When two N.J. reporters tried to break up with plastic

In New Jersey, more than a million tons of plastic end up in landfills each year. But is it possible to live without it?

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Plastic waste is sorted at Continuus Material Recovery in Northeast Philadelphia. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Plastic waste is sorted at Continuus Material Recovery in Northeast Philadelphia. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

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New Jersey dumps more than a million tons of plastic in landfills every year. Some towns have banned single-use plastic bags or straws — but is it possible to ditch plastic altogether? NJ.com reporters Erin Petenko and Michael Warren gave it a shot. They explain why it’s so hard to live plastic-free, and why it’s important to try anyway.

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