Western Australian Environment Minister Stephen Dawson has launched Plastic Free July, calling on individuals, organisations and businesses to actively reduce their consumption of single-use plastics.
Plastic Free July was developed by the Western Metropolitan Regional Council in 2011, commencing with 40 participants.
The campaign has since been adopted globally with more than a million participants in more than 130 countries.
Participants can choose to refuse single-use plastics for 31 days in July or accept the challenge for a week or a day.
“There are a number of ways we can all help reduce waste every day including bringing your own reusable shopping bags, remembering reusable coffee cups and water bottles, and avoiding pre-packaged fruit and vegetables,” Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said.
“Plastic Free July is a fantastic homegrown challenge and is a great way to avoid landfill, reduce our eco-footprint and protect the ocean from plastic pollution.”
“A staggering 100 kilograms of plastic packaging – including plastic containers, water bottles, plastic bags or disposable coffee cups – are used by householders every year,” Plastic Free July co-founder Rebecca Prince-Ruiz said.
“Those plastics break up not break down, are mostly down-cycled and end up in landfill or worse ‘escape’, with scientists predicting there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050.
“Plastic Free July is creating conversations and education around the issues of plastic pollution and more importantly has resulted in a wave of community action.”