One on one conversations with over 10,000 Illinoisans about plastic waste

The Great Lakes are some of the most scenic places in the Midwest, with people coming from far and wide to visit them. Our lakes are home to a diversity of fish, birds and other wildlife and provide recreation opportunities like swimming and boating, especially during the summer. But plastic pollution threatens the health of our Great Lakes.

There is an estimated 22 million pounds of plastic that enters the Great Lakes every year, with 11 million pounds entering Lake Michigan alone. This plastic waste harms wildlife and pollutes our water and environment. To tackle this problem we need to stop the flood of unnecessary single-use plastic waste. This summer we’ve had a team going door to door having conversations with Illinoisans about how we can work together to tackle the plastic pollution problem in our state and phase out one of the worst kinds of single-use plastic: polystyrene foam cups and take-out containers. This team has had one on one conversations with over 10,000 people in Illinois.

Fixing the plastic pollution problem will require action on many levels. Individuals, restaurants and businesses, cities and our state and federal government can all play a role. Reducing the use of unnecessary single-use plastic items like plastic foam cups and take-out containers can significantly curb plastic pollution in our waters and help protect the natural environment that we cherish, but to make that happen decision makers need to hear from you. Contact your elected representatives and tell them that it is time for us to put wildlife over plastic waste.