Plastic Free July is a global movement that gives folks an opportunity to challenge themselves by reducing their plastic waste and developing new habits. But lack of ease, availability, and a plethora of other factors can make it difficult to avoid single-use plastics and make lifestyle changes. However, you can participate in Plastic Free July in many ways that feel valuable and are just as important. 

By choosing to continue learning and advocating for your communities, residents can make direct impacts in issues like litter abatement and other city programs. You can get involved and build community by participating in volunteer clean-up events along the shoreline, local parks and recreation centers, or walking trails. 

At Save The Bay, we offer shoreline clean-ups during our volunteer programs along the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline in Oakland, California. We also provide public volunteer programs throughout the East and South Bay two Saturdays per month, as well as affinity volunteer spaces that occur a few times a month. Folks leave with a sense of hope for the future, a desire for more community-based conservation, and a love for their surroundings. 

In 2023, with the help of amazing volunteers, we removed 3,375 pounds of trash so far and we’re not done yet! We hope to keep that number rising as we finish the last few months of this year strong!