FRIDAY 5: Take the Trash-Free Challenge

Some trash items take up to 600 years to decompose. Because garbage often travels to the ocean, it puts a lot of stress on a treasured resource– and the plants and creatures that call it home.

What can you do to help our oceans? This month, you can sign up to take the Trash-Free Challenge from the Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit that educates and empowers citizens to take action on behalf of the ocean.

If just 10,000 people sign up, the ocean will be spared 1.3 million pounds of trash!

Here’s what you will have to do:

ONE: Reduce. Think about what you can do without, like plastic water bottles or individually packaged lunch items. Every time you have an impulse to buy something, ask yourself, “Do I really need this right now?” Just think of all the money you’ll save by the end of the month!  If you sign up for the Trash-Free Challenge, you’ll get  a tip each week that will help you achieve your goal and reduce your trash.

TWO: Reuse. Check out books and movies books from the library, take your shopping bags with you to the store, and break out that reusable water bottle. Need something special to wear for a big night out? See if you can borrow from a friend.

THREE: Recycle. Did you know that US consumers use 1,500 plastic water bottles every second? And only a fraction of those make it to the recycling bin. Make sure that other recyclables in your household have a second life , including bottles, cans, and newspapers. To get more information about how to recycle, check out the Ocean Conservancy’s guide to becoming a recycling ninja.

Four: Spread the word. Make sure you tell your friends why you’re taking the trash-free challenge. And then invite them to participate.

Five: Clean up. OK, now you’ve got your own trash under control, but what about all the litter around your school, park, or beach? Check out Do Something’s guide to How to Clean Up a Public Space for ideas for getting your friends organized.

Learn more about the challenge in this video: