Good & Green News and Updates

Issue 51 | July 2023

Good and Green News & Updates

Join millions of people reducing their plastic waste around the world!

Plastic Free July^® is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by taking the Sunrise Pass Up Plastics Pledge and choosing to refuse single-use plastics?

Going Green: Sunrise Wants to Help Community Reduce Plastic Waste

Did you know? According to the EarthDay.org, you could save an average of 156 plastic bottles annually by choosing to refill. And we're working to make it easier to refill. The water fountains at Sunrise facilities and parks have been upgraded to include water bottle refilling stations as part of the City's effort to reduce plastic waste - and have already saved more than 10,000 plastic bottles. With more stations planned! The City hopes this initiative will encourage people to change their behaviors and avoid putting single-use plastic into the system in the first place.

Water Bottle Refilling Stations

Owls Get New, Upgraded Exclosures in Sunrise Parks

Since 2019, City of Sunrise has partnered with Project Perch to install artificial burrows to help keep Burrowing Owls (a protected species) from making their burrows on recreation fields. Recently, Project Perch with the help of volunteers, and a Sunrise resident Eagle Scout project, updated the old plastic pipe and yellow rope for natural wood features. And new educational signage will be coming soon! Exclosures are meant to keep people, and lawn mowers, out of burrow spaces - not to keep owls in. If you think a Burrowing Owl is in immediate danger, please contact the Law Enforcement Division of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (MyFWC.com) directly at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

Burrowing Owls

Volunteers at Sunrise Sportsplex install new owl exclosures around artificial burrow locations. Learn more about How Burrowing Owls use Project Perch's Artificial Burrows [PDF]

Broward Parks Sea Turtle Program

at Anne Kolb Nature Center

Broward County's Sea Turtle Conservation Program (BCSTCP) is one of the most comprehensive programs in the state of Florida. BCSTCP conducts daily sea turtle nesting surveys from March 1 – October 31 annually for 24 miles of Broward coastline. Surveys provide for monitoring required for permitted beach cleaning, coastal protection projects, and special events on the beach, and for tracking current nesting totals. Anne Kolb Nature Center offers popular sea turtle education programs that include hatchling releases! Register at the link below or call the park's office 954-357-5161, ext.0.

Sea Turtles & Their Babies

Choose to Refuse Single-Use Plastics and Be Part of Plastic Free July

Take the Sunrise Pass Up Plastics Pledge

Are you looking for ways to beat plastic pollution? This July, millions of Plastic Free July participants will take steps to end plastic pollution by choosing to refuse single-use plastic. Every step makes a big difference and shows others they can step up to!

Sunrise residents! Join us at the Sunrise Sustainability Advisory Board meeting July 12, and receive an eco-prize for taking the Sunrise Pass Up Plastics Pledge. We'll have reusable utensil kits, reusable bags, and reusable water bottles while supplies last to help you reduce your use of single-use plastics.

Take the Sunrise Pass Up Plastics Pledge

7 Ways to Reduce Plastic Pollution

Take the Pass Up Plastics Pledge
Skip the Straw (say “no straw please” when ordering)
Use your own reusable shopping bags
Carry a reusable water bottle
Bring your own reusable coffee cup
Don’t take disposable cutlery unless you need it
Ask your favorite businesses and vendors in Sunrise to take the #PassUpPlastics Pledge

For more tips, visit the Sunrise Pass Up Plastics webpage.

Help Beat Plastic Pollution

Small steps, big difference.

You are not going to solve the plastic waste problem by yourself, but you're not alone in wanting to do so. A lot of people around the world, and in Sunrise, are also concerned and are making decisions based on their concerns. If you adopt some small changes, it can add up to something meaningful.

Lowering your plastic footprint takes work, and not all the decisions or habits will be easy. But whenever you do find a good, practical substitute for a single-use plastic, you can feel good in showing everybody else that it's possible.

Tips for using less plastic at your next party:

How to Host a Plastic Free and Festive Party from the Plastic Free Foundation
How to Throw a Plastic Free Party for Kids from National Geographic Kids

Plastics pose a threat to both human and wildlife health, J.P. Brooker writes in this piece for World Oceans Day. He cites the death of 45-foot sperm whale in the Florida Keys last year as being among the causalities caused by plastic waste ending up in oceans.

The largest recycled plastic structure, a life-sized whale, outside Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. The whale is entirely made up of plastic bottles, re-used toys, and even milk jugs – symbolizing the dangers of plastic pollution to marine life. Source: Guinness World Records