Who doesn’t want cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities? 

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), landfills received 27 million tons of plastic in 2018. This was 18.5% of all municipal solid waste landfilled. Single-use plastics are small, but they have a large impact on the environment.

Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps inspire millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution.

Everyone making a small change will collectively make a massive difference to our community.

You can choose to refuse single-use plastics in July—alternatives you adopt this month can hopefully become new habits forever!

What you can do

There are several ways to get involved in reducing plastic waste—you can take small steps or really challenge yourself. Below are a few easy steps you can take to get started:

• Use a reusable, refillable, washable water bottle instead of buying single-use plastic bottled water.
• When you shop, take your own bags to the grocery, retail, or convenience store.
• Skip the stuff (plastic bag, plastic utensils, condiment packets, etc.)when you get takeout food.
• Bring a reusable coffee cup in place of takeaway coffee cups or dine-in at your local café.
• Purchase plastic-free toothbrushes, toothpaste, and more.
• Replace liquid soap with bar soap and avoid single-use plastic. For more information on how you can reduce plastic waste in your day-to-day life, read this blog post by the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District. Go to plasticfreejuly.org to learn more about how you can get involved.