Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be a part of the solution to plastic pollution. At ANU, we are committed to reducing waste generation and the amount of waste we send to landfill. As part of Plastic Free July, we are spotlighting simple, everyday actions you can take to cut down plastic and lighten your environmental footprint.
From campus to home, small changes create big impact. Whether you've already begun to use reusable items or are just getting started on your plastic free journey, we’ve listed easy ways you can incorporate changes into your days this July, and beyond.
Our top tips to reduce plastic waste from your daily life
Go reusable, not disposable
- Bring or borrow a reusable coffee cup for your daily drinks. Most coffee cups and lids are not recyclable in the ACT.
- Keep a set of cutlery, straws and containers in your backpack, office or shared kitchen.
- BYO reusable bottle instead of buying plastic ones. Fill up your bottle for free on campus at designated water stations across campus or in local area kitchenettes.
- If you can’t avoid drinks in single use bottles, try selecting an item that comes in a 10c refundable container. Be sure to drop off the empty container in designated 10c Refundable bins as we roll out new waste stream systems across campus, recycle the item at our Container Deposit Scheme point at the ground floor of Marie Reay.
- Opt for reusable wrap items like beeswax wraps or containers instead of cling film.
Shop smart
- Buy in bulk from source food locations like the Canberra Food Co-Op to reduce packaging.
- Buy loose produce instead of pre-packaged.
- Equip yourself with reusable containers and bags instead of using plastic or disposable versions.
- Support local stores that let you BYO container.
Rethink your bathroom and cleaning
- Try bar soaps, shampoo bars or refillable options.
- Choose to refuse single-use plastic bathroom products and find non-plastic alternatives to your favourite items.
- Try making your own environmentally friendly cleaning products
Avoid plastic and compost in your kitchens
- Swap to looseleaf tea or coffee grounds instead of teabags and coffee pods. The great news is that looseleaf tea and coffee grounds can be composted in our food organics bins.
Get active and social
- Get a group together to clean up your local area
- Continue the plastic free conversation and inspire your colleagues or friends to go plastic free.
If you are in a situation where the use of plastic is unavoidable, try to repurpose the item and get more use out of it. When the item cannot be used anymore, be sure to dispose of it correctly and avoid contaminating other streams that can be recycled or repurposed. View our Be Bin Smart Guide to support your waste disposal.
One Small Step x ANU
Challenge yourself this Plastic Free July and take part in our One Small Step x ANU Plastic Free Pantry challenge. ANU staff and students have access to a bespoke free version of award-winning app, One Small Step. This app helps make choosing sustainable options simple and easy and enables you to take part in small simple challenges to reduce your environmental footprint. Take part in the challenge this July then explore our challenge library to see how high you can score on the Solo Leaderboard! Have a group of colleagues or friends who may be interested? Form a team and compete in the team leaderboard.
Plastic free July is just the beginning. Whether you’re making one swap or leading change in your area, every action matters. The ANU Green Network is a great space to connect with others, share tips and ideas, and find second-hand items through our Second Life Furniture channel. Want more bite-sized sustainability actions and everyday myth busting? Follow us on Instagram @green_ANU and join the conversation on Teams.