Haywood group campaigns to phase out single-use plastics
The Environmental Action Community of WNC is celebrating Plastic-Free July with an initiative encouraging all Haywood County restaurants, cafes and coffee shops to phase out single-use plastic items like straws, takeout containers, utensils and condiment packages.
Volunteers from the EAC’s Green Business Initiative team will visit restaurants and provide guidance and support for an “Ask First” policy, instead of automatically distributing
plastic items to customers. Through this movement, the EAC aims to facilitate lasting change in local restaurant practices
Single-use plastic items are a major contributor to environmental damage. The convenience of these products comes at a high cost, as most plastics end up in landfills, oceans and other natural habitats, causing harm to wildlife and ecosystems, and ultimately to human health. Recent research confirms that exposure to a component in plastics called BPA lowers men’s sperm counts and contributes to infertility in women.
Plastic Free July is a world-wide project of the Australia-based Plastic Free Foundation. For more information visit plasticfreejuly.org, or EAC’s website at eacwnc.org.
