Media Release

​ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Office of Waste Alternatives is encouraging local households, businesses, and schools to accept their “Plastic Free July Challenge.” The challenge is to consume no single-use plastic during the month of July.

Single-use plastic is anything that is intended to be used once, then thrown away. The “big four” single-use plastic items include plastic bags, plastic straws, plastic bottles, and takeout containers (cups).

As part of the challenge, during the month of July the Office of Waste Alternatives is partnering with Curia on the Drag (2029 N.W. 6th St., Gainesville) to promote the “Bring One (refillable cup), Get One Tree Planted” event sponsored by We Are Neutral. To participate, bring a refillable cup to Curia on the Drag, and a tree will be planted on your behalf. Participants receive a 25 cent discount on the purchased beverage.

“Plastic has snuck into all aspects of our lives. Even small acts, such as grabbing the morning to go iced coffee, involve a disposable plastic straw and cup,” says Alachua County Waste Alternatives Specialist Eilanwy Slyboom. “Plastic Free July will provide the opportunity to see that we don’t need the single-use plastics."

Additionally, the Office of Waste Alternatives is hosting two Plastic Free Workshops at local libraries:

• July 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Millhopper Branch Library (3145 N.W. 43rd Street, Gainesville).
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• July 21, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Library Headquarters (401 E. University Ave., Gainesville).
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Visit the Alachua County Recycles Facebook page for updates on Plastic Free July events and posts.

For more information, contact the Alachua County Office of Waste Alternatives at 352-548-1282.