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Tribal advocates keep up legal pressure for fair political maps; 12-member jury sworn in for Trump's historic criminal trial; Healthcare decision planning important for CT residents; Debt dilemma poll: Hoosiers wrestle with college costs.

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Civil Rights activists say a court ruling could end the right to protest in three southern states, a federal judge lets January 6th lawsuits proceed against former President Trump and police arrest dozens at a Columbia University Gaza protest.

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Rural Wyoming needs more vocational teachers to sustain its workforce pipeline, Ohio environmental advocates fear harm from a proposal to open 40-thousand forest acres to fracking and rural communities build bike trail systems to promote nature, boost the economy.

After the "Rockets' Red Glare" Comes the Cleanup

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Monday, July 2, 2012   

BOSTON - After the colorful Fourth of July fireworks have faded from the night sky, they're not really gone; not if you count the leftover plastic that litters beaches, lawns and fields across the state. And one group wants people to think about that this year, and next.

Ellen Anderson with "Environmentally Friendly Fireworks" says volunteer clean-up crews pick up pounds of plastic for months after the July Fourth holiday.

"You know, we get however many we can grab the morning after, but the tide takes out a lot of these plastics because they've been shot through the air, from the beach out into the water. So, every month, it's bringing in more of these silly little pieces of plastic that float out on the water."

Anderson says bird sanctuaries are treating more seabirds with problems from eating the plastic. When purchasing fireworks, she suggests avoiding the aerial or missile styles and also novelty products made to look like tanks, planes and boats, as they tend to contain the most plastic parts. Firecrackers, skyrockets, Roman candles, and even sparklers are prohibited in Massachusetts, but the law is frequently ignored.

Anderson says there are ways to minimize the environmental impact of fireworks, but you have to be a smart shopper. Look closely at what's inside the cellophane wrapping, and read the label.

"If it says 'battery' on the labeling, you are pretty much guaranteed that, for however many shots there are in that battery, if it's 25 or a hundred, you're going to have that many pieces of plastic."

Anderson also suggests people mention to fireworks vendors that they'd like to see products without plastic. She says one major manufacturer has told her it is developing some, although it may be several years before they're on the market.




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