Environment Minister Stephen Dawson has today launched Plastic Free July - in partnership with the Plastic Free Foundation - encouraging all Western Australians to take part and choose to refuse single-use plastic.
Since the first Plastic Free July challenge launched nine years ago in Perth with just 40 participants, it has grown into a global challenge and in 2018 prevented 500 million kilograms of plastic waste around the world.
The WA-based campaign is helping people and organisations in more than 170 countries to reduce single-use plastic and be part of the solution to plastic pollution.
For more information or to register for the Plastic Free July challenge, visit http://www.plasticfreejuly.org
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"I encourage all Western Australians to get involved with Plastic Free July. It just takes one small daily step to make a difference in reducing single-use plastics in our lives and we all have an important role to play in collectively making a difference for our State.
"My own personal challenge during this year's Plastic Free July is to bring my water bottle with me everywhere and keep refusing plastic straws.
"Every person has the power to change their behaviour and Plastic Free July is helping to create long-lasting habits to minimise single-use plastic.
"Single-use plastic products and packaging are commonly littered and have harmful impacts on our environment and wildlife."
As stated by Plastic Free Foundation executive director Rebecca Prince-Ruiz:
"The growing movement of people refusing single-use plastic sends a signal to business and government that expectations are changing. Every person has the power to influence their environment and Plastic Free July has been critical in empowering people to connect their purchase choices to the plastic pollution problem - in other words 'turning off the tap'.
"One change can go a long way and one person can make a huge difference to the harmful effects of plastic on human health and the environment.
"If each of us takes just a small step with our own individual challenge, the collective impact can be staggering.
"The Plastic Free July challenge has encouraged millions of people to take small, daily actions and create long-lasting habits that minimise single-use plastic. In doing so, we can stem the flow of plastic waste into the oceans by taking positive actions at work and in our homes."
