Plastic Free July 2022

Join millions of people in reducing your plastic waste in July 2022, and hopefully start new habits that will make an ongoing change to the health of our planet. Let's explain why, and offer some suggestions on how YOU can make a change for the better TODAY through Plastic Free July!

Why Reduce Our Plastic Waste?

There is a lot of discussions these days about reducing plastic waste and for a good reason. According to the Plastic Oceans Foundation, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.

Many people might not realize that plastic doesn’t biodegrade; it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, but never fully disappears. These tiny pieces of plastic are known as microplastics, and they are a major threat to marine life and the environment.

Reducing our reliance on single-use plastics is one way we can help combat this issue. We can all make small changes in our everyday lives to reduce the amount of plastic we produce. Some easy ways to do this are to bring your own reusable bags when you shop, refuse straws and other disposable plastics and recycle what you can.

Where Does Plastic Waste End Up?

In the ocean, plastic bags can look like jellyfish to marine life. When fish or birds eat these bags, they can die from choking or from the bag getting caught in their digestive system.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have found that about 267 species of marine life are affected by marine debris.

Every year, Americans produce about 33 million tons of waste. Of that waste, only about 3 percent is recycled. The rest goes into landfills or becomes litter on streets and in our waterways. And it never goes away…..

How Long Does Plastic Live?

Plastic takes about 450 years to degrade, but it never really disappears. It just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. When in the ocean, these pieces are then eaten by marine life, which enter the food chain.

Every year, Americans produce about 33 million tons of waste. Of that waste, only about 3 percent is recycled. The rest goes into landfills or becomes litter on streets and in our waterways.

Ways To Reduce Plastic Waste

In recent years, plastic in the world's oceans has become a huge concern. Not only does it look unsightly, but it can also be harmful to marine life. If you want to do your part in reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean, here are a few simple tips:

1. Recycle as much plastic as possible. In most cases, recycling plastic uses less energy than creating new plastic from scratch.

2. Try to avoid using disposable plastics whenever possible. For example, bring your own shopping bag when you go grocery shopping, or use a water bottle that you can refill instead of buying bottled water.

3. Think about ways that you can reuse plastic products instead of throwing them away.