Plastic Free July?
Written By: Milan McWilliams, Social Media Marketing Intern. Graphics By: Alexis VanLandingham, Social Media Marketing Intern. Edited By: Meggie Li, Social Media Marketing Intern
For an entire month Millions of People from Around the World partake in the challenge of reducing their use of single-use plastics for the entire month of July. What that looks like is up to you. Regardless of what you choose to do, you will undoubtedly make a difference and contribute to a more Plastic Free World!
How Do I Start?
We know going plastic free can be daunting but it does not have to be. We created a quick and easy getting started guide for you, that you can start right now at this very second!
Bags - Use a reusable bag when grocery shopping. It saves money, and helps save the environment from plastic bags that end up in our oceans and landfills.
Straws - Using a reusable straw or declining a straw at a restaurant can help prevent harm to turtles and other ocean creatures. Due to the lightweight nature of plastic straws they are not able to be sorted at recycling facilities and often end up as plastic pollution.
Cups - Use a reusable coffee cup or water bottle instead of single use styrofoam, paper, or plastic cups. Ask your barista to use your reusable cup.
Utensils and To Go Containers - If you know that you are going to have to get food on the go and cannot pack it beforehand, bring utensils with you from home and ask the fast-food place or restaurant to use your reusable container instead of the plastic or paper ones.
*Helpful Tip: Use a reusable bag or put these items in your daily bag, it should not take up too much space, just in case you need them unexpectedly.*
Use old shirts cut up as rags - Instead of buying cleaning rags, paper towels, and other cleaning tools that can come in plastic packaging and often have plastic in them, cut up an old shirt with holes or stains and use it to clean dishes and spills. Simply throw it in the washer and use again.
Make your own cleaning products - Ditch the harmful chemical cleaners that can end up in our waterways and hurt the environment, instead of using those cleaners, which also come in a plastic bottle, make your own instead in a glass or reusable spray bottle out of vinegar and citrus. (Also many eco-friendly brands to shop from online!)
Craft plastic free hygiene products - Oftentimes we buy hygiene products in plastic containers because there is a lack of better options. However, lots of hygiene products are easily craft-able! For example: make toothpaste by mixing coconut oil, baking soda, and essential oil in a bowl or make deodorant with the same ingredients and adding arrowroot starch.
Use water straight out the tap - Instead of buying plastic bottles drink the water straight out of your tap instead. Saves you money and the environment from the plastics created from plastic bottles. If you do not like the taste of you tap purchasing a filter is more cost efficient in the long run and saves plastic!
*You can even chill your reusable water bottles to take on the go.*
*Alternatives: Shop online and in-store for tablet toothpaste in glass bottles or deodorant in cardboard rather then plastic.*
Talk to others about Plastic Pollution: Talk to your family and friends about plastic pollution. Tell them what you are doing this month to make a change and see if they want to join you! Creating a group for plastic-free July is a great way to hold each other accountable and make a big impact(also it’s more fun!)
Have open dialogue with local businesses: Talk to local businesses that you frequently shop with about if they have thought about reducing their use of plastic, the issue of plastic, and how they can reduce their plastic waste.
Educate yourself on the issue of plastic, recycling programs in your community, and ways you can help.
Host an Event: If you feel like you have a solid footing on the plastic problem and have solutions, hold a community talk. Invite your community to a local coffee shop or community center. Help give solutions to the problems of plastic in your community and you might also hear some new ideas as well!
Encourage Local Government To Do More: review your local government’s rules and regulations and encourage them to do more.
Continue to host group events discussing what changes need to be made in the community.
Encourage your community to contact local government officials and discuss the problems and solutions.
Get signatures from your community for a petition to change local government rules to save your community from the plastic problem.
Host a Cleanup: Host a cleanup event through your local government to get them involved and aware of the problem of plastics in your community. *Please let Trash Free Maryland Know about your event - we will help you promote it through our social channels!*
Throughout this month Trash Free Maryland will be hosting a plastic free challenge. Each week we will have a new challenge for the week, posted on our social media feed, that will vary from beginner, intermediate, to expert. Grab friends and family to participate and see who can complete the most challenges this month. Keep a lookout for our stories as throughout the week we will be giving you tips to complete that week's challenge.
Track your Progress using our Plastic Free Challenge Calendar: Plastic Free July Challenge Calendar!
Use our Toolkit to post on your socials: Plastic Free July ToolKit!
#PlasticFreeTFMD showing us you participating in the challenge for a chance to be featured on the TFMD story!
