Recycling is a vital factor in waste management - it reduces the amount of pollution caused by landfill sites and reduces the need for raw materials so that rainforests can be preserved. Plastic recycling is especially important, seeing as the creation of new plastic requires the use of fossil fuel hydrocarbons. Taking all possible measures to protect the Earth is especially important in a time when laws such as the major National Environmental Act of 1969 (which requires all federal government agencies to analyze and disclose the environmental impacts of their proposed actions) face danger of annulment by the current United States Administration.

In recent years more and more companies, from big corporations to small businesses, have implemented certain recycling standards. I have worked at Stop&Shop for eight years within three different locations in North Jersey.  I have stocked shelves, worked in the departments, and worked behind the scenes as a personal shopper. Although we do recycle all cardboard and outdated organics, I am appalled at the amount of plastic that gets thrown in the bin with all the other waste. All the plastic getting thrown out in the break room alone is saddening.

A company with a reputation for taking care of its customers should also prioritize taking care of the environment. Studies have shown that large companies play a bigger role in reducing greenhouse gas emission than the individual consumers.  Please help me in my quest of creating a better place to shop and work by simply signing thia petition.  When I get a decent amount of signatures (or even if I don't) I plan on e-mailing the corporate office of Stop&Shop asking for recycling bins to be added to each break room and department in stores across the company.