Welcome to Hennepin County’s Plastic-Free Challenge!
Hennepin County’s Plastic-Free Challenge will help you notice the plastic you use in everyday life, connect you with resources to help you reduce it, and provide support and motivation along the way.
Be part of the solution and help create a plastic-free world
This challenge will help you uncover opportunities to cut back on the amount of plastic you bring into your home.
Although plastic is a versatile material with many uses, it is also concerning because it presents health risks, contributes to litter and pollution, and is challenging to dispose of.
Worldwide, plastic production has skyrocketed since the 1970s, and a lot of the growth has come in the form of packaging and single-use plastics. Most plastics are made from oil and gas – fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. About 4% to 8% of the world's oil production is for plastics, and most plastics are thrown away after a single use.
Since packaging and single-use plastics are used for a short period of time and then discarded, they contribute significantly to the increasing amounts of plastic waste and litter. Although recycling can be a good option for managing certain plastic items, only a small percentage of plastic products are recycled, and many types of plastic are hard to recycle.
Unlike items made from natural materials like plants that can be composted and returned to the soil, plastics don’t go away. Instead, they break down into smaller pieces of plastic. These microplastic pieces are now found almost everywhere, including in our air, water, soil, and bodies. Plastics in the environment pollute our water, harm wildlife, and have largely unknown health impacts for us.
Be part of the solution to reduce waste, protect water and wildlife, address climate change, and look after the health of ourselves and future generations by taking action to help create a plastic-free world.