Plastic Free July® is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics?

Everyone knows that plastic has become a problem. It's choking our oceans, killing plants, birds, and all kinds of animals in the process. It uses valuable fossil fuels for products which will be used for mere moments, and then sit in the landfill for a lifetime. It clutters up our homes, streets, waterways, and communities. It can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years for plastics to degrade, depending on the material and structure, and even then it leaves behind microplastics, which can make their way into human bodies!

You can help create a plastic-free future by reducing single-use plastics in your life. There are many ways and capacities to participate - you don't have to completely cut plastic out of your life immediately in order to help! Something as simple as bringing your own bag to go shopping, or asking for no plastic silverware or condiment packets when you order takeout, can help drastically cut the amount of plastic you send to the landfill.

Here are a few ways you can get started (or continue!) on your journey towards lower-waste, plastic-free living:

1) Join the Plastic Free July® challenge.

2) Check out local groups with a focus on waste reduction like Toward Zero Waste, Circular Triangle, and Don't Waste Durham.

3) Educate yourself and your friends and family by attending or hosting a film screening of Microplastic Madness, or one of the other great documentaries on this list.

4) Get involved in Earth Justice activities and events! Contact Betsy Bickel for more information.