The ultimate guide to going plastic-free in July in Hong Kong

Two million people around the world will try to reduce their plastic waste in July and You can do your bit to help. Join community activities, workshops and screenings of documentaries in your country to stop plastic going to landfills

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A still from the 2016 documentary Plastic China. Photo: courtesy of YouTube

Published: 6:15pm, 28 Jun 2018Updated: 9:34am, 11 Jul 2019

The world is in the depths of a plastic crisis: ineffectiveness in recycling systems has been thrown into the spotlight after China announced this year it would no longer accept other countries’ rubbish. But the problem has been piling up for some time. It’s cheaper to manufacture a new bottle than create one from recycled plastic.

The developed world is reliant on single-use items, like straws, carrier bags and coffee cups, which are used for only a few moments before being discarded and ending up in landfills or, in instances of poor waste management, the stomachs of sea creatures.

The world is drowning in an avalanche of plastic waste and something needs to be done. Join Plastic Free July and do your bit. Photo: AFP

Two of the key reasons why plastic was prized upon its invention – durability and cheapness – have come back to bite humanity. It keeps being made and it doesn’t go away once it’s discarded.

Plastic Free July, an initiative that originated in Australia in 2011, has grown into a global movement of eco-conscious citizens who recognise their individual responsibility in tackling plastic.

This year, more than two million people from 159 countries will strive to reduce their plastic waste output for a month, sharing their progress using #ChoosetoRefuse and #PlasticFreeJuly.

There isn’t a specific Hong Kong arm of the campaign, but that shouldn’t deter those who want to try reducing their plastic for a month. Here are eight steps to success in your Plastic Free July that will make a tangible difference to the city.

Fanny Moritz, founder of Now! No Waste, anti-plastic organisation at her office at The Hive, Kennedy Town. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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