Trash Tote Overview Guide 2.0

Ohio Sea Grant Extension: Marine Debris with Jill Bartolotta

Single-use plastic bags are everywhere in society, but despite their convenience, they can have negative impacts on the environment and on waste management.

Farmers markets seem like a logical place to encourage the use of reusable bags, but when Jill Bartolotta and Dr. Scott Hardy at Ohio Sea Grant examined the effects of giving out free reusable bags at Ohio farmers markets, they found that just having bags available is not an effective approach to reducing the use of plastic bags. Instead, communities should consider focused approaches like bag bans and education and outreach strategies, as well as financial and policy incentives.

Event Archive

Everyday items can be recycled to help keep our waters clean! See how simple tennis ball cans can be used to collect fishing line and other trash.

This collection of tip sheets from OSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences encourages switching single-use plastics to reusable alternatives, in settings ranging from boating to celebrating the holidays.

This study looks at the role of Extension in helping local officials reduce plastic bag use at farmers markets in three Lake County, OH communities. We distributed free reusable bags to shoppers and conducted an education and outreach program. We then took observations to determine if the free reusable bags were being used. We also invited shoppers to take a voluntary survey about their environmental attitudes, why or why not they use the reusable bags, and how best to reduce plastic bag use moving forward. Results from the study suggest that supplying free reusable bags at farmer markets is not an effective strategy for Extension professionals attempting to reduce plastic bag use. Instead, we recommend working with local officials to develop financial incentives and disincentives tied to the type of bag option shoppers use, implement plastic bag bans at markets, and conduct locally-focused education and outreach. Although shoppers’ environmental literacy and desire for sustainability is high, it is shown that behavior change is unlikely to occur without financial or policy incentives.

To supply recommendations and best practices for environmental awareness and health, wellness and safety when holding a meeting or hosting a conference

Many of you have heard the phrases “go green,” “eco-friendly,” and “sustainable lifestyle” tossed around on social media, the news, and in conversation. But what do these phrases mean and how do they affect us, the planet, and other living organisms?

This 4-H Idea Starter helps students answer some of those questions for themselves and their families.

Celebrate Sustainably with tips from Ohio State University Extension and Ohio Sea Grant

Tackling Trash When Fishing fact sheet

Trash Free Trails fact sheet

Reducing Plastic Waste When Boating fact sheet

Marine Debris Awareness Training Guide for Restaurant Staff

Ohio Sea Grant, with support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, conducted two linked research projects from 2016-2020 that informed a comprehensive education and outreach campaign designed to reduce plastic pollution in the environment.

All Washed Up – Ohio Sea Grant works to stop marine debris before it gets to Lake Erie beaches.