From the Bottom Up

14 February 2023

Presented By: Chad Pregracke

Located In: Escondido 1 & 2

Chad Pregracke, 2013 CNN Hero of the Year, is living proof that one person can make a difference. As the founder of America’s only “industrial strength” river clean-up organization, Chad Pregracke tells a compelling, uplifting, and inspiring story about growing up on the river and how his river experiences led to his unique vision to clean up the Mississippi River and start an internationally recognized not-for-profit, Living Lands & Waters. Most of the trash removed from the Mississippi River and other water bodies are plastics and hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent trying to dispose of those plastics. After learning that 43% of all slow-growing hardwood trees are cut down for single use wood pallets, Chad knew there had to be a better solution. So, Chad and his wife Tammy started Green Current Solutions (GCS). GCS makes 100% recycled plastic pallets utilizing a portion of the plastics removed from the rivers. In addition, through our grinding operations, we can incorporate other company’s plastic waste streams. GCS is a culmination of Chad and Tammy’s passion for the natural environment and their drive to make change. Companies switching from wood to 100% recycled plastic pallets are not only saving millions of pounds of plastics from our oceans, rivers, landfills, and incinerators, but they are also saving millions of trees from being cut down. Chad’s presentation is motivating, captivating, genuine and refreshingly spontaneous. His story will show you that one person can truly make a difference!