Plastic Free July begins today (Monday July 1) and Wastebusters is encouraging community members to get involved with events helping people curb their plastic usage.

The annual event is a global movement aimed at raising awareness of the number of single-use plastic items that are part of everyday life, and providing advice on how to avoid them. 

Participants commit to reducing or eliminating plastic waste from their lives for the month of July.

“Key to this year’s Plastic Free July is the idea that the smallest change or swap to your habits can lead to significant change,” Wastebusters communication manager Ruth Blunt said.

“Eighty-nine million people around the world took part in Plastic Free July in 2023,” she said.

“When you think about a figure like that, you see how small individual changes can have a massive impact.”

Over the course of the month, Wastebusters will be encouraging and supporting people to ditch plastic and single-use packaging for waste-free alternatives. 

There will be online tips with its ‘just one swap’ campaign and competition, and in-person events to help people make changes that benefit the planet as well as the wallet, Ruth said.

On Wednesday (July 3) a free evening event at Freshlink will show attendees how to make the most of the refill options available around town.

Closing out the month, Wastebusters and Plastic Free Wānaka will host Plastic Free Drinks at Wastebusters’ Reuse Shop on July 31 with discussions and hands-on DIY solutions to help people cut single-use packaging. 

Ruth said the event was an opportunity to learn about Wānaka’s SUCfree movement and Wastebusters’ vision for the future, enjoy nibbles and have fun with Wastebusters’ zero waste crew and make either a beeswax wrap, oat milk or scent jars.

Spaces are limited and booking is essential via the Wastebusters website.

Wastebusters Plastic Free July initiatives are supported by the Queenstown Lakes District Council Zero Waste District Programme.

PHOTO: Wastebusters