Plastic Free July, a global initiative of the Plastic Free July organization, is just a few days away. Rye Sustainability is encouraging residents to join us in making a commitment to ditch those pesky and unnecessary single-use disposable plastic items that never degrade and can easily be replaced by durable, reusable products.

Studies show it takes only three weeks to form a new habit, so start with July and go from there!

What Can You Do?

Here are some easy tips to get started:

*Participate in a beach cleanup. Most beach waste is plastic.*

BYOB: Bring your reusable bag when shopping.
Water Bottles: Instead of reaching for that plastic bottle of water, fill up a reusable bottle.
Drinking Straws: Take the Sound Shore Last Straw Pledge and say "no thanks" to plastic straws that are never recycled and last virtually forever in our waste stream.
Utensils: Avoid disposable plastic utensils in favor of metal or, if you're taking your meal outside the home, bring more sustainable bamboo.
Produce Bags: Avoid pre-packaged produce and bring along a cloth produce bag.
Containers: Check out the bulk food sections at the grocery store and stock up with your reusable container. Some stores will even allow you to bring your own containers from home to fill prepared foods.
Wrap: Instead of plastic wrap, try beeswax that can be washed and reused multiple times.
Clean it up! Sign up for a beach clean-up to help reduce plastic waste that never degrades.

Resources

Keep on track with your no-plastic actions by using Plastic Free July's handy checklist.
Try some Single Use Swaps.
Check out the Plastic Free Organization for a comprehensive list of tips.
Visit RSC Tips for Homeowners for additional tips on how to choose reusables over disposable plastic.
To keep you on track in July and beyond, check out this app that calculates your "plastic footprint."