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Working to reduce plastic use in Missouri
"The Great Rivers State"
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We can break free from plastic, Missouri!
The first month of 2026 has been a whirlwind of plastic events and engagements around the Great Rivers State! This plastic newsletter brings you upcoming opportunities, tips for reducing plastic if you're hosting a Super Bowl watch party, recent news including TWO new state-level policies passed in New Jersey and North Carolina, and more!
Here's your January Plastic Awareness news!
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February 2 - March 16: 2026 Plastic Learning Series
Join us for FOUR MORE plastic-specific presentations by excellent speakers from around the US! Each webinar will explore a different aspect of the plastic pollution problem. Whether you're just getting started in learning about plastic pollution or you're an active advocate, there will be something for everyone!
Register here!
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March 28: Community Advocacy Workshop - Northeast MO
Location: MW Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center, 21629 Hwy J, Perry, MO 63462
Date: March 28, 2026
Time: 1:00 - 4:30 PM
See registration form for optional pre-workshop activities!
Register here!
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Input Opportunity: Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties
The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District is updating their Solid Waste Management Plan. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and share your practices, perspectives, and thoughts! Your input matters and can help shape the future of solid waste management in your community. Take the survey here!
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January Recap
1/12, 1/14, and 1/28 - Springfield, MO - Plastic Pollution Educator, Stori, and Ozark Region Outreach Specialist, Ashley, visited The Summit Preparatory School, teaching students about plastic pollution and completing a plastic audit in the school’s cafeteria.
1/24 - Virtual - The Show-Me Less Plastic team hosted a virtual Community Advocacy Workshop.
1/27 - Jefferson City - The Show-Me Less Plastic team hosted a free screening of the award-winning film, Plastic People.
| | Plastic-Free Super Bowl Watch Party Checklist | |
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Reduce food packaging where possible. Choose large bags of chips instead of individual bags, and use unpackaged vegetables for veggie trays or other snacks.
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Ditch disposables. Skip plastic and foam serviceware like plates, cups, bowls, utensils, and serving platters. Instead, use reusable dishes and cutlery!
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Decorate sustainably. Avoid single-use plastic decorations like balloons and disposible table covers. Opt for items you already own, DIY crafts, or things you can borrow—then use them again next time.
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Plan for leftovers. Provide reusable containers for guests to take home extra food, or use recyclable aluminum pans. Encouraging guests to bring their own containers is another easy way to cut down on waste.
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Recycle correctly. If you recycle, make sure guests know which items can and cannot go in the bin.
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Oceanographic Magazine
As the microplastic pandemic continues to rage across the globe, recent research has revealed this form of plastic pollution is impairing the oceans’ ability to...
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Spectrum News
North Carolina recently passed a law to ban DEHP, a chemical sometimes added to plastic products, like IV bags and tubing, to make them flexible and more resilient, from hospital IV bags...
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December 2025
Endocrine disruptors are substances that have adverse effects on the endocrine system by altering the synthesis, release, transport,...
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December 2025
Humans are chronically exposed to chemicals released from plastic food packaging (CPFPs), leading to an increasing potential health risk. However,...
| | Upcoming Webinars and Trainings | | Registration Open! Beyond Plastic Pollution Online Course | |
Dates: Every Wednesday from February 18 to April 1
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
Location: Zoom
Register HERE!
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Sustainable Brand Highlight
Since 2008, The Green Garmento has been helping to reduce single-use plastic waste around the world with their reusable garment bags and more. Their products can be found in around 1,000 dry cleaning chains and stores in the US alone. Check them out!
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Plastic Podcast Pick
In Trace Material's podcast episode, The Social History of Plastics, hosts tell the story about the people who made the material, promoted it, and fought back against it. This episode is a must listen!
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Book of the Month
In their co-authored book, Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Orekes and Erik Conway explore how scientists with close political ties spread misinformation to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific findings, from tobacco smoke to acid rain and more. Learn more about the book here.
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Interested in being part of the solution to plastic pollution in Missouri? Fill out this brief interest form or scan the QR code to connect with our Plastics Team!
| | | Beyond Plastics' Ask a Scientist Tool | |
Do you ever wonder about various aspects of plastics and plastic pollution? Beyond Plastics science director, Trisha Vaidyanathan, PhD is here to shed some light on these questions in her monthly column, “Ask a Scientist.” Submit your question(s) here!
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