PUTNEY-The Putney Public Library and the local Beyond Plastics affiliate group, Third Act of Windham and Windsor counties (Win/Win), are sponsoring a community read of The Problem With Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late.
The library has multiple copies of the book available for checkout to Putney Library cardholders — request a copy by emailing request@putneylibrary.org.
A facilitated community discussion of the book will be held Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the library. All are invited.
“Plastic is everywhere,” wrote event promoters in a news release, “wrapped around our food, stitched into our clothes, even coursing through our veins. What began as a marvel of modern science has become a toxic industry that is harming our health, polluting our planet, and driving climate change,” they said. Plastic production has increased exponentially since single-use plastic’s start, from 2 million tons per year in 1950 to 450 million tons per year today. And production, they said, is expected to triple by 2060.
“Given that less than 6% of plastic is actually recycled in the United States, all that plastic will continue to harm every person, their communities, and the environment,” wrote organizers. “The good news is there’s still time to turn off the tap and live in a world without pointless plastic.” That’s the hopeful message at the heart of this December 2025 book by Judith Enck and Adam Mahoney, published by The New Press.
The plastic pollution crisis is massive, systemic, and urgent. But plastic pollution is not inevitable; “it’s the result of choices made by businesses, governments, and, to a lesser extent, everyday people.” The authors’ goal with this book is to equip people with knowledge, hope, and an arsenal of solutions to save the planet while there’s still time.
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