MALIBU—The city of Malibu is promoting the importance of plastic usage for a plastic free July in reducing plastic use & plastic waste during Plastic Free July. More than 430 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, much of it designed to be used once & discarded.
Plastic waste pollution is devastating our marine ecosystems. As part of its commitment to protecting our watersheds, beaches & ocean, the City offers 10 easy steps to empower you to reduce plastic waste.
1. Carry a reusable water bottle – Reusable bottles reduce single-use plastic & prevent plastic waste from getting into the environment.
2. Bring reusable shopping bags – A simple swap that reduces the need for single-use plastic bags.
3. Skip disposable utensils and straws. Say no to unnecessary plastic forks, knives, spoons & straws when ordering takeout. Malibu banned single-use plastic straws, stirrers & cutlery in 2018 as part of its commitment to reducing plastic pollution.
4. Bring your own coffee cup. Even most paper cups come with plastic lids.
5. Pack reusable containers to replace plastic wrap, bags, and single-use containers. Packaging accounts for about 40% of global plastic production.
Source: https://www.oecd.org/environment/plastics/plastics-outlook/
6. Choose products with less packaging. Buying products with minimal packaging or in bulk helps reduce plastic waste.
7. Skip plastic straws, they are among the 10 most commonly collected items during beach cleanups.
8. Choose refillable products. Refill soaps, cleaners, and household products to reuse containers and reduce waste.
9. Pick up plastic litter. Learn how you can volunteer with a beach cleanup: https://healthebay.org/take-part/
10. Share your efforts. Inspire others by posting on social media about your efforts to reduce plastic waste, with the hashtag #PlasticFreeJuly
To learn more visit: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/about/impact/.
By Danny Jones