Take Action for Plastic Free July

Foam food containers may be cheap for takeout, but they come with a hidden cost. Made from polystyrene, these containers break apart easily, litter our neighborhoods, and show up in our waterways and parks long after their one-time use is over. Over 85% of litter in the Chicago-Calumet River system is plastic, and more than 85% of that is foodware: things like cups, takeout containers, and plastic utensils that are used once then tossed.

As a founding member of the Coalition for Plastic Reduction, Friends works in alliance with environmental and community organizations across Illinois to curb single-use plastics and reduce plastic pollution at the source.

You can also help protect the river system from harmful plastics and other litter by hosting a litter cleanup in your neighborhood using the free tools available at one of Friends' Litter Free Supply Stations located at community hubs throughout the watershed. Supply stations contain all the tools, supplies and information you need to run your own cleanup including 10 litter grabbers, five buckets, plenty of bags and gloves, and a Litter Free Toolkit (also available in Spanish) which give guidance on safety, planning and executing a litter cleanup. The network of supply stations is part of Friends’ multipronged Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River initiative.