Working to reduce plastic use in Missouri

"The Great Rivers State"

We can break free from plastic, Missouri!


As temperatures rise, so do efforts to reduce plastic and increase awareness of the impacts of plastic pollution—both in Missouri and nationwide. This month’s newsletter highlights our recent Community Advocacy Workshop, upcoming events, and a roundup of must-see news, research, and webinars. Plus, don’t miss our standout June spotlights.


Here's our June Plastic Awareness news!

Featured Events

This past Saturday, the team hosted the second Community Advocacy Workshop at the St. Louis County Library - Parkview Branch!


We dove into the state of the plastics issue and workshop participants engaged in meaningful conversations about how community-level grassroots organizing can make a difference!

Interested in attending a community workshop? Join us this fall:

 

Plastic Free July is right around the corner! Join millions of others around the world by pledging to refuse single-use plastics all month long.


Learn more about Plastic Free July here!

Tuesday, July 8 from 7-8PM - Join us for the bimonthly virtual Show-Me Less Plastic Advocates meeting! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other plastic advocates in Missouri, learn about ongoing efforts, and more.


Register here!

How can YOU reduce your personal use of plastic?

  1. Consider switching to plastic-free laundry detergent sheets, especially when traveling. Be sure to check that they don't contain polymers.
  2. Set a goal to cook at least one meal each week with no plastic cookware, utensils, packaging, dishes, etc.
  3. When traveling, use a refillable perfume or cologne bottle.
  4. When ordering drinks from cafes, food trucks, or restaurants, ask for “No Straw, No Lid".
  5. Hoping to bring back souvenirs from vacation for your family and friends? Don't forget a reusable tote!

Plastics in the News

Student discovers widespread microplastic pollution in Appalachian streams and fish

Phys.org


When West Virginia University biology undergraduate student Isabella Tuzzio tested fish from central Appalachian streams, her research revealed microplastics in every fish she sampled.

Science says plastic bag bans really do work

Grist


When you outlaw or discourage the sale of plastic bags, fewer of them end up as litter on beaches. 

Kicking off with reusables: The opportunity of the FIFA World Cup 26™ for Canadian events

Toronto Environmental Alliance


The Toronto Environmental Alliance has released a new report, Kicking off with reusables: The opportunity of the FIFA World Cup 26™ for Canadian events, funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Endocrine disruptors impair women’s fertility, may lead to PCOS, major review finds

US Right to Know


Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)—substances that interfere with the body’s hormone systems—may contribute to a wide range of female reproductive health problems...

Clock runs out this year for bottle bill in Texas

Resource Recycling


A bipartisan bill in Texas to introduce a bottle deposit return system ran out of time for a state House vote, but supporters see cause for optimism after...

Walmart says it’s unlikely to meet 2025 plastic, recycling targets

Packaging Drive


Walmart does not expect to meet its 2025 plastic packaging reduction and recyclability targets, the retailer revealed...

“Safe” Plant-Based Plastics Linked to Organ Damage

SciTechDaily


Starch-based biodegradable plastics may cause organ damage and metabolic issues, raising concerns about their safety despite being considered eco-friendly.

Love it or hate it? Virginia’s Styrofoam ban takes effect July 1

The Hill


Virginia’s ban on Styrofoam is set to take effect July 1, four years after legislators approved its phase-out, with the reception getting mixed reviews despite...

Recent Research

Littered with Evidence: Proof that deposit return systems work

June 2025


This report draws on litter composition data from more than 100 jurisdictions, both with and without deposit return systems (DRS), and shows that beverage container litter drops dramatically where systems are in place.


Podcast Episode: A brief look at Reloop's 'Littered with evidence' report

Toxic Effects of Car Tire Microplastics and Chemicals on Atlantic Cod

May 2025


Despite the growing number of ecotoxicity studies on microplastics, few have successfully distinguished between the effects of particles and leached chemicals on organisms. This study assessed...

How Everyday Plastic Chemical Exposure Might Affect Fertility and Miscarriage Risk

April 2025


Endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenols and phthalates are widely used in the production of common consumer products, such as plastic bottles, thermal papers and food can coatings. An accumulating body...

What We Know—and Don’t—About How Plastics Affect Climate Change

April 2025



Plastic pollution and climate change are two major environmental issues of this century, with implications for ecosystem health, the economy, and humankind. Plastics have the potential to...

Upcoming Webinars and Trainings

July 2 at 3:00 PM - Costs and Approaches for Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Programs: Report Release Webinar hosted by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine


July 3 at 6:00 PM - Beyond Plastics Virtual Group Monthly Meeting hosted by Beyond Plastics Virtual Group


July 8 at 10:00 AM - Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility: Strategies for local compliance and global consistency hosted by Innovation Forum


July 8 at 2:00 PM - Communicating about EDCs and Health: Why words matter hosted by Collaborative for Health and Environment


July 23 at 8:00 AM - Littered with evidence: Proof that deposit return systems work hosted by Reloop


July 23 at 2:00 PM - State Policy Showcase: Aquatic Litter & Extended Producer Responsibility hosted by River Network


July 31 at 6:00 PM - Excellent Alternatives to Plastic Packaging hosted by Beyond Plastics


August 5 - BYO - US Reduces Meeting - Guest Speaker: Kelley Dennings hosted by BYO US Reduces

June Spotlights

Sustainable Brand Highlight


For over 20 years, Klean Kanteen has been a pioneer in the "Bring Your Own" revolution, offering reusable stainless steel water bottles. They've understood from early on the environmental and human health impacts associated with plastics and quickly took action.

Book of the Month


In Plastic Unlimited, sociologist Alice Mah reveals how petrochemical and plastics corporations have fought relentlessly to protect and expand plastic markets in the face of existential threats to business.

 
 

Plastic Podcast Pick


Switching schools to reusable foodware reduces waste and helps teach the next generation that there’s a better way than throw-away. In this episode of The Indisposible Podcast: Catalyzing School Reuse With Dishwashing Grants, we learn how it can be done, with parents, principals, key partners, and in this case, a little policy-making magic, too.

This deep-dive of reuse and refill in food codes brings together Kelley Dennings of the Center for Biological Diversity, Charlie Plybon of Surfrider, and Heather Billings of the Center for EcoTechnology.


Check out this episode of The Indisposible Podcast: Reuse in Food Codes.

In Case You Missed It

May 2 - Ditching Disposables: How Schools can work with County Health Departments to implement Non-toxic reuse hosted by Collaborative for Health and Environment


May 13-14 - Circularity and Plastics: A Workshop hosted by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine


June 4 - Sea Change: Advancing a Strong Global Plastics Treaty hosted by Plastic Pollution Coalition


June 5 - Polluted Pregnancies: How Microplastics and Hormone Disruptors Affect Moms and Infants hosted by Beyond Plastics Virtual Group


June 6 - From Sidelines to Safety: Protecting kids from extreme heat in sports and play hosted by Moms Clean Air Force


June 9 - Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 4 - Research Priorities, Mitigation Strategies, and Public Communication in the Face of Uncertainties hosted by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine


June 11 - Zero Waste Task Force: Don't Pile it On! Stop Siting Polluters in EJ Communities hosted by the Westchester Alliance for Sustainable Solutions


June 18 - Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastics and Packaging: Compliance Issues and a Treaty Negotiation Update hosted by Environmental Law Institute


June 18 - Defend Our Health: Authors & Friends hosted by Defend Our Health


June 18 - US FDA Food Code Updates and Implications for Reuse and Refill hosted by Perpetual (Passcode: 7E.V2xgV)


June 18 - Understanding PFAS: Regulation, Litigation, and Legal Insights hosted by National Sea Grant Law Center

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

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