Eco-tip: Plastic Free July doesn't seek ban on plastic

Promoting “Plastic Free July,” the website of the Plastic Free Foundation issues challenges, requests pledges of action, claims to have “inspired” over 100 million people and promises that “you making a small change will collectively make a massive difference in our communities.”

In a countervailing trend, “the global plastics market size was valued at USD 507.16 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 532.64 billion in 2024 to USD 778.67 billion by 2032,” according to FortuneBusinessInsights.com.

However, for those seeking minimization and better management of plastics, optimism is still justified.

“There is nothing inherently wrong with a basic material; the problems come from the way it is misused or handled after use,” commented Ojai Valley resident Sudeep Motupalli Rao.

Rao is a chemical engineer who, a decade ago, started Slowtech Labs and worked with the Silicon Valley startup Way To Be/ITG to develop CiCLO technology, which makes some synthetic textile fibers biodegradable.

“Advanced materials have enabled our species to improve health care and venture into space; now we need to work on environmental impact and get it right,” he noted.

Even as plastics continue to increase, efforts such as Plastic Free July can call attention to ways people may reduce the impact of plastic on our health and on the planet. In pursuit of this goal, the Ventura County Sustainability Division, part of the county executive office, is promoting Plastic Free July this month through emails to county employees, outreach events and a web-based program.

At climateresilientvc.org, the division is requesting pledges of environmental actions. County employees who make pledges related to plastic and document their follow-through can win “sustainability SWAG prizes” such as reusable metal straws. Members of the public are also welcome to participate in the challenge and can email sustainability@ventura.org for details.

The division’s efforts through this program began last year. The website where pledges are documented now records 228 households reducing carbon emissions by 18 tons. The site offers several suggestions for pledges that save money and reduce plastic, such as remembering a reusable bag, bringing a reusable water bottle and ditching single-use plastics at mealtime.

Having already implemented the plastic reduction measures to the extent possible, I instead chose a different action that will benefit the environment, even though it was expensive and will use a big plastic item.

I have plastic cisterns collecting rainwater from two of my rain gutter downspouts. To fulfill my pledge to gather and reuse more rainwater, I will add a cistern to a third downspout. Many barrels of reused rainwater will be required to make up for the environmental impact of consuming a big plastic item like a cistern, but eventually, the environmental balance will shift in favor of my action.

Using collected rainwater instead of a hose for watering will reduce the amount of water extracted from natural sources and cut the amount of water my consumption requires to be cleaned at a water treatment plant and then pumped to my house.

Environmental progress is sometimes slow, and actions are seldom as straightforward as simply banning a material type. However, environmental education through programs such as Plastic Free July can make a difference.

Eco-Tip is written by David Goldstein, an environmental resource analyst for the Ventura County Public Works Agency. He can be reached at 658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org.