Plastic Free July challenge taken up by more than 3 million Australians
Plastic Free July® helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. This helps to ensure we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities by choosing to refuse single-use plastics. Last year more than 300 million people globally participated.
Local Councils across Australia are taking the Plastic Free July Challenge, reducing their own plastic use and connecting homes, workplaces, schools and business to spread solutions to plastic pollution.
As a Council Member, Macedon Ranges Shire Council is supporting our community to choose to refuse single-use plastics directly, and doing our part to alleviate the recycling crisis, reducing landfill waste, and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Within Council, we’re pledging to make a difference by phasing out single use plastic across Council’s operations. Other ongoing initiatives to encourage waste avoidance include supporting the container deposit scheme - Return and Earn by 2023, recycling sorting stations at events, specialist items (household batteries, mobile phones, small e-waste, printer cartridge, bread tags, bottle tops) drop boxes at Customer service centers, introducing soft plastics recycling at Council transfer stations. Upcoming initiatives include Reusable Nappies Program, Party kit hire program etc.
The Plastic Free July challenge provides resources and ideas to help participants (and millions of others around the world) reduce single-use plastic waste every day at home, work, school, and in the community.
Ready to join the Macedon Ranges community in taking the Plastic Free July challenge?
It can be as easy as picking one single-use plastic item to avoid or swap for a reusable alternative.
Many people choose to avoid the Top 4 single-use plastics:
- Take-away coffee cups
- Plastic shopping bags
- Plastic straws
- Water bottles.
Some ‘go for gold’ and try to eliminate all single-use plastics for a month. It's popular to form or join a group to take the challenge together. This could be the start of a life-changing experience for you, your family, your colleagues or your local school.
Get started with this Action Picker to browse some popular ideas and make your pledge!
How to get involved (for free!) in six easy steps
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Register for the challenge. Participants receive weekly tips to help them to keep motivated, and enjoy stories from others around the world who are reducing plastic in their lives
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Take the Pesky Plastics Quiz to find some popular ideas to reduce plastic waste
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Ask us for posters for your workplace, school or local businesses – or download some now.
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Get some free Plastic Free July resources for your school
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Read inspiring stories of what others do
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Register for an event or workshop, either online or in person
The Plastic Free July website is a great place to get inspiration and support, and to share your tips, ideas and experiences.
A message from the Mayor