🗓️Plastic Free July Events Across The U.S. 🇺🇸
To celebrate Plastic Free July, Beyond Plastics Local Groups & Affiliates are hosting, co-hosting and participating in events all across the country. See below for a glimpse into what’s planned, when, and where.
Beyond Plastics Gallatin Valley (MT)
Thursday, July 6, 5:30pm MT
“Perishable Plastic, the Ecosystem, and the Human Body” with Megan Wolff, Policy Director, Beyond Plastics
Hope Lutheran Church, Fireside Room; 2152 W. Graf St., Bozeman, MT.
This event has passed but a recording will be available soon here: www.hopescreationcare.com
Beyond Plastics Virtual Group
Thursday, July 6, 7:00pm ET
Stop Toxic “Chemical Recycling” Power Hour with Josephine Gingerich, Climate Reality Project and Dr. Jamala Djinn, Center for Environmental Health
This event has passed. Throughout the event, attendees used the Climate Action Now app to quickly and easily email and call their federal and state representatives and the Biden Administration to oppose chemical recycling. Attendees also supported Massachusetts House Bill 3701, an act to prohibit waste-to-fuel projects from counting toward recycling.
Quad Cities Earth Coalition (IA/IL)
Saturday, July 8
Plastic Free Festival at Niabi Zoo
Learn from community partners about how you can reduce the use of plastics by finding effective alternatives.
Admission to Niabi Zoo is required. Go to www.niabizoo.com to purchase tickets.
Beyond Plastics Greensboro (NC)
Monday, July 9, 4-5:30pm ET (doors open at 3:30pm)
Join us for an in-person screening of The Story of Plastics followed by a discussion.
Temple Emanuel 1129 Jefferson Road, Greensboro, NC
Beyond Plastics Greater Seattle
July 14, 10:00am PT
In honor of Plastic Free July, we're offering "The Story of Plastic" streaming link FREE as well as the opportunity to participate in a number of challenges around Plastic Free July such as BYOS for the month of July, a plastic audit, the coolest BYOS Kit/Mug contest, contacting your local legislators, sending letters of support for Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging reduction, reporting audit results to Trashblitz and a Story of Plastics screening with a Q&A panel on July 14th. Register here for the panel.
WasteNot Nevada County (CA)
Monday, July 17, 7:00-8:30 PT
Nevada County Library, 980 Helling Way, Nevada City, CA
Following a screening of the Story of Plastics, a community conversation about recycling -- particularly plastics. Ask WM all of your burning questions about local recycling. What IS happening and NOT happening in our area, and why. Learn more about the predicament of plastics and where there is promise.
Move Past Plastic (PA)
Tuesday, July 18th, 2023, 7 pm EST
Hazards of Synthetic Playing Surfaces
Are Synthetic Playing Surfaces Doing More Harm Than Good? Six former Phillies all died of the same brain cancer — was it the turf? Philadelphia Inquirer tested the park's turf and found it contained dangerous 'forever' chemicals. Boston bans artificial turf in parks due to toxic ‘forever chemicals’ The city joins a growing number across the US in limiting the use of artificial turf made with dangerous PFAS compounds. Register here to attend virtually.
Families for a Livable Climate (MT)
Wednesday, July 19, 6-7:30pm MDT
Missoula Public Library, Cooper Rooms A/B, (4th Floor) 455 E. Main St., Missoula, MT
Plastics & Your Health is a free educational event sponsored by the Families for a Livable Climate Plastics Working Group and Providence St. Patrick Hospital. This event is in partnership with Cottonwood Environmental Law Center and Beyond Plastics. Join other local residents in thanking local and state supporters who helped with efforts to reduce plastic pollution in Montana, learn about plastics’ negative impact on human health and hear an overview of plastic policies in Montana with Cottonwood Environmental Law Center. Speakers include Dr. Megan Wolff , Beyond Plastics Policy Director, Cottonwood Environmental Law Center Advisory Board Member, Attorney Michael J. Lily and Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, Grassroots Conservation Coordinator, Isaac Cheek. RSVP is recommended but not required.
Less Plastic Please (MD)
July 19 and 26, 7-8pm ET
Transition Howard County is pairing with CEI to provide you information about how to eliminate the many different types of plastics in your life. The sessions will be held via Zoom and there will be time for Q&A each week. Donations will help support the Transition Repair Cafe which helps reduce waste going to the landfill by fixing items for free. Register here to attend virtually.
Earth Ethics (FL)
Thursday, July 20, 1-2:30 ET
418 West Garden Street Room 403. Pensacola, FL 32502
Join us for a press conference and public forum on the hazards of plastics and why it is important the State of Florida gives local municipalities their power back to make decisions on how they deal with the plastic pollution crisis. We will meet at Senator Doug Broxson’s District Office, 418 West Garden Street Room 403. Pensacola, FL 32502 and will deliver a petition supporting reversal of ban on bans.
Beyond Plastics Onondaga-Cortland Counties (NY)
Thursday, July 20, 1:00-2:30 ET
Plastic Free Coalition Picnic in Syracuse.
WasteNot/350 Brooklyn, Beyond Plastics Brooklyn
Thursday, July 20, 11:00a., ET
Press conference at NYS DEC Region 2 Headquarters, 21st Street Long Island City (near the 21st Metro Station) requesting enforcement of the Bag Ban and Container Redemption in NYC. The groups will deliver a letter to DEC staff and urge them to take immediate action.
Beyond Plastics New Paltz (NY)
Thursday, July 20, 12:00pm ET
Delivery of a sign-on letter to state Senator Michelle Hinchey thanking her for co-sponsoring the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S.4246-A/A.5322-A) and urging her to champion the bill at Senator Hinchey's district office at 721 Broadway in Kingston. Attendees will be saving their discarded plastic packaging to bring to the event demonstrating the need to reduce plastic in New York State.
Beyond Plastics Greater Boston (MA)
Thursday, July 20, 2-5pm
Activists will begin with a postcard writing party outside of the statehouse to support bills on plastics reduction which had a hearing in June and will stop at the Boston Globe to catch some press on the way to the New England Aquarium, where they will meet with the VP of Sales & Visitor Experience to discuss the large amount of plastic toys and items in the gift shop, lifting up alternatives and the responsibility of an aquarium to be part of the solution to marine plastic pollution.
Sustainable Tucson (AZ)
Thursday, July 20 (and all month-long)
Farmer's Market tabling to get petition signatures for "Don't Burn Tucson", a campaign to prevent a polluting “waste to energy” facility from being built in Tucson.
Zero Waste Ithaca (NY)
Monday, July 24, 2023, 7 p.m. ET (doors at 6:30)
The Cherry Arts, 102 Cherry Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
Join Zero Waste Ithaca for a screening of The Story of Plastic and discussion about efforts to fight plastic pollution in Tompkins County. Bring your own cup, glass, or mug for refreshments and get a free sticker. The event is free, but donations to cover space rental costs are appreciated, in person or through zerowasteithaca.org/donate.
350 Petaluma (CA)
Sunday, July 30, 11-11:30am PT
169 North McDowell Blvd, Petaluma
Plastic packaging take-back event at Trader Joe’s. Attendees are asked to save up discarded plastic packaging from Trader Joe's and bring it back on Sunday, July 30 to urge Trader Joe's to stop using needless plastic packaging. The effort will conclude with the delivery of this letter to Bryan Palbaum, CEO of Trader Joe's.
FoCo Trash Mob (CO)
July/ summer long
Active Discards. “Active discards” is a term author Bea Johnson coined in her book Zero Waste Home. She said, “I believe that when we act on a piece of trash and send it back to its originator, we offset its negative environmental impact. While inaction condones waste and perpetuates it, action on the other hand, can initiate change. Shipping it back along with a suggestion letter shows dedication and provides a more powerful way to get your message across than words alone. That piece of trash then becomes what I call an ‘active discard.’ FoCo Trash Mob is encouraging you to DO something about all the frustrating non-recyclable plastic packaging you GOT, DIDN'T WANT, BUT HAD TO BUY. Return it to where it came from!
Write a letter - see examples and find a template HERE
Put the unwanted piece of plastic in a mailer, not an envelope.
Mail it back to where it came from (cost will be $4.00 - $5.00 - we can help you with postage).
Take a picture of your letter and plastic packaging and post it to our FB page or email us and we'll post it.