A program that started across the Pacific Ocean has made its way to Gainesville.
Plastic Free July began as an environmental program in the suburbs of Perth, Australia, in 2011 and has spread to 69 countries since 2014.
The Alachua County Office of Waste Alternatives joined forces with Curia on the Drag, located at 2029 NW Sixth St., to promote the challenge for the first time.
Residents who bring a refillable cup to the restaurant will save 25 cents on their drink, and We Are Neutral, a local nonprofit, will plant a tree on their behalf, said Anna Sampson, the general manager of We Are Neutral.
“(As) individuals or (as a) business, we can all improve our habits,” said Kelley Taksier, the operations manager for Curia on the Drag.
Shelley Samec, a waste alternatives specialist for Alachua County, said the challenge encourages residents to give up plastic items that are generally used once.
She said it mostly targets plastic bags, straws, bottles and takeout containers.
“It’s a lot easier than people think,” Samec said. “You don’t need a Styrofoam container in a restaurant; you can take a container with you.”
The county will host two Plastic Free workshops: one on July 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Millhopper Branch Library, located at 3145 NW 43rd St., and another on July 21 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Headquarters Library, located at 401 E. University Ave.
