📘Giving “The Problem with Plastic” to Legislators & Librarians in VT🏛️
“The Problem with Plastic” book is a helpful tool to build the grassroots movement dedicated to ending plastic pollution. Michael Rancourt, a supporter and former faculty member at Bennington College, spent some time answering our questions about why and how he, quite literally, spread the word.
😄 Embracing Radical Optimism at Our Regional Conference in Philly 🫱🏼🫲🏿
In late March 2026, advocates, community leaders, and organizers from across the region gathered for the “Radical Optimism for a World Beyond Plastic” conference hosted by Beyond Plastics in Philadelphia, PA. It was a day to reconnect, share strategies, and renew our collective commitment to ending single-use plastic pollution.
📣Creating Change by Passing Local Resolutions📑
The solutions to the plastics crisis require regulatory change. One great way to make change is by passing local resolutions. Beyond Plastics staff member, Natalie Russianoff walks us through her experience passing ten local resolutions in support of plastics reduction and shares tips to help you get started.
🐝Garden State Leads the Nation With Strongest “Skip the Stuff” Law🍴
On January 19th, then New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the strongest Skip the Stuff law in the country. The common-sense law cuts unnecessary plastic at the source by making single-use utensils and condiment packets available only when customers ask for them.
It’s a win for the environment, businesses and Garden Staters 👏
📖 “The Problem With Plastic” Hits the Road! 🛣️
We wrote a book! And now we’re visiting various towns and cities around the country to talk with you about it. Check out our book tour stops and stop by to see us at an upcoming event.
💝2025 Wrapped: a BIG Year for the Beyond Plastics Network 📈
The Beyond Plastics Network has been busy! Enjoy reading through a 2025 round-up of campaign highlights from groups across the country.
🔦Raising Visibility of Plastic-Free Alternatives in NYC🪟
Beyond Plastics affiliate, It’s Easy Being Green, is raising the visibility of plastic-free living with a creative storefront window display they designed in collaboration with a Columbia University student group called People of the Environment (POTE).
👋Welcome, Refill Club Members!🎉
Welcome to our new Refill Club Members! We started the Beyond Plastics Refill Club to grow the number of business voices within advocacy campaigns for reuse and refill policies. These businesses are proving that change is possible. We don't need to wait for new technology, and we can break up with the myth that recycling is a solution to the plastic pollution crisis.
🙅🏻♀️No Way SOBE! An Update🏭
A timely update on the current status of the proposed SOBE Energy Solutions (aka “chemical recycling” plant in Youngstown, OH that demonstrates the power of grassroots advocacy.
🏭 Knocking out Nurdles in PA 🥊
Scientists, community members, and advocates are celebrating an environmental victory in PA after Three Rivers Waterkeeper and PennEnvironment, joined by the PA DEP, reached a proposed $2.6 million settlement with Styropek for illegally discharging tiny plastic pellets from its Monaca, PA plastic manufacturing facility.
🗑️ From Throwaway to Here to Stay 🫙
Entrepreneurs and small businesses owners bravely leading the way by investing in alternatives to single-use packaging and products, as advocates and legislators immerse themselves in the long game of policy change. Shifting away from throwaway culture requires collaboration between civil society, the public sector and the private sector. Refillery businesses are an important part of the equation.
🍴 “Skipping the Stuff” in 24 Towns and Counties Across NJ! 🚫
New Jersey is proving that Skip the Stuff is a win-win-win for businesses, customers and the planet, providing cost savings to restaurants, giving customers more control, and reducing wasteful single-use plastic.
☀️ Plastic Free July Action Calendar 📅
This July, we’ve sourced actions ranging from small, do-able steps to reduce single-use plastic in your life, to larger ways to take part in systemic solutions that match the scale of the problem. Join us for 31 days of action to reduce plastic pollution in your home, your community and maybe even your state!
🌱 Gathering the Grassroots in NYC🗽
On April 25, 2025 the Beyond Plastics Local Groups & Affiliates network gathered in NYC for our first regional conference.
🌴Holding CA Accountable on Plastic Foam🥤
The State of California banned polystyrene foam food service products starting on January 1, 2025 yet plastic foam products are still being sold and served up freely throughout the state. Beyond Plastics’ Susan Keefe is working to hold the state accountable.
🌎Earth Month 2025: Find An Event Near You🎉
Grassroots groups and organizations within the Beyond Plastics Local Groups & Affiliates network are hosting events throughout Earth Month to bring awareness to the myriad problems that plastic pollution creates in our bodies, the environment and society. Find an event near you.
❌Banning Single-Use Plastic Bags In Montgomery County, MD 🛍️
Beyond Plastics Montgomery County MD has only been up and running for a year and they’ve already succeeded in achieving a major win - successful passage of a single-use plastic bag ban. Learn more.
🧋Rallying to Reduce Single-Use Packaging in NY!🗽
On January 28, 2025 roughly 200 diverse advocates met in Albany to encourage legislators to support packaging reduction in NY.
🔨Learning Bioconstruction with Habitat Recovery Project in LA🌳
Beyond Plastics Appalachia Director, Jess Conard joined Habitat Recovery Project’s inspiring Bioconstruction workshop in Louisiana to learn how to build sustainably, using natural, sustainable, non-toxic materials.
💌A Love Letter To Our Local Groups & Affiliates🙏
As we look ahead to 2025, we want to share our sincere appreciation for you and all you do. It’s critical to build and strengthen our community of people working to put planet and people over plastic.