Plastic Free Cities – What a Great Idea!
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Plastic Free Cities, a dynamic, youth‑led education campaign that is transforming how Florida communities think about plastic waste—and proving that real change can start with students. (Plastic Free Cities – Ocean Conservancy) This initiative prevents plastic pollution across Florida by engaging the local community and specifically business owners. High schools participate in a series of interactive training workshops about plastic pollution, sustainable business practices, public speaking and community engagement, then take their knowledge and skills into their communities to provide local business owners with tailored recommendations on how to reduce plastic waste and save money.
Almost 300 students from eight schools have participated in the program so far. The students have worked with businesses to prevent an estimated 1.2 million disposable plastic items from being used per year, and have engaged their communities through cleanups, art events, radio talk shows, and media.
Ocean Conservancy has developed a free curriculum for this program with lesson plans and standard operating procedures so that any school or community group can pick it up and start making a difference to reduce single-use plastics in their community.
The Natural Resources Action Team March 19 meeting will focus on the Plastic Free Cities Program and steps that could lead to local implementation.
Speaker: Maggie Winchester-Weiler is a scientist and educator specializing in conservation and physiology of marine wildlife, and the Florida Conservation Program Manager for Ocean Conservancy. Based in Miami, Maggie coordinates stakeholders, governments and youth to advocate for policies that maintain or improve the health of the ocean and locally, Biscayne Bay. Leveraging her scientific background, she informs research and public awareness campaigns to improve water quality and reduce marine debris statewide. A formal and informal educator of 9 years, she manages the youth empowerment and plastic reduction program, Plastic Free Cities, across Florida.
