Beacon readers can check out the Plastic Free July website at PlasticFreeJuly.org to join the challenge, take the Pesky Plastics Quiz, and learn what next steps are possible.  Closer to home, the Ten Towns Project (10towns.org) is a campaign founded in 2021 by a group of volunteers from 10 New Hampshire towns who are committed to reducing plastic waste in the state and getting all New Hampshire towns involved in tackling this problem. 

Readers can also register for “Let’s Rethink Plastic,” a Zoom presentation on Tuesday, July 12, from 7 to 8 PM, featuring a panel of New Hampshire experts addressing the impact of plastics on environmental justice, local policy Issues, and reducing landfill waste with compost and plastic alternatives.  To register, go to keene.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcsdumrqz8sGtWMv4qs80zFJpv4cTbElQ8T

Andover residents – both adults and students middle-school age and up – are invited to a showing of “Microplastic Madness” on Thursday, July 14, at 7 PM at the Andover Community Hub.  This new documentary about Brooklyn fifth-graders inspired to take action on microplastics conveys an urgent message in user-friendly terms about the harmful effects on our water, our soil, and our own health.  Discussion will follow.

Residents are also urged to drop off any unwanted plastic plant pots in the collection bin on the front porch of the Hub this summer, rather than throwing them in the trash.  Lowe’s in Concord participates in a program to collect and ship such pots to a Michigan facility that cleans and returns them to commercial growers for re-use.

Local residents can also stop in at either the Andover or East Andover library during July to check out the display of books and other resources aimed at educating readers about single-use plastics and ways to reduce their use of them, as well as to become advocates for change.