Pollution

There are tons of books out there that educate young children about climate change and pollution. Here are some of our favorites. Most of these books can be found in the Mid-Hudson Library System. Request them here - https://mhls.overdrive.com/ or buy them second hand from your local used book store or ThriftBooks.

  • A Planet Full of Plastic

    Neal Layton

  • One Plastic Bag

    Miranda Paul, Elizabeth Zunon

  • Fish

    Brendan Kearney

  • The Last Plastic Straw

    Dee Romito

  • Harry Saves the Ocean!

    N.G.K., Sylva Fae and Janelle Dimmett

  • The Last Straw

    Susan Hood

  • What a Waste

    Jess French

  • The Whale Who Ate Plastic

    Stephanie O’Connor

  • The Plastic Problem

    Lonely Planet Kids

  • An Earth-Bot's Solution to Plastic Pollution

    Russell Ayto

  • A Plastic Bag's Journey

    Lola Usupova

  • What's the Commotion in the Ocean?

    Nyasha Williams

Getting rid of all that stuff and getting more stuff.

Sometimes it feels like a full-time soul-wrenching job procuring items that are perceived as necessary in a moment of panic, and then turning around the next day only to get rid of clothes that no longer fit, furniture your’e constantly stubbing your toe on and toys that were gifted and that never left their original packaging.

At the same time there are multitudes of families in our community with the opposite problem.

Check out some of the businesses below to see how to fully participate in the reuse and regift revolution.

  • Consider donating to the following outlets:

    • UCRRA’s Reuse Organization Finder - A comprehensive guide to reuse organizations in our area accepting the following: bikes, books, clothing/textiles, DVDs, eyeglasses, food, furniture, home foods, home improvement/building materials, toys, and vinyl records.

    • The Ulster County Immigrant Defense Network - The UIDN is always looking for children and baby products. They'll often accept mattresses and other furniture as well. Donations are usually collected on Wednesdays between 9am and 5pm at the Holy Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church at 30 Pine Grove Avenue in Kingston. Check ahead of time to see what they're accepting.

    • People's Place - 17 St. James Street Kingston, NY

    • Broadway Bubble - 718 Broadway, Kingston, NY - distributes free clothing to those in need.

    • Free to Thrift - 1050 Morton Blvd St.2 Kingston, NY - baby items are free.

    • Map of Little Free Libraries - take a book, leave a book!

    • Lend-A-Wheel- A YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County program that accepts used bikes, refurbishes them, and then distributes them to community members in need of basic transportation. Please note that all prospective donors must send a photo of the bike to Tom Polk at tpolk@ymcaulster.org or call 845-338-3810, ext. 102 before donating.

  • The Buy Nothing Project is a movement that “offers people a way to give and receive, share, lend, and express gratitude through a worldwide gift economy network in which the true wealth is the web of connections formed between people.”

    There are currently Buy Nothing groups in Kingston/Rosendale, Saugerties, New Paltz and Highland/Plattekill/Marlboro and participation is often through Facebook. Members will post an item they’re looking to get rid of, or let other community members what they’re in need of.

  • The Story of Stuff Project is a global, online Community of over 1 million Changemakers that includes parents, community leaders, teachers and students, people of faith, entrepreneurs, scientists and others interested in creating a more healthy and just world. They focus on our addiction to stuff.

    If you need some inspiration, watch their 21 minute long movie - The Story of Stuff - here.

    You can also host a screening at your child’s school of any of the following films. Find out more here.

    • The Story of Stuff

    • The Story of Cap and Trade

    • The Story of Bottled Water

    • The Story of Electronics

    • The Story of Cosmetics

    • The Story of Citizens United vs. FEC

    • The Story of Broke

    • The Story of Change

    • The Story of Solutions

    • Ban the Bead

    • This Land is Our Land

    • Our Water, Our Future

    • The Story of Microfibers

  • Buying second-hand items seems like a no-brainer. If you are strapped for time check out these online thrift stores:

    Where do you shop for second hand items? Let us know.

    • Throw a zero/low-waste birthday party

    • Request no gifts at your child's next birthday party or organize a book/used toy swap instead

    • Host clothing swaps or go to one at Play Haven!

    • Partake in plastic-free projects with your kids like making your own playdough.

  • It seems that there is nothing more alluring to a child than moosh in a plastic pouch often given freely at library story hours and parties. The issue with plastic food pouches is that they are difficult to clean (especially if your little one takes one taste and tosses it aside) and there is very little market for the type of plastic they're made out of. So do not put them in your curbside recycling bin.

    Terracycle collects these - but they've been under fire for years for not being able to explain their recycling process or success rate.

    Unfortunately dangerous levels of lead and chromium were recently found in certain brands of plastic food pouches - consider switching to a refillable silicone ones instead.

  • There are currently no outlets who will accept silicone in Ulster County. You can however mail your silicone bottle nipples, pacifiers, stasher bags, etc. to Pura, a stainless steel water bottle company in California:

    Pura Stainless
    Attn: Recycling
    735 State Street, Ste 229
    Santa Barbara CA 93101

    While we don't 100% condone mail-in recycling companies because of the carbon emissions implications - silicone in theory can be upcycled and this might be a worthy effort - especially if you're hoarding silicone out of the guilt of tossing it in the trash.

    Please get in touch if you have any tips!

  • Did you know in addition to printer cartridges and electronics, Staples at 1399 Ulster Ave in Kingston also accepts the following school supplies?

    • Backpacks & lunch bags

    • Binders & zipper binders

    • Crayons & colored pencils

    • Glue sticks & bottles (empty)

    • Pencils & pencil pouches

    • Pens, markers & highlighters

    • Rulers & drafting tools

    Who knows what they do with this stuff, might as well give it a try.

  • Chances are you are aware of fast fashion’s impact on the environment. Clothing and textiles can take hundreds of years to decompose, especially if they’re made of synthetic fabrics like polyester. In short, you should never throw away clothing and textiles, instead, find a collection bin or agency near you.

“Recycling” Info