City of Boulder Invites Community Members to Participate in Second Boulder Plastic Count this July

The City of Boulder is once again inviting community members to participate in the Boulder Plastic Count, a weeklong challenge to track personal plastic use and help build a clearer picture of the community's plastic footprint. The annual count builds community awareness of plastic use and provides data and collective insights to help guide the city's waste reduction efforts.

Community members can sign up online to join the count. During the official tracking week, July 20-26, participants are encouraged to record every piece of plastic they use and dispose of, whether it's recycled, reused or thrown away. At the end of the week, results can be submitted through an online form. Participants will also receive resources and tips to reduce plastic use and explore local waste reduction efforts.

Last year, almost 100 households participated in Boulder's first Plastic Count, tracking more than 3,600 plastic items in just one week. The results showed that food and drink packaging accounted for about two-thirds of all plastic items counted, with snack wrappers, produce packaging and other single-use food packaging among the most common sources of plastic.

"If we want to reduce plastic waste, we need to understand where it comes from and how it shows up in our daily lives," said Jamie Harkins, Sustainability Senior Manager for the City of Boulder. "Last year's count showed us that plastic reduction is a shared challenge. By coming together to track our use, we can better identify opportunities to reduce plastic at the source and create lasting change."

The count takes place during Plastic Free July, a global movement that empowers millions of people to reduce single-use plastics and be part of the solution to plastic pollution. By participating in the Boulder Plastic Count, community members can take meaningful local action in support of this international effort.

Information gathered during the count will help the city better understand local plastic use, identify opportunities to reduce plastic waste and support Boulder's broader climate and sustainability goals.

Let's count what really counts. Together, we can build a cleaner, more sustainable future.

You can learn more and sign up on our website.