Sign up for the PlasticsToday NewsFeed newsletter.
Sponsored By
Inventive reusable yard-waste removal bags eliminate single-purpose plastic bags in Charlotte, NC.
PlasticsToday Staff
June 18, 2018
2 Min Read
Marc Mataya, Charlotte, NC, resident and serial inventor, created the Leaf Burrito, a reusable yard waste removal bag, which is designed to help eliminate detrimental single-purpose plastic bags. Currently in use in Charlotte, the Leaf Burrito won the 2017 Sustain Charlotte Award in the Waste Reduction category.
"Leaf Burrito won the Sustain Charlotte Award for a reason,” explains Shannon Binns, executive director of Sustain Charlotte. “Great product, easy to use, making where we live a better place for us and generations after us. It is a cutting edge leader in the Sustainability arena."
Mataya came up with the idea several years ago while assisting the City of Charlotte Solid Waste staff with unloading a burrito-shaped tarp.
“However, tarps are not approved containers,” he pointed out. “I’ve always had a strong passion for environmental sustainability, green initiatives and with all the current news on what plastic contamination is doing across the world I wanted to do my part. After being recognized with the Sustain Charlotte Award and being endorsed by the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services, I wanted to get the Leaf Burrito in the hands of as many folks in the landscape business, corporate entities or weekend warriors in Charlotte and eventually at most homes across the country. Crowdfunding seemed the best venue to educate the public, create awareness and get production started more quickly."
Crowdfunding will allow Leaf Burrito to increase production and reduce the cost of the product with larger production runs. Leaf Burrito works to educate customers and cities about the impact of single-use plastic on the environment and their communities. Leaf Burrito will donate 5% of all funds raised, as well as 5% of future revenues, to support local Greenway development organizations.
PLASTEC Minneapolis 2018 held October 31-November 1 is part of the Midwest’s largest advanced design and manufacturing event that also includes MinnPack brings you the latest in materials and additives, injection molding, rapid prototyping, coatings, automation, packaging and more. For details, visit PLASTEC Minneapolis. |
The goals of Leaf Burrito are to:
Help reduce the amount of plastic pollution by keeping plastic bags out of landfills;
Make the arduous task of bagging leaves, hedge and garden clippings, and grass clippings a simple and eco-friendly experience;
Give back to our communities through local Greenway development organizations.
Each Leaf Burrito holds 4+ large lawn bags worth of leaves and starts completely flat for instant loading then “burritos up” with heavy-duty zippers. It’s made of a custom heavy-duty mesh that will not collect water such as through condensation as with plastic trash cans and paper bags.
For additional information, visit leafburrito.info.
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like
