When Plastic Free July founder Rebecca Prince-Ruiz made a commitment to try to avoid single-use plastic a decade ago, the decision started at her bin. In the first half of 2020, a year of unexpected change, the humble bin has been in the limelight again, though for very different reasons. Aussies, their laconic sense of humor coming to the fore during the pandemic, used their weekly bin outing as an opportunity to dress up in outlandish costumes, the theory being that our bins were going out more than we were.

Plastic Free: The Inspiring Story of a Global Environmental Movement and Why It Matters is, at its heart, a book about how ordinary people can make extraordinary changes. It tells the story of Plastic Free July, a social phenomenon involving over 250 million people in 177 countries. Most importantly, it shows how a determined community can be a formidable force.

Discussion Questions for the meeting:

1. This book is about how ordinary people can make extraordinary changes. What did you learn about Plastic Free July, how it began, and its reach today?
2. The book opens with a simple question from the author, ‘I’m going plastic free next July. Who wants to join me?” Have you or will you answer the call? If so, what was or do you expect to be the hardest part of this for you?
3. For those who have participated in Plastic Free July, do you have any takeaways or “aha” moments to share?
4. What have been solutions/alternatives to one-use plastics that you’ve seen or adopted as part of your life? In your community? In our society? Where are we falling short? Where might we find success?
5. As mentioned in the book, is the problem of plastics growing or shrinking? Why?
6. According to the New York Times Op Ed: The Great Recycling Con , The greatest trick corporations ever played was making us think we could recycle their products. Do you agree or disagree?

Additional points for discussion:

• Last year Plastic Free July participants avoided 900 million kgs of plastic waste (almost 2 billion pounds!)
• An estimated eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean – equivalent to a full garbage truck dumped into the sea every minute.
• 250+ Orgs Outline Plan for Biden, Congress to #BreakFreeFromPlastic