Community

Think globally. Act locally.

Healthy communities, healthy planet. Our individual actions have the power to make waves in our communities. Use this month to engage with your local community and create sustainable change. Think globally, act locally, and be an agent of change.

Research Local Waste Sites

I will spend (___) minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Environmental Justice Screening & Mapping Tool

Race is the biggest indicator in the US of whether you live near toxic waste

EPA Environmental Justice Research
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Become a Recycling Pro

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend (___) minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Video: Is Recycling Worth It Anymore?

5 Things You Need to Know to Recycle Right

5 Pieces of Paper That Are Surprisingly Unrecyclable
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DAILY ACTION
Write Letters, Emails or Sign Petitions

I will write or sign (___) letters, emails or petitions per day to advocate for plastic-free or planet-friendly policies.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

GovTrack: Find your representatives

How to Contact Your Elected Officials

Rise Above Plastics Activist Toolkit

What is Extended Producer Responsibility?
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DAILY ACTION
Pick Up the Phone

I will make (___) phone call(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly policies.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

GovTrack: Find your representatives

How to Contact Your Elected Officials

Rise Above Plastics Activist Toolkit

What is Extended Producer Responsibility?
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DAILY ACTION
Share My Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

100 Best Sustainability Tips for Sustainable Living

13 Natural Cleaners You Already Have in Your Pantry

5 Ways to Take Your Love of the Outdoors to the Next Level

Six promises you can make to help reduce carbon emissions
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least (___) minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with (___) friends, family, and/or colleagues.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Is bioplastic the "better" plastic?
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up (___) piece(s) of litter each day.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Litterati: Track Your Litter and Contribute to Research

10 reasons to pick up 10 pieces of Trash
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DAILY ACTION
Tour A Waste Management Facility

I will spend at least (___) minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Waste Facility Locator

Virtually Tour a Material Recovery Facility (MRF)

What Happens at the Landfill
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Host a Watch Party

I will host a watch party with friends and/or colleagues to watch and discuss a movie about plastics.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

5 Documentaries That Will Make You Rethink Single-Use Plastics

Plastic Patrol: Top 10 Documentaries You Need to Watch

The Story of Plastic

BLUE the Film
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Give Some Green Gratitude

I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Seven Benefits of Gratitude

Mindfulness

Mindfulness Exercises

Catholics Look to Mindfulness Practices to Ground Climate Action, Quell Eco-Anxiety
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Estimate My Plastic Consumption

I will visit the rePurpose website, complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

rePurpose Website
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Say No to Styrofoam

Throughout its life cycle, polystyrene (styrofoam) can harm people, communities, and the planet. I will refuse styrofoam whenever I can, making sure to kindly let people know why I'm asking for alternative packaging.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Why you should say no to styrofoam

8 reasons to ban Styrofoam

A Reality Check on Environmental Racism & Plastics
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DAILY ACTION
Learn about Plastic Production

Plastic production, not just disposal, pollutes communities and harms people. I will learn about the impacts of plastic production on humans, animals, communities, and the environment.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

Plastic and Human Health: A Lifecycle Approach to Plastic Pollution

Environmental Toll of Plastics

A Reality Check on Environmental Racism & Plastics
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community that follows the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

How to Host a Cleanup

Clean up the World
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ONE-TIME ACTION
Raise Money For a Nonprofit

I will raise money to support a nonprofit dedicated to plastic pollution reduction.
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ACTION RESOURCES:

The Story of Stuff Project

Surfrider Foundation

1 Million Women

Nonprofits Fighting Plastic Pollution
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ONE-TIME ACTION
CREATE A CUSTOM ACTION

Ideally, you’ll choose at least one measurable goal so that you can measure your success but there are no limits on what you can choose—so exercise your creativity!

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