Mind Your Plastic

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Mind Your Plastic Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Mind Your Plastic, Nonprofit Organization, 451-3045 Robie Street, Unit 5, Halifax, NS.

Working towards in Canada 🍁

Policy Resources 📖 | Business Toolkits 💼| Education Programs 🍏

Learn more and follow along on our journey: linktr.ee/mindyourplastic

What can happen to plastic after we think that we're done with it?PECO's work in Vancouver is a pretty fascinating answe...
08/17/2026

What can happen to plastic after we think that we're done with it?

PECO's work in Vancouver is a pretty fascinating answer. They collect and sort soft plastics such as LDPE, HDPE, and polypropylene, then melt and press them into new sheets that can be turned into artwork.

But what really caught our attention is that people can be part of the process.

Schools, businesses, residents, and communities can collect plastic and contribute it to an artwork. Thus, instead of simply sending that material away and never seeing it again, people can actually see what their plastic became.

At Appleby College, students and staff helped collect plastic that became “The Magnificent Eastern White Pine”—a permanent installation made using 154 pounds of plastic, equivalent to about 13,930 shopping bags. The collaboration between PECO and Mind Your Plastic also extended beyond the artwork. On Earth Day, we came together to address the entire Appleby community about the plastic crisis, and the collaboration was a real success.

At Seven Oaks Mall in Abbotsford, visitors contributed plastic to “Seven Oak Leaves”, a 12 × 16-foot mural made using 240 pounds of plastic—about 21,365 shopping bags' worth.

PECO's Whale Watchers project took a different approach, bringing together shoreline plastics, household waste, and empty product containers in an artwork inspired by the marine environment.

We love examples like these because they make the idea of a circular economy much easier to understand. It's not only about recycling—it's also about finding ways to keep materials in use, give them another purpose, and get people involved along the way.

We're proud to work alongside PECO.

“Working with and supporting Mind Your Plastic comes naturally to us because we strongly believe in their mission and the work that they are doing. We share a belief that plastic should not simply be viewed as waste, but as a material that can be reused, reimagined, and given a new life. Supporting practical education and helping people understand what is possible with discarded plastic are important steps toward changing the way that we think about it and creating more opportunities for practical action,” says Roger Brenninkmeyer, founder of PECO.

Thanks to PECO for giving people a very different way to look at something that we usually just call waste.

Want to see more of PECO's work and how the process works? Explore their projects at https://www.peco-fab.com/

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At Mind Your Plastic, we're putting these ideas into practice through our free Circular Economy Ambassador Program (CEAP), helping students across Canada learn about plastic pollution and take action in their own schools and communities.

Because the CEAP is free for schools and students, we rely on donor support to keep this work going. If you'd like to help bring CEAP to more Canadian students, you can support our work here: https://mindyourplastic.ca/donate/

Faces of Mind Your Plastic: Stephanie Bird 🌱What brings someone to Mind Your Plastic—and what makes them stay?For Stepha...
08/15/2026

Faces of Mind Your Plastic: Stephanie Bird 🌱

What brings someone to Mind Your Plastic—and what makes them stay?

For Stephanie, it started with finding somewhere to volunteer that genuinely matched one of her interests and passions. After terming out of the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s Board of Directors, she began looking for another organization in what she calls her “clean and green” area, and Mind Your Plastic turned out to be a pretty good fit.

“Plastic bags drive me absolutely crazy,” Stephanie told us. “I reuse everything I can, even the Ziploc bags.”

But that was only the beginning.

What kept Stephanie involved for more than four years was something she describes simply as “a sense of duty.” As a volunteer Board member, Treasurer and eventually Chair, Stephanie stayed with the organization through a period of significant change. She contributed to the organization’s strategy, mission, vision and values, policy work, and resources, while providing continuity and support behind the scenes.

And her own understanding of plastic pollution changed during those years too. When she first joined, she was aware of major plastic pollution issues, but microplastics were still relatively unfamiliar outside of scientific circles. Today, they have become a much bigger part of the conversation.

Stephanie also became increasingly convinced that solving plastic pollution means looking much further upstream, meaning not just asking what happens to plastic once it becomes waste, but asking why that plastic entered the system in the first place.

That means looking at policy.
At packaging.
At business practices.
And at the choices that can prevent unnecessary plastic from ever becoming waste.

As Stephanie puts it, “You cannot stop plastic pollution by looking at it when it’s about to become pollution. You have to be with the policy that stops it from getting into the system and turns things into a circular economy instead.” That is also why she sees particular potential in Mind Your Plastic’s work with corporations to reduce plastic use at the source. And this is where her perspective connects so closely with the work that Mind Your Plastic is doing today.

After more than four years on the Board, Stephanie is now preparing to step away—though with confidence in where Mind Your Plastic is headed. Why? Because the organization has a strong Board, clearer direction, important policy work, and an opportunity to keep growing. She feels like Mind Your Plastic now needs “fresh blood on the board.” And that feels like a fitting way to pass the reins: after helping carry the organization through a demanding chapter, knowing it is ready for the next one.

Thank you, Stephanie, for your years of commitment, your perspective, and all the work that you have contributed behind the scenes. We’re very grateful to have had the opportunity to learn and work with you.

This is the first “Faces of Mind Your Plastic” feature, sharing the stories of the people who have helped shape the organization.

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Mind Your Plastic is working hard through the Circular Economy Ambassador Program (CEAP) in Canada’s schools to reduce plastic pollution and implement practical measures for climate action. Because these programs are free to schools and students, we rely on the generosity of donors like you to fund our work. Please donate today at https://mindyourplastic.ca/donate/

Interested in volunteering with Mind Your Plastic? We’d love to hear from you.

👦👧 This International Youth Day, we’re celebrating young people who turn learning into action.Through Mind Your Plastic’...
08/12/2026

👦👧 This International Youth Day, we’re celebrating young people who turn learning into action.

Through Mind Your Plastic’s Circular Economy Ambassador Program (CEAP), students learn about plastic pollution and the circular economy, participate in community cleanups, and explore what environmental action can look like in their own communities.

However, not every school and every community is the same. Sometimes, the things that we may take for granted, such as the availability of recycling programs, support systems, and even the environment in which we live, can be very different. Doing the CEAP in the far North is often a bigger challenge than elsewhere.

One example comes from Deh Gáh Elementary & Secondary School in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories (population: 618), where 22 CEAP participants took part in a community cleanup that went well beyond the kind of litter that we might typically picture.

The community picked up a remarkable range of discarded items, including:
🚗 old vehicles
🧊 a fridge and stove
🛏️ a mattress
🪑 tables and chairs
🏠 dog houses
📺 TVs
📡 a microwave
🎄 old plastic Christmas trees
🪵 old plywood boards
🗄️ dressers
🧶 rugs

Our sincere thanks go out to their teacher Diana Gargan, who is also the 2022 recipient of the NWT Literacy Awards.

It’s a striking reminder that waste challenges can look very different from one community to another. It’s also a reminder that environmental education is about more than learning about a problem, but also about giving young people opportunities to understand the challenges around them and participate in meaningful action in their own communities. And it shows clearly that community action against plastic pollution, even against significant odds, can be done effectively if there is passion, willingness, and action.

We’re proud to highlight the CEAP participants at Deh Gáh Elementary & Secondary School and the wider community effort that they were part of in Fort Providence.

This International Youth Day, we’re celebrating young people, teachers, and communities who are learning, participating, and taking action.

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Mind Your Plastic is working hard through the CEAP in Canada’s schools to reduce plastic pollution and implement practical measures for climate action. Because these programs are free to schools and students, we rely on the generosity of donors like you to fund this work. Please follow the link here to donate today: https://mindyourplastic.ca/donate/

Teachers: Bring CEAP to your classroom this school year and help empower the next generation of environmental leaders.

Most of us recycle because we want to do the right thing. We rinse the container, put it in the recycling bin, and hope ...
08/08/2026

Most of us recycle because we want to do the right thing. We rinse the container, put it in the recycling bin, and hope that it will become something new.

But here's one of the biggest myths about plastic waste: Everything you put in the recycling bin gets recycled.

The reality is more complicated.

Recycling plays an essential role in managing waste, but it was never designed to solve plastic pollution on its own.

Here's why:
♻️ Not all plastics are recyclable. Different plastics have different chemical properties, and many were never designed to be recycled in the first place.
🏭 Recycling systems vary by community. What can be recycled depends on local infrastructure, available technology, and end markets.
🚫 Contamination matters. Food residue, mixed materials, or placing non-recyclable items in the recycling bin can prevent otherwise recyclable materials from being processed.
🔄 Plastic can't usually be recycled forever. Unlike materials such as aluminum or glass, many plastics lose quality each time that they're mechanically recycled, thus limiting the number of times that they can become new products.

These challenges add up.

According to the OECD's Global Plastics Outlook, only about 9% of plastic waste worldwide has been recycled. Most plastic waste is landfilled, incinerated, or leaks into the environment. That doesn't mean recycling isn't important. It just means recycling alone isn't enough.

The biggest opportunity to reduce plastic pollution comes before something reaches the recycling bin:
✔️ Reduce unnecessary plastic whenever possible.
✔️ Choose reusable options when you can.
✔️ Support products, businesses, and policies that prevent waste from being created in the first place.

At Mind Your Plastic, we believe solving plastic pollution means looking beyond the recycling bin and asking a bigger question: Did this plastic need to exist in the first place?

Recycling helps manage waste. Reducing unnecessary plastic helps prevent it.

💙 Save this post for the next time someone says, "It'll just get recycled," and share it to help bust one of the most common myths about plastic.

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Learning the facts is the first step. Helping young people put them into action is the next.

Mind Your Plastic is working hard to help students across Canada turn knowledge into action through our free Circular Economy Ambassador Program (CEAP). By empowering young people to reduce plastic pollution and take meaningful climate action in their schools and communities, we're helping build a more sustainable future.

Because the CEAP is offered free of charge to participating schools and students, we rely on the generosity of donors like you to make this work possible. If you'd like to help us inspire the next generation of environmental leaders, please consider making a donation today: https://mindyourplastic.ca/donate/

On World Water Day, we are reminded that our waterways are not disposable. Every piece of plastic that enters our oceans...
03/22/2026

On World Water Day, we are reminded that our waterways are not disposable. Every piece of plastic that enters our oceans, rivers, and lakes threatens ecosystems, wildlife, and the communities that depend on clean water.

At Mind Your Plastic, we are working toward a future where systems prioritize reuse, reduction, and responsibility over waste. Protecting water means rethinking how plastic is produced, used, and managed.

The choices we make today shape the health of our water tomorrow.

We’re excited to share a new chapter at Mind Your Plastic!Please join us in welcoming our new Executive Director, Vladan...
03/10/2026

We’re excited to share a new chapter at Mind Your Plastic!

Please join us in welcoming our new Executive Director, Vladan Veljovic. With fresh leadership and a strong vision for expansion of our education, corporate sustainability, and municipal waste programs, we’re actively seeking new partnerships across communities and sectors.

If your organization is ready to collaborate and drive change, we want to connect! Reach out to us and let's work together for a plastic pollution-free Canada.

Join Mind Your Plastic for an evening of cocktails, canapés, and inspiring conversation in support of a plastic pollutio...
02/04/2026

Join Mind Your Plastic for an evening of cocktails, canapés, and inspiring conversation in support of a plastic pollution-free Canada.

This fundraising event brings together people who care about protecting our land and seas, and includes a special talk by Dr. Juan José Alava. Enjoy thoughtfully crafted food and drinks while connecting with others who want to make a difference.

Proceeds directly support Mind Your Plastic’s programs and initiatives working to reduce plastic pollution across Canada.

📆 Thursday, February 12, 2026
🕠 5:30–8:30 PM
📍 1155 W Pender St #700, Vancouver BC

Tickets available now: https://lnkd.in/gQ5fVRGr

💼☕ How Plastic-Free is Your Workplace, Really? ☕💼From single-use coffee pods to plastic-wrapped office supplies, plastic...
07/30/2025

💼☕ How Plastic-Free is Your Workplace, Really? ☕💼
From single-use coffee pods to plastic-wrapped office supplies, plastic waste often sneaks into our workplaces. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Our latest blog breaks down simple, actionable ways offices can cut down on hidden plastics — and why going plastic-free at work matters more than you think. 🙌
✅ How to run a plastic audit
✅ Easy swaps for lunchrooms, mailrooms, and meetings
✅ Tips for building a workplace culture of reuse
🌎 Small shifts in the office lead to BIG change for our planet. And right now, your support goes twice as far. 💙 During Plastic-Free July, all donations are matched up to $10,000 to help us fight plastic pollution at work, at home, and beyond.
🔗 Link in bio to read the blog & double your impact.

🚨 Plastic is Hiding in Plain Sight. Can You Spot It? 🚨From your morning shower to your evening tea, plastic is quietly l...
07/28/2025

🚨 Plastic is Hiding in Plain Sight. Can You Spot It? 🚨
From your morning shower to your evening tea, plastic is quietly lurking in your daily routine, and not just in the ways you’d expect. 💡 From toothpaste tubes to tea bags, they all add up to BIG problems for our planet.
Our latest blog breaks down where hidden plastics are sneaking into your day, as well as simple swaps you can make to keep them out of landfills and the environment. 🌎✨
👀 Once you see the plastic, you can’t unsee it.
💙 Once you act, your impact can be doubled.
This Plastic-Free July, every donation to Mind Your Plastic is matched up to $10,000. Help us fight plastic pollution by donating today and supporting education, advocacy, and real solutions.
🔗 Link in bio: Read the blog, make a swap, double your impact.

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451-3045 Robie Street, Unit 5
Halifax, NS
B3K4P6

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