'We want to stop it at the source': Milwaukee organizations promote Plastic Free July

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- The Plastic Free July movement is in full swing. The campaign is aimed at challenging people to think twice about their consumption of plastic and how it impacts our environment.

The movement is widespread but there's strong support in the Milwaukee area.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper, a science-based advocacy organization is making a big impact.

"We do a lot of programing actually around plastics because it does impact our water quality," said Jennifer Bolger Breceda, executive director.

Plastic Free MKE is a growing movement. "We're constantly cleaning up the river and what we find is that the amount of trash and nuisance pollution is just increasing," said Bolger Breceda.

She says more than 95% of what's recovered during trash cleanups is plastic.

Plastic Free MKE is a coalition of neighbors, businesses, and agencies working to make a difference.

The global movement for a plastic free world began in 2011. The campaign is marketed as a challenge for people to pledge all month long to find alternatives that are more environmentally friendly.

Making small changes like avoiding the use of plastic bags, bottles, straws, and food packaging can make a big difference.

"It's really about awareness. We're aren't going to solve the issue in July but there are lots of steps and little things that people can do to really make a difference and address this problem," said Bolger Breceda.

When we use plastic, it eventually ends up somewhere when we're finished and the final resting place is usually harmful to the environment, wildlife, and ultimately our health as humans.

The movement is global. Yi Ding is from Plastic Free China. She serves as a program officer and has been in Milwaukee visiting for the last month.

As part of a professional fellows program, Ding is collaborating with Milwaukee advocates on solutions.

"This is such a global issue because the production is back in China, but the consumption is everywhere in the world," she said.

Just as plastic free organizations are working together, the hope is that community members do their part and take ownership of keeping our environment clean.