Plastic Free July and Beyond - Let’s Keep the Momentum Going!
California’s Central Coast has looked to recycling as a landfill diversion solution for several decades—but it’s not enough. That’s why the Community Environmental Council (CEC) is driving progress towards a zero-waste society, turning hard-to-reach waste streams into valuable resources that further reduce climate emissions.
Each July, together with our partners, we commit to the international Plastic Free July movement by hosting several events focused on building awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution and how we can take steps to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics.
Here are highlights from this July’s events:
Make a Lasting Impact and Go Plastic Free
Check out this Op-Ed in the Santa Barbara Independent written by Montecito resident and mother of four, Lizzy Fallows. Lizzy is a valued CEC partner, sharing our deep commitment to reducing waste and moving toward a circular economy. In this opinion piece she shares her perspectives on why we need to call for manageable plastic bans in our community. Read it now.
Community Gathers on Santa Barbara’s State Street to Take on Plastic
Last Thursday, nearly 100 community members passed through the Community Environmental Council’s new Environmental Hub for the second annual Plastic Free July Expo, hosted by CEC and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. Participants learned how to reduce plastic waste and make sustainable choices, through conversations and connections with the following partners:
See pictures from the expo here.
Want to Learn How You Can Reduce Plastic Waste?
Earlier this month, the Community Environmental Council hosted a webinar that highlighted how a circular economy can benefit our planet and your pocketbook. The conversation featured practical steps every individual can take to ditch plastic and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Featured speakers included Lindsay Johnson of Explore Ecology, Kiersten Ozhelevskiy of Sunkissed Pantry, Sarah Palladino of Toad&Co, and Mac Sellars of r.Cup. You can watch the webinar from the comfort of your own home to learn how you can ditch single-use plastic and build a reuse—or circular—economy at home and in our community.
CEC’s New Environmental Hub Creates Space for Community Collaboration
CEC’s new Environmental Hub opened on July 6 to a crowd of more than 1,000 community members. The space is designed explicitly to ignite community collaboration, and creativity around climate change solutions. Located at 1219 State Street in downtown Santa Barbara’s ARTS District, CEC’s Environmental Hub serves as a catalyst for change on California’s Central Coast around reducing waste, shifting to clean energy, and many other issues critical to solving the climate crisis.
Check out photos from the opening here.
Looking for an innovative and collaborative space to host your next meeting or event? Visit envirohubsb.org for more information about how to rent space in CEC’s Environmental Hub.
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Want to take action on plastic waste and other policy decisions that impact the health and vitality of our region? Sign up here to stay “in the know” on how you can play a part in helping our elected leaders better understand the real and lasting impacts of their work on our environment.