Thoughts on Engagement

My challenge project is about our use of single-use plastics. Plastics are non-degradable, mostly used only once, and found almost everywhere from grocery store bags to restaurant straws. Every plastic item ever made will eventually just accumulate in a landfill since it cannot deteriorate. This poses environmental issues as landfills overflow and toxins released from the plastic waste drain out into the groundwater then flow into rivers, and oceans affecting both humans and animals. My thoughts on engagement would be to raise awareness about this issue, offer alternatives, and get people to reduce the amount of plastic they consume. Many cities in the U.S have passed bans on items such as plastic bottles or plastic bags. Although banning all types of plastic in Houston would be an amazing solution, we have to be realistic about the amount of change we can actually make. I have paired up with Emily, who is also working with this issue and together we hope to address the plastic solution on a smaller scale but nevertheless beneficial way. I would start by contacting individuals and organizations that are already working to promote the reduction of plastic waste and learn how they got started and how they were able to get companies, cities or even states engaged. We could then present the plastic issue to a chosen company in the Houston area and petition or ask them to give up a plastic item, for example, use paper straws instead of plastic or use reusable cloth bags instead of disposable plastic ones. Any extent of engagement that we could get from these companies, whether it's banning only plastic bags or going completely plastic free, would make a huge difference in the long run.