Plastic Free July
2026
Overview
Plastic Free July is a global movement to educate about the issue of plastic pollution, and to inspire people to be part of the solution. Plastic Free July started in Australia and is overseen by Plastic Free Foundation. You can visit their official Plastic Free July website here.
Our goals for this campaign include:
Raise awareness of plastic pollution and the negative impact of the proliferation of plastic in our lives and in our environment
Reduce our consumption and decrease our reliance on single-use plastics
Adopt reusable and eco-friendly alternatives
Inspire others and advocate for change
This is our 5th year participating in this campaign, and this year we have some familiar activities, and a few new ones.
PFJ Event Calendar
Events organized by Waste-Free Dayton, or events we are participating in or supporting.
July 12 - Yellow Springs Vegan Food Fest
July 17 - WFD Litter Cleanup - join our team at the Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River (register here, choose the Temple Israel location and indicate Waste-Free Dayton as the group to be assigned with)
July 17 - July Coffee Chat, along with our special guest organization Gem City Action, 12:00 pm, Wayne & Clover
July 19 - National Ice Cream Day
July 26 - Huber Heights Everything Environmental Fest
These events will be added to our website calendar, and more events will be added throughout the month.
Learn
Resources to learn more about plastic pollution and why change is needed.
Plastic Pollution Coalition Facts
Article from Break Free From Plastics: Recycling Won’t Save Us, Plastic Production is the Real Problem
Sustainability Books: our picks for Summer of 2025 are Braiding Sweetgrass, Bringing Nature Home, Drawdown, All We Can Save, and Thicker Than Water
Sustainability Documentaries: Beyond Plastics List, A Plastic Ocean
Act / Inspire Others
Actions you can take and opportunites to come together in community with others.
Take Small Steps like brining your resuable bags wherever you go, along with reusable utensils, water bottles, and travel mugs
Take the Pesky Plastics Quiz
Come to Waste-Free Dayton’s Coffee Chat on July 17th
Pick up trash along the Great Miami River on July 17th. Sign up to volunteer here.
Reduce your exposure to microplastics (Beyond Plastics fact sheet)
Plastic Free July’s 31 Days of Ideas
Support a local ice cream shop on National Ice Cream Day (7/19), and bring your own spoon or choose a cone over a cup
Advocate
Influence systems and policies.
Sign the Global Plastics Treaty petition
Call or Email your Representatives to tell them your position on plastics
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
Waste-Free Dayton’s Plastic Free July Pledge
By filling out this form, you are making a pledge to reduce your use of single-use plastics during the month of July (with a goal to establish new habits that will extend beyond the month). By providing your email address, we will only communicate with you about Plastic Free July, unless you check the box to “sign up for news and updates”. In that case you will be added to our email newsletter list.
At the end of the month, we will take everyone who took the pledge and enter them in a drawing.
We hope you join us on this journey, and will share your experience with us during the month. Email us or tag us in your social media posts!