Canadians have extra incentive to reduce their plastic waste this month – it’s Plastic Free July!

The National Observer writes about Monique Labelle-Wheeler, who has been reducing her impact and waste generation for years after an awakening vacation to a trash-littered beach. Monique has tips to share with all Canadians about how to start a trash-free journey.

Story Preview:

Monique Labelle-Wheeler has been refilling the same plastic bottle with dish soap for 10 years. She figures she has saved about 120 plastic bottles from the landfill.

“The planet is drowning in plastic,” she says. “There is also a health component. When you put things into cheap plastic, it breaks down and seeps into your food and your beverages.”

While she is encouraged Canada has pledged to ban many single-use plastics by the end of 2025, she says “there is still lots of room for individual action.”

This month is your opportunity to take that action. Plastic Free July is an international environmental campaign aimed at getting people off plastic.

Federal government data shows Canadians used 15.5 billion plastic grocery bags in 2019, 4.5 billion pieces of plastic cutlery, three billion stir sticks, 5.8 billion straws and 805 million takeout containers.

Preview text: Becky Rynor, June 30, 2022, Canada’s National Observer

Read the full and original story at the National Observer.