LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — This month, Little Rock city leaders have been working to make the city and its residents more sustainable by encouraging as many people as possible to participate in Plastic Free July.
According to the city’s recycling and sustainability educator, Ray Partridge, Plastic Free July is a global campaign that is aimed at raising awareness about plastic pollution and encouraging people to take action to reduce the amount of plastic that they are consuming.
Partridge said that everyone should participate in the program because the use of plastic is a global problem that also impacts us here in Little Rock.
“It's really about rethinking the daily choices that we make and how our individual and collective actions really do matter. At the same time, it's a systemic, big problem, and we all have our part in trying to make those changes,” Partridge said. “Our campaign provides a checklist of items that people can do. You should take a picture showing how you completed one of those items, and submit it to us on social media, either Instagram or Facebook. Make sure that you tag us so we can't find your post.”
He explained how by doing that and using the hashtag #PlasticFreeJuly, you’re entered to win plastic-free prizes from the Green Corner store and the Little Rock Zoo which have partnered with the city’s sustainability office.
“Some of these things are really easy, like picking up a piece of litter on the street right now. Stuff like that makes a really big difference in just the appearance of our city. It makes us feel good because we've done something that is tangible and hands-on and makes an immediate difference,” Partridge added.
He said this campaign is not about buying our way out of this crisis, and that there are simple actions you can take including saying no to plastic straws at restaurants and using reusable bags and reusable water bottles.
The Plastic Free July challenge runs until August 5.