🖼️ A Graphic (Comic) Review of ‘The Problem With Plastics’ 🎨

In July 2026, Beyond Plastics received a delightfully surprising email from Philadelphia-based illustrator and writer, Maria Fitzgerald. She wrote, “Hi. I am just letting you know that my book review of The Problem With Plastic has been published online at the Amazine Community, if you would like to see it.” We had not seen Maria’s previous work and didn’t know what to expect. But, we could never have anticipated the incredible work of art that awaited us.

Maria’s review of our book, in comic book form, was more than we could have imagined.

We knew we had to connect with Maria, thank her personally for her review, and share her talent with our friends and supporters. And, what better way to highlight Maria’s work – and the work of Beyond Plastics – than through a conversation with one of our grassroots advocates? 

Recently, Cindy Collier, a Beyond Plastics volunteer, chatted with Maria about her art, activism, and ways that everyone can make a difference in their own communities. 

Cindy: Hi Maria. Can you tell us a little bit about your work?

Maria: I started making comics soon after I retired from teaching high school science. In 2020, I completed a 32-page comic about the life of a plastic bottle. (Maria’s self-published comic book, My Plastic Bottle Life, tells the story of a plastic bottle as it travels the ocean.)

Cindy: And, how did you come across Beyond Plastics?

Maria: While I was researching my plastic bottle story, I came across the Beyond Plastics website. In 2020, I attended one of Judith Enck’s Beyond Plastics online courses. In the course, I learned the importance of passing legislation to curb plastic pollution. 

Cindy: What about Beyond Plastics’ mission and work drew you in?

Maria:I like Beyond Plastics’ strong emphasis on research, grassroots organizing and legislation. I recently read about how one of Beyond Plastics’ research group’s tracked Starbucks’ recycling of plastic cups. They discovered very few made it to a facility where they could be recycled. Also, I often read Kathleen Michels’ updates on the struggle to eliminate plastic turf. (Dr. Michels is a neuroscientist and founder of Safe Healthy Playing Fields)

Cindy: What, from the book, was of most interest to you? What had an impact on you as a reader, writer, advocate?

Maria: Judith Enck and Adam Mahoney’s book The Problem with Plastic interested me since it is very readable and could almost be a textbook on the plastic problem. It spells out so many of the issues related to this topic in the US. I recently needed to update my knowledge of plastic pollution in the US since I was attending a virtual conference on art and plastic pollution. While reading the book I decided to make a comic book-style book review of it. I thought my book review could encourage people to read the book. 

Cindy: What can individuals do to make a difference in their communities?

Maria: Individuals can make a huge difference by curbing plastic pollution through legislation. On a local level here in Philadelphia, it is great that Philadelphia finally has a plastic bag ban. On the topic of Philadelphia sending its trash to Chester (an adjacent environmental justice community) to be burned, I found out that the old trash contracts here were renewed and Philadelphia will continue to have much of its trash burned in Chester. This is disappointing, but I understand change often takes a long time.

Cindy: How do you see your work as communicating with others?

Maria: Since my work is in comics form, I simplify information to make the whole page readable. With difficult science topics, I think the visual dimension makes the material easier to grasp. I think the visuals could be appealing to readers who like comics.

Cindy: What message would you like to leave with our readers?

Maria: Look at the Beyond Plastics’ website and check out all the initiatives that Beyond Plastics is involved with.  Hopefully you will find something there that will spark your interest.  Maybe you could write a letter to your representatives, join a local group, or maybe make art about one of their projects. I find it inspiring to see so many people working on the problem of plastic pollution.

(The comic book review of The Problem With Plastic will soon appear in an anthology zine by WildRamp Publishing.)