Page 58 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2020

BUSINESS INDUSTRY &
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
story by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance
to Eliminate Single-Use Plastics
Every day, people and businesses along the Mississippi coast are making positive choices to reduce marine debris with help from a program developed by the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio in Biloxi. Plastic Free Gulf Coast is eliminating single-use plastics, such as straws and utensils, through education and incentives to local businesses.
Marine debris is a global problem, including in the Gulf of Mexico. Most marine debris comes from plastic, and it’s not just the bottles you see on the beach. Plastic eventually breaks down into tiny pieces called microplastics. Fish and other animals eat these small microplastics assuming they are food; the animals feel full and can eventually starve. Scientists from Louisiana State University have reported microplastic concentrations in the Gulf are similar to some of the highest numbers reported worldwide.
Because 80 percent of marine debris
is plastic and 50 percent of that is single-use disposable items like straws, “skipping the plastic” can have an immediate impact on reducing pollution. “We were going through 4,000 plastic straws per week. Most were being used in the restaurant and then thrown away,” says Whitney LaFrance, manager at the Mockingbird Café in Bay St. Louis.
With initial funding from the Gulf of Mexico Alliance and continued support from a National Oceanic and
58 | July 2020
Atmospheric Administration grant, Plastic Free Gulf Coast has now grown to include 21 restaurants in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Large corporations are also embracing change. MGM Resorts International is working to reduce waste locally at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and across
the globe. “We applaud all the Gulf of Mexico Alliance is doing,” says Yalmaz Siddiqui, vice president of corporate sustainability. “We have a global goal
to divert 60 percent of materials from land lls by 2025. Finding alternatives to single use plastics is part of this.”
Elizabeth Englebretson, who leads Plastic Free Gulf Coast, encourages people to start where they are, “The project doesn’t demand perfection,
it’s not all or nothing.” Supporting participating restaurants, skipping a straw during your meal, or bringing your own reusable bag for takeout are all easy ways to go plastic free and support a cleaner Gulf Coast.
For more information, contact becky.ginn@gomxa.org.
PARTICIPATING MISSISSIPPI COAST RESTAURANTS:
Whiskey Prime and Chef Ally Bullock, Pass Christian
Star sh Café, Bay St. Louis
Savage Skillet, Bay St. Louis, Mockingbird Café, Bay St. Louis Makin’ Groceries, Biloxi
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar, Biloxi Greenhouse Biloxi, Biloxi Greenhouse on Porter, Ocean Springs
Sponsored by Clean Gulf Associates This story is part of the Embrace the Gulf 2020 campaign, which aims to highlight the value and vitality of the Gulf Coast Region through daily posts. Join the movement
by following the Alliance on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living