Plastic Free Julio is a reminder that small changes can make a big difference. Many people try to recycle more, but what happens after we drop our plastic into a recycling bin? In this video, Air Alliance Houston follows the journey of plastic dropped off at a City of Houston recycling site. What we found shows why reducing plastic use is just as important as recycling, and why we need better solutions that truly protect our communities.

Our investigation found that much of the plastic we tracked never made it to the promised recycling facility. Instead, it remained at other locations or was stored at a site with a history of fire code violations. While the City of Houston has said it is working toward a better solution, this shows that recycling alone cannot solve our plastic pollution problem. That’s why Plastic Free Julio encourages all of us to use less single-use plastic whenever we can.

Every reusable bottle, bag, or container helps reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills or unsafe storage sites. 

This Plastic Free Julio, watch the video below to learn more about our investigation and join Air Alliance Houston in calling for recycling programs that are honest, effective, and safe for every Houston community.