LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, and the Office of Sustainability launched the annual Plastic Free July celebration. The city-wide initiative encourages residents, businesses and organizations to reduce single-use plastic waste. 

Metro Louisville’s event is part of a global movement “to create cleaner and healthier communities, protect natural ecosystems and inspire long-term environmental change,” a news release said.

“Sustainability is one of our greatest responsibilities as a community and a city government,” Greenberg said. “Each of us—individuals and organizations—can start making conscious choices to reduce the use of single-use disposable plastic. This Plastic Free July, we challenge you to join us in learning about plastic pollution and taking action.”

Throughout July, the sustainability office will share tips, host community events and spotlight participating businesses and individuals.

“Plastic Free July is a wonderful reminder of the power that each of us have, as individual consumers, organizations or businesses, to be part of the solution,” Sumedha Rao, executive director of the Office of Sustainability, said. “We’re excited to see how our community steps up again this year and look forward to amplifying solutions that make sustainable living more accessible for all.”

According to the Louisville Metro Government’s 2016 Waste Characterization Study, 87,203 tons of plastic were collected from residential trash receptacles in one year, making up 14% of the total waste stream generated in the county.

Brightside, a city agency that organizes community litter pickups, collected 6,000 bags of litter in 2023, including single-use plastics like snack food bags and to-go containers.

The mayor’s office said anyone in Louisville can take part in the event by:

• Sharing a picture of a reusable swap for a disposable item on social media and tagging @SustainLouisville on Instagram for a chance to win sustainable prizes

• Attending a screening of the documentary “We’re All Plastic People Now” on Thursday, July 24, at Trellis Brewing, hosted by Beyond Plastics Louisville. Trellis Brewing has pledged $1 for every beverage purchased that evening to benefit the Kentucky Waterways Alliance.

• Following @SustainLouisville on Instagram

“Beyond Plastics Louisville is part of a nation-wide, grassroots movement to raise awareness about plastic pollution and promote alternatives to single-use plastics,” Pam Raidt, co-founder of Beyond Plastics Louisville, said. “We are very pleased to join the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability’s Plastic Free July campaign. We appreciate the opportunity to encourage people throughout Louisville to choose reusable alternatives instead of single-use plastic and to recognize businesses for their sustainable practices.”