Did you know that each year, less than 9% of the 350 million tons of plastic waste created gets recycled? As we see record-breaking deliveries in the wake of a global pandemic, this percentage is only projected to decrease.
Each year, 8.7% of plastics get recycled, 12% are incinerated and the rest ends up in landfills or, more commonly, our natural environments. Plastic photodegrades, which means it breaks down smaller and smaller, but never truly goes away. This plastic collects in our oceans where it is consumed by animals and clogs their stomachs, leading to malnutrition, starvation and even death by poisoning from leaching chemicals. That’s why Plastic Free July is such a great initiative! Reducing our plastic usage, especially single-use plastics, is an essential part of the solution.
In 2026, we will be using the Columbus Zoo's W.I.L.D. Zero-Waste Challenge! ou will have to download the JouleBug! app to make an account or scan the QR code below. You can join the Akron Zoo team and track your progress. Since this is a newer system, it has some hiccups when signing up. I have tried my best to explain them below.
- How to use the app - This will walk you through making an account
- How you log information - How to long your information
Once you have signed up, participants can choose from a wide variety of challenges to take part in throughout July. Challenges are divided into six different categories, and may be daily or one-time challenges. Choose from tasks such as skipping the straw, planting a garden, trying a bamboo toothbrush or making your own household cleansers, and earn points for each challenge you complete. There is also an option to create your own plastic-free challenge. Take on as much as you’d like and remember to have fun with it!