Get involved and find resources

Join us in reducing plastic pollution and reaching our vision of a zero plastic waste future. By making simple changes, you can make an impact. Here are some ideas:

For individuals

Use reusable products like mugs, food containers and shopping bags
Refuse cutlery, straws and individual packets when ordering food for delivery or take-out if you don’t need it
Use your purchasing power to buy plastic products that can be reused, recycled, repaired or repurposed
Support businesses that are reducing their plastic footprint
Learn about what can be recycled or composted in your municipality, school or work
Choose plastic products that are recyclable and participate in your local waste programs
Wash and reuse plastic containers and resealable plastic bags
Put a lid on your bins to stop litter from being blown away or scattered by animals
Throw your cigarette butts in the garbage or designated bins
Organize or join a cleanup in your neighbourhood
Check out the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

Pledge to a campaign

Join a plastic waste reduction campaign to get ideas to rethink your plastic use:

Join the 10,000 Changes campaign
Make a pledge to #BePlasticWise
Reduce your plastic footprint and join #CleanSeas

For educators

Help our youth leaders of tomorrow by incorporating plastic education into your program:

Ocean Plastic Education
Clean Seas Back to School Campaign
Clean Nova Scotia Foundation – Teacher Resources
Recycling Council of Ontario – School Resources
Join the Plastic Bag Grab challenge
Anthropocene Education Program
10,000 Changes Education Program
University of Toronto Trash Team – Waste Literacy Education

Here are some ideas you can try at your school:

purchase reusable plastics for your classroom
challenge your students to recycle their plastics
host zero waste lunches
organize a clean-up around your school or community

For businesses, organizations and institutions

Commit to reduce plastic waste in your operations and endorse the Ocean Plastics Charter
Make, buy or sell reusable or recyclable plastic products or environmentally-sound alternatives
Join or lead initiatives to reduce plastic spills and releases such as Operation Clean Sweep
Support local plastic waste reduction projects and research
Encourage environmentally-sound waste management practices in your facilities and operations
Provide training to your employees to help them manage and reduce plastic waste
Lead or join a clean-up in your community
For restaurant owners, chefs, and other food professionals become a Plastic Reduction Partner
Learn more about the Medical PVC Recycling Pilot Program – PVC 123
Find more information about the costs of using recycled plastics in the manufacture of plastic packaging and products
Discover more information about the state of food grade recycled plastics in Canada and the United States (PDF, 2.39 MB)
Learn about standards and certification schemes for verifying recycled content in plastic products

Funding

See recent funding initiatives and find Government of Canada funding opportunities to help support your innovations, business ideas, projects and research related to plastics:

Learn more

Find a summary of plastic pollution science in Canada through the Science assessment of plastic pollution
Find out more about Canada’s plastics economy through the Economic study of the Canadian plastic industry, markets and waste
Discover where you can recycle plastic bags and films
Check out our pollution prevention resource finder and share your ideas
Find additional resources in your province or territory through the Plastic Action Centre
Learn about managing and reducing waste in Canada
Learn about how recycled content can support a circular economy for plastics in Canada

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Zero plastic waste: get involved and find resources