Say, “NO!” to single use plastic #Plasticfreejuly

 About a 2 1/2 minute read.

Packing lunch for #Plasticfreejuly. "One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn't belong. Can you guess which thing is not like the others before I finish my song?"

I took the Plastic-free July month challenge, a global challenge asking individuals to refuse single-use plastic.  On social media the hashtag of #PlasticfreeJuly signified the challenge, which included signing my name on a website of www.plasticfreejuly.org

A challenge to refuse single-use plastic means planning ahead. I packed my lunch the night before work. One night I thought about packing yogurt, but that was in a single-use plastic container, so I didn’t. I DID use plastic. I used Rubbermaid containers for my sandwich and sliced apples. Also, I packed silverware in a small cloth bag. I made sure to pack a water bottle and a traveling coffee mug, as sometimes, I like to treat myself at Caribou Coffee. My husband, Terry, usually does the grocery shopping. He is "on-board" with using cloth and canvas bags. (He’s not "on-board” with everything I do), He knows that single-use plastic is a waste, which will be around for years and years. Also the production of plastic spills toxins into our soil and land. He prefers the cloth bags to paper or plastic. 

We took a trip to St. Paul and packed coffee mugs and water bottles. Terry wanted to get an ice-cream treat at Cossetta’s in downtown St. Paul. I saw that it was served in a paper container, and wanted to be a good companion so I said yes to the treat. But I was soon disappointed when I was handed a little plastic spoon. The damage had been done, they had given it to me. So I learned my lesson that I need to tell the workers ahead of time that I don’t want a plastic spoon and keep my spork packed in my purse.

This week, conduct a brand audit in your community. Here's how.

How many brand names of single use plastic do you see in this shopping cart?

Some good sameration filled this shopping cart with litter. Notice all the single-use plastic

This month, think about where you eat and how they serve the food.

Is there a less wasteful option?