Pathways SP25 DIGITAL Magazine

GREEN NEWS & VIEWS

Channels St. Germain and The Council of Light Astrological Consultant and Medical Intuitive

Understanding Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics: The Green Consumer’s Dilemma

The Gatekeeper is the producer/director of the play that your soul wrote before you came into this lifetime.

P.O. Box 1052, Lander, WY 82520 307-335-8113 Group, Private, Phone and Zoom sessions available.

FROM PLANTSWITCH

We all want to be eco-friendly. We bring our reusable bags to the grocery store, opt for bamboo toothbrushes, and diligently separate RXU UHF\FODEOHV %XW ZKHQ LW FRPHV WR XQGHUVWDQGLQJ WKH GL̆ HUHQFH between “biodegradable” and “compostable,” it’s easy to get tangled XS LQ WKH JUHHQ MDUJRQ $W ¿UVW JODQFH WKHVH WZR WHUPV PLJKW VHHP interchangeable. After all, they both imply that a product breaks down and returns to nature, right? Well, not exactly. There’s a world of dif- ference between biodegradable and compostable materials, and un- derstanding these distinctions is key to making smarter choices for the planet. Let’s start with the basics. Biodegradable products are made from organic materials that can be broken down by microorganisms such as EDFWHULDDQGIXQJL+RZHYHUWKHWHUP³ELRGHJUDGDEOH´LVRIWHQXVHG ORRVHO\,WGRHVQ¶WVSHFLI\KRZORQJWKLVSURFHVVZLOOWDNHRUZKDWHQ - vironmental conditions are required. Some so-called biodegradable plastics might take years to break down, and they often leave behind microplastics that can harm marine life and enter our food chain. 2QWKHRWKHUKDQGFRPSRVWDEOHPDWHULDOVDUHVSHFL¿FDOO\GHVLJQHG to break down in composting conditions, usually within a matter of months. Compostable items break down completely, leaving no tox- LF UHVLGXH DQG WXUQLQJ LQWR QXWULHQWULFK FRPSRVW WKDW FDQ EHQH¿W WKHVRLO+RZHYHUHYHQFRPSRVWDEOHLWHPVQHHGWKHULJKWFRQGLWLRQV – a good balance of oxygen, moisture, and the right temperatures – WREUHDNGRZQḢ FLHQWO\7RVVLQJDFRPSRVWDEOHIRUNLQWRWKHWUDVK won’t cut it; it needs to be in a composting facility to do its thing. Why Labels Matter More Than You Think So, why does this all matter? Because the labels we see on prod- ucts can be incredibly misleading. A product labeled “biodegradable” might sound green, but if it’s not disposed of correctly, it could be just as harmful as regular plastic. And don’t even get us started on the potential for greenwashing – where companies make their products seem more eco-friendly than they actually are. That’s where under- VWDQGLQJWKH¿QHSULQWFRPHVLQKDQG\RXFDQUHDGPRUHKHUHRQRXU DUWLFOHRQXQGHUVWDQGLQJWKH¿QHSULQW For example, some biodegradable materials are not compostable in an industrial composting facility, and this term does not specify the required conditions for it to break down, which may mean that some biodegradable materials could take years to decompose. There’s also a tendency for mis-sorting to occur by the consumer, so biodegradable PDWHULDOVFRXOGHQGXSLQJHQHUDOUXEELVKODQG¿OOPHDQLQJWKDWWKH\ will not decompose at all. Compostable products also need to be prop- erly distinguished between home compostable (the gold standard) or if they require industrial composting facilities, which typically require high heat temperatures to aid decomposition. PlantSwitch: A Game Changer in Biodegradable and Com- postable Solutions Enter PlantSwitch, a company that’s taking a unique approach to the biodegradable versus compostable dilemma. PlantSwitch prod- XFWVDUHFUDIWHGIURPSODQWEDVHGPDWHULDOVWKDWDUHKRPHFRP - postable, which means they do not require any industrial composting facilities. They can simply be disposed of in the backyard garden, or if

Our May intensive will be May 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Contact us for info. May the Seeds of Your New Becoming Bring You Bounty. We invite all to come and join us in beautiful Wyoming for this celebration of the expansion of Spirit.There is always more because you are more. The Personal Growth theme for 2025 is “LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE, NOW!” Look into this. It gets better all of the time. mollyrowland22@gmail.com www.voiceofthegatekeepers.com

NEW FUTURE SOCIETY CENTER

CENTER FOR LUMINOUS ga‡Hg”‡a'‡‡Ϟ©'ZZ΅'Ha< m;uvoml;7b|-ঞomCuv|$_†uv7-‹o=;ˆ;u‹lom|_ ;‰=†|†u;vo1b;|‹1;m|;uĺ1ol (301) 452-7780

FREE ENTRY Tickets Not Required

Donations via ticket of any amount very much appreciated (in advance or at the door) 45 VENDORS, indoor event, free parking. 8th year for this event.

2025 Sunday, May 18 9am – 5pm

Elks Lodge, 8421 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22031 Many of the best psychics • mediums • healers • and readers of all types • along with related arts and crafts vendors from Virginia and the surrounding areas. Besides all types of readings done at tables there will also be related • arts • crafts • books • oils • crystals • sage • herbs • jewelry • gemstones • candles • soaps • smudge items • etc. For info on all the vendors etc. go to: va-psychic-fair-2025.eventbrite.com

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PATHWAYS—Spring 25—65

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