Working to reduce plastic use in Missouri

"The Great Rivers State"

We can break free from plastic, Missouri!

This month's plastic newsletter is jam-packed with upcoming events, action opportunities, and informative news articles and research. Plus, recent news and research findings, furthering our knowledge of the impacts of plastic on human health and natural resources. Don't forget to check out upcoming and past webinars and The Unplastic Shop for all of your plastic-free needs!

Here's your May Plastic Awareness news!

Featured Events

JUNE 3 (this Wednesday!): Community Advocacy Workshop - Flint Hill

Location: St. Theodore Knights of Columbus Hall, Upper Level, 2061 Grothe Rd, Wentzville, MO 63385

Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

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

Business Opportunity - Plastic Free July: A Missouri Business Challenge

This July, we are encouraging businesses across Missouri to participate in this voluntary program by trying at least one plastic-reducing practice during the month of July in celebration of July as Missouri’s Lakes Appreciation Month.

We encourage YOU to connect with your favorite local restaurant, café, or retail store and share this program with them!

Benefits for participating businesses include:

Promotion on a statewide participation map: https://bit.ly/pfj2026-map
Recognition on social media platforms
Print and digital promotional materials to help businesses share their participation in Plastic Free July and communicate the “why” behind it
A unique opportunity to be a leader in community-wide plastic reduction efforts

Learn more here: https://www.streamteamsunited.org/plastic-free-july.html!

Take Action this Month

NEW! Petitions asking Dollar General and Walmart to offer paper drinking cups!

Sign the Dollar General petition!

Sign the Walmart petition!

Plastics in the News

A poem: Forever Plastics by Ronald Carson

Poets.org

We were the dream of convenience, the permanent press...

Airborne Microplastics May Be Warming the Planet

Yale Environmental 360

Tiny particles of plastic amassing in the atmosphere may be intensifying warming, according to new study.

Seven days without plastic contact slashes phthalates and bisphenols in body

Medical Xpress

A clinical trial investigating levels of plastic chemicals in the human body has found that a low-plastic diet could be...

*See "A Week Without Plastic: Scientists Study Effects on Human Health" in Recent Research below*

Plastics are entering food crops and stunting their growth

Earth.com

Researchers have found that plastic particles can enter wheat and tomato plants and...

Microplastics in human liver could be fueling global surge in disease

Medical Xpress

There is considerable evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics are present in the livers of humans, and wild animal populations...

Is it really possible to live a plastic-free life?

RNZ

When 60-year-old Liz Bell wakes up in the morning, she rolls out of a bed made with cotton sheets and a feather-stuffed duvet and pillows.

Starbucks says these plastic cups are “widely recyclable.” Most ended up in landfills or incinerators.

Beyond Plastics

Beyond Plastics conducted a three-month nationwide tracker investigation (January to March 2026) to test Starbucks' claim that...

A guide to testing your local waterways for microplastics

US PIRG

Microplastics are tiny bits of plastic that can cause big problems. They are no larger than 5 mm in size– which is the same size across as a pencil eraser.

Recent Research

Study Finds Changes in Immune Health After the 2023 East Palestine Train Derailment

May 2026

The East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment on February 3rd, 2023, resulted in the exposure of residents and the surrounding area to numerous hazardous chemicals...

A Week Without Plastic: Scientists Study Effects on Human Health

April 2026

The everyday use of plastic products exposes us to plastic-associated chemicals (PACs), which have been associated with risks to...

Researchers Warn of Global Fertility Impacts from Plastic, Pollution, and Warming

April 2026

Exposure to synthetic chemicals occurs across species. These substances are often untested, highly persistent, and lack...

Study Links Plastic Chemical Exposure During Pregnancy to Health Risks

January 2026

Plastic production has increased sharply in recent decades, releasing numerous chemicals through degradation and additive...

Upcoming Webinars and Trainings

June 2 at 6:00PM - Bi-monthly Meeting featuring Miriam Gordon of The Story of Stuff Project hosted by BYO US Reduces

June 9 at 9:00AM - Innovation beyond compliance: The commercial case for sustainable packaging hosted by Innovation Forum

June 10 from 8:00AM to 4:30PM - Toxic Substances Control Act Reform - 10 Years Later hosted by Environmental Law Institute

June 16 at 9:00AM - US Policy Updates for the Waste Industry (part two) hosted by Be Waste Wise

June 17 at 6:30PM - Zero Waste Task Force Meeting hosted by Westchester Alliance for Sustainable Solutions

June 25 at 11:00AM - Reporting on Toxics & Health: Lessons from covering “forever chemicals” hosted by Collaborative for Health and Environment

Upcoming Virtual Trainings

July Reuse Bootcamp hosted by The Story of Stuff Project

Basic Training: Reuse 101 & Becoming a Changemaker: July 7 at 5:00PM -or- July 9 at 6:00PM
Leadership Training: Becoming a Reuse Leader (Optional): July 13 at 5:00PM -or- July 14 at 5:00PM

Summer Grassroots Organizing Training hosted by Beyond Plastics

Saturday, 7/25 at 12:00PM
Tuesday, 7/28 at 6:00PM
Thursday, 7/30 at 6:00PM

May Spotlights

Shop Plastic-Free

The Unplastic Shop was curated by the producers of The Plastic Detox documentary to help you find plastic-free products to reduce your exposure to plastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Explore the Unplastic Shop here!

Plastic Podcast Pick

NPR hosted Journalist and Author, Beth Gardiner, to chat about her newly released book, Plastic Inc.: The Secret History and Shocking Future of Big Oil's Biggest Bet. Give it a listen!

Book of the Month

Cleaning House: The Fight to Rid Our Homes of Toxic Chemicals by Lindsay Dahl exposes the secret forces that keep toxic chemicals in our homes, bodies, and environment—showing us how to fight back and keep our families safe. Check it out 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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