Happy Hump Day, Shit Givers.
Sooo we know that the oil industry has known for decades that plastic recycling doesn’t really work, and sold it to us anyway, because a public that believes in recycling keeps buying plastic without asking questions. And as the world moves off gasoline, Big Oil is leaning on plastic to keep the business alive.
So no, the current plastic crisis was never on you for leaving your reusable tote bag in the car at the grocery store. But, it’s Plastic Free July, and this issue is about where responsibility actually belongs — and what is still worth doing anyway.
Let’s go.
— Willow
APL Positions covered this week:
🍬 Extended producer responsibility for packaging
🚿 Replace all lead pipes
Trust Your Tap
Microplastics and forever chemicals are already in your water: tap, bottled, and the runoff from your laundry.
Here’s what you can do:
Millions of Americans are getting lead-pipe-replacement funds routed towards filters instead of single-use plastic, thanks to the Filtered, Not Bottled campaign. Contact your mayor to make sure your city does the same (go).
Look up your community’s water quality, including microplastics and forever chemicals using EWG’s Tap Water Database (go)
Stop microplastic fibers from washing into waterways with a Guppyfriend laundry bag (go).
Follow the Plastic
Plastic pollution was never a littering problem. It’s a design and policy choice, made by the people who profit from you not looking too closely.
Here’s what you can do:
Understand and shape local plastic policy using Reloop’s dashboard (go).
Learn about extended producer responsibility and deposit return systems (the policy mechanisms that put the cost of cleanup back on the companies that created the mess, not taxpayers) with this explainer from Upstream (go).
Track plastic packaging at your local store with Break Free From Plastic’s Supermarket Audit. Results feed directly into corporate accountability campaigns (go).
Back the Fighters
Big Oil sold us the recycling myth. These orgs are holding them accountable and cleaning up the mess.
Here’s what you can do:
Support policy and grassroots organizing to end plastic pollution with Beyond Plastics (go).
Join Break Free From Plastic, the global movement behind dozens of plastic pollution campaigns (go).
Protect oceans and beaches from plastic and other threats with Surfrider (go).
Find you place in the circular economy movement with Upstream (go).
Borrow, Don’t Buy
This is the circular economy in practice, because owning less isn’t a moral failing, it’s opting out of a system built to sell you stuff you don’t need.
Here’s what you can do:
That’s it for this week!
Thank you — as always — for giving a shit.
— Willow
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