to 94, it’s best as we can do for the next seven. Christie okay, thanks. I heard of
something called dry January,
right? Or maybe no November. But
what about free July? It’s a
challenge. Each of us can take
to protect our planet by
committing to reduce our plastic
consumption. Going plastic in
July is tonight’s Don’t Our
Treasure. Here’s Local ten
environmental advocate Louie.
The need has never been more
urgent. Our planet drowning in
plastic. It’s like these bogus
international campaign that
encourages the public to reduce
use plastics. A recent study
found that right now the world’s
oceans are by an estimated
hundred 71 trillion pieces of
plastic and. So this month
plastic free July is challenging
all of us to find ways to reduce
our use. It’s preventing that
plastic from the start, from the
source. We have found plastics
in the highest mountain below
and the deepest trenches in the
ocean. We have also now seen in
our own body. So we as humans
are no longer from this plastic
pollution crisis. Dr. Ania,
Brandon with Ocean Conservancy,
35 years. The nonprofit,
organized international coastal
cleanup. A recent report details
the top ten plastic items
collected by volunteers from
1986 through 2021. Five worst
offenders. Cigarette butts
topping the list with nearly 60
million found followed by food
wrappers, beverage bottles,
plastic bags and bottle caps.
One of the main findings, this
report, is that if we actually
these items in the U.S. we would
cut out 1.4 million tons of
plastic each and every year. To
be a sustainable consumer, you
need sustainable businesses. 73%
of visitors, tourists, consumers
want to spend their money on
sustain viable businesses. And
they products. That’s why
Miami’s Coconut Grove
neighborhood launched its own
free environmental consulting
service with the help of debris
free oceans. We started Blue
Grove. We wanted to create
connection in people’s minds
between our beautiful waterfront
. That part, that awareness
includes taking responsibility
and making choices that help us.
So far, for businesses have
signed up for the program last
year, including restaurant and
taxi group Blue Grove. The
business discovered the reusable
box for its takeout orders. The
customers can read the back of
the box for in additional $1 on
their to go order. They Get to
take it home and then a box
handles the pick up of the
reusable containers. If a
customer opts for renting, they
need to do is contact vehicle
box to pick up the container.
From there it goes back to the
business be used again but it
has to be now. There’s no time
lose. Other companies Rob
Broward, Miami Dade also provide
ways to go plastic free. Verde
market customers to buy items in
bulk while using their own
containers. We have more than
350 products from foods,
household products, laundromats
and dish soap, fabric softener
or multi-purpose cleaners are
also zero waste delivery
services like green and the
rounds. We Want to make it easy
for people to be. And while we
can’t solve the plastic
pollution crisis in just month
it is on every of us to start
taking steps in the right
direction. Whether it’s
remembering to bring your
reusable water bottle every once
in a while to, you know,
reminding yourself to bring in
that reusable bag, the grocery
store, or opting to use a
plastic straw. You are offered
one. Pick one thing when you go
home to swap out and do that for
a couple of weeks. The goes to
how much money you save always
do because you’re buying less
and then it keeps going beyond
July throughout the rest of the
year. And this is really
important because in 2008, the
state of Florida actually passed
a law preempting banning local
and counties from or even
regulating single use plastics.
That means really is up to us
the consumer to make a
difference here. If refuse the
plastic bag the plastic beverage
bottle, the plastic utensils,
food containers, businesses will
to pay attention and step up.
Cities like Miami Beach and even
Miami Dade County have plastic
free programs. You can find what
businesses have the pledge to
reduce their plastic, support
them with your dollars. Have
those links for you, plus tips
ongoing plastic free this month
the QR code on your screen and
we’ll take you straight to the
don’t trash our treasures
section on local ten com. I’m
putting both of you on the spot.
Genius And Christie commit right
now. What plastic item will you
give up in July and beyond?
July. For Me? It’s the plastic
bags at Publix. I’m guilty of it
after. It’s over to bring. Bring
the reusable. Don’t Let me catch
you with a plastic bag, because
I will bust. Yeah, I know. No,
I’ll. Come on. A little scared.
Oh, and the plastic police will
be proud of me. My water bottle.
I Always refill it. I got rid of
the plastic water bottle. So you
know just a little thing starts
with the little things. Just one
thing. Just teacher’s pet over