Working to reduce plastic use in Missouri

"The Great Rivers State"

July is License Plate Renewal Time! Renew Here.

We can break free from plastic, Missouri!

This month, join us in celebrating this year's Plastic Free July participants!

Plus, check out upcoming engagement opportunities, tons of new news and research, and learning opportunities galore.

Here's your July Plastic Awareness news!

Featured Events

August 30th and 31st: Plastic Earth Screening in Rolla hosted by Citizens Climate Lobby

Location: Phelps County Courthouse, 200 N Main St, Rolla, MO 65401

Attend the screening on August 30th at 2:00PM or August 31st at 5:30PM

RSVP here!

September 25: Jefferson City Regional Advocate Network Luncheon

If you're in Jefferson City or the surrounding areas, please join us for a luncheon to discuss next steps for local action in the region!

Location: Prison Brews, 305 Ash St, Jefferson City, MO 65101

Date: Friday, September 25, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

RSVP here!

October 20: Washington & Union Regional Advocate Network Luncheon

If you're in Washington, Union, or the surrounding areas, please join us for a luncheon to discuss next steps for local action in the region!

Location: TBD

Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

RSVP here!

September 26: Community Advocacy Workshop - Sunrise Beach

Location: Lake of the Ozarks Board of Realtors, 123 Oddo Drive, Sunrise Beach, MO 65079

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Plastic Free July Business Challenge Spotlight

Kudos to Friendship Brewing Company and Flint Hill Market in Flint Hill, MO for their participation in Plastic Free July!

Learn more about Plastic Free July here!

Take Action this Month

Pepsi is one of the largest contributors to the plastic waste problem. Urge them to recommit to reducing plastic waste!

Plastics in the News

Governor vetoes Alaska bills on invasive species management, plastic food containers

Alaska Beacon

Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday vetoed two environmental-protection bills that had passed with broad bipartisan...

You Know the Recycling Symbol — Now Meet the Reuse Symbol

Food & Wine

There’s a new symbol designed to identify products that can be part of larger reuse systems.

USEFULL Launches at The Glen at Scripps Ranch, Bringing Plastic-Free Reuse to Senior Living

USEFULL

USEFULL, the plastic-free reuse platform transforming takeout dining in higher education campus settings, has launched its first senior living deployment at...

Microplastic pollution can fuel rise in antibiotic resistance, studies find

Mongabay

Plastic pollution is among the gravest environmental crises facing humanity. Plastic production since 1950 has...

Pennsylvania’s Petrochemical ‘Renaissance’ Hasn’t Panned Out

DeSmog

Over a decade ago, Shell announced it would build a major petrochemical complex on the Ohio River in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, lured to the state by...

Microplastic research points to weaker bones

Earth.com

Scientists have tracked microplastics from the oceans to the air to human brain tissue. A new review moves the search into the skeleton...

2026 International Plastic Pellet Count Report

US PIRG

Plastic pellets, tiny beads that serve as the foundational material for countless plastic products, are a widespread...

This tiny bottle cap traveled 1,500 kilometers. It had 307 hitchhikers aboard.

Anthropocene Magazine

Sometimes a big story can be told with a very small object.

Microplastics documented for first time in deep-sea ecosystems

Oceanographic

Images of plastic pollution ensnaring and injuring some of our most beloved coastal creatures have been well-publicised.

Recent Research

Plasticizing Diabetes Care: The Metabolic Threat of Plastic-Associated Endocrine Disruptors and Micro-/Nanoplastics in Clinical Medicine

June 2026

Diabetes care is characterized by the widespread use of plastics. With plastic-associated endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) implicated in diabetes pathogenesis, this review...

Marine plastic pollution undermines the livelihoods and income of fishing communities in Viet Nam

June 2026

Globally, small-scale fishing communities are impacted by plastic debris accumulating in coastal waters.

The Plastic Playbook: Your Guide to Reducing Plastic Exposure in Your Home

March 2026

The vast majority of plastic products (>99%) are made from petrochemicals that are harmful to the environment and human health. Plastics and their chemical additives surround us...

Upcoming Webinars and Trainings

August 4 at 6:00PM - Bi-Monthly Meeting featuring Doun Moon of GAIA speaking on Bioplastics hosted by BYO US Reduces

September 15 at 6:00PM - The Social Cost of Plastic hosted by Beyond Plastics

Fall 2026 - Beyond Plastic Pollution Course with Judith Enck

The course will take place on Wednesday evenings from 6-8PM beginning on September 9 and ending on October 21

July Spotlights

Sustainable Product Spotlight

Pillumina brings innovation to the pharmaceutical industry, offering plastic-free, 100% recyclable aluminum prescription packaging to protect patient and environmental health. Check them out and consider talking to your local pharmacy about making the change!

Plastic Podcast Pick

In this episode of Science on the Menu, you'll take a closer look at where microplastics originate, how they infiltrate our food and water, and the implications of plastics in the human body. Give it a listen (or watch)!

Featured Fact Sheet

Did you know that approximately 90% of children's toys on the market are made from plastic? Learn more about the risk of plastic toys to children's health and the environment here.

Connect with Our Team!

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!

Check out our plastics website at: https://www.streamteamsunited.org/show-me-less-plastic.html

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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