Miami University Sustainability invites you to join the Plastic Free July 2025 challenge
The global movement this year focuses on reducing use of the top 3 single-use plastic items: single-use cups, plastic drink bottles, or plastic food wrap and bags
Miami University Sustainability invites you to join the Plastic Free July 2025 challenge
With 174 million participants globally last year, Plastic Free July is the world’s largest plastic waste avoidance campaign. This award-winning behavior change campaign — now in its 15th year — empowers communities, corporations, and governments to take action to reduce plastic waste.
The Miami University office of sustainability first introduced the Plastic Free July challenge to the Miami community in 2019. The goal is to challenge people to reduce and refuse single-use plastics and build sustainable habits.
Since then, “an astonishing 10 billion kgs (22 billion pounds) of household waste has been avoided by participants over the last five years because millions of people choose to make a change for cleaner streets, healthy oceans, and beautiful communities or just to do the right thing,” according to the Plastic Free July Foundation.
Choose one single-use plastic to avoid or take the pledge to avoid single-use cups, plastic drink bottles, or plastic food wrap and bags. According to Plastic Free July, these “Top 3” items are single-use plastic items we commonly use each day that often can be easily replaced by reusable options.
Miami sustainability is taking the challenge
The office of sustainability encourages the Miami community to take the Plastic Free July challenge.
“Plastic Free July is an invitation to start taking action with one small step,” Olivia Herron, director of the office of sustainability, said. “Your small steps in July, such as choosing reusable shopping bags, could turn into a lifelong habit."
Taking steps to use reusable containers, instead of single-use ones, for instance, can make it more likely that others will do so as well. Research has demonstrated a strong impact on social norms, according to the Plastic Free July Foundation.
“Sign up and get tips and ideas to reduce plastic waste at your office,” said Alex Miller, sustainability engagement coordinator, “such as reducing plastic use in your workplace kitchen or inviting colleagues to join Plastic Free July.”
Small steps: avoid using plastic bottles, disposable plastic cups, and plastic bags or wraps in July
- Take the Plastic Free July pledge.
Can’t avoid it? Recycle those plastic items that are used
- Recycling bins on campus: Miami University's waste hauling provider Rumpke Waste & Recycling accepts certain plastic items for recycling. Place these in your office’s recycling bins: plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and disposable cups (not colored party cups). Check the list of accepted items on the Sustainability at Miami website.
- Try a Hefty Renew bag for certain hard-to-recycle items: Rumpke customers can collect hard-to-recycle items — like foam take-out containers, plastic utensils, and plastic grocery bags — in orange Hefty ReNew bags. The Hefty ReNew bags are picked up by Rumpke with the regular recycling collection, whether curbside in your neighborhood or on campus. Start a ReNew bag in your office and place it near your recycling bin. Order a free Hefty Renew starter kit online or contact the office of sustainability for a starter bag for your office.
