LOCAL HEROES
Bluedot Local Heroes: The Plastic Free MV Kids
I
t all began when a group of kids at the West Tisbury School, led by teacher Annemarie Ralph, convinced many Island stores to stop offering plastic straws with their Straw Free MV campaign. But they wanted to make a bigger impact. Since then, Plastic Free MV (PFMV ) has succeeded in getting nonbinding resolutions passed in five Island towns that ban the sale of plastic water and soda bottles under 34 ounces.
Because you are never too small to make a difference.
“Many people say that Sweden is just a small country, and it doesn’t matter what we do,” Greta Thunberg said in a December 2018 speech. “But I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.” Like Greta, our students — our own Gretas — were not too small to make a difference when they stood before a full room at the West Tisbury annual town meeting to ask that the town Plastic Free MV kids take on Tisbury town Hall. From left, end the use of single-use Runar Finn Robinson, Emma Bena, Quinlan Slavin, Elliot plastic bottles. They came Stead, and Odin Robinson. armed with more than T shirts and earnest faces — they were prepared with facts and rehearsed remarks. “Did you know that plastic doesn’t biodegrade?” “One hundred percent of the fish in the deepest part of the ocean March 4, 2020 After Tisbury abruptly removed have plastic in them.” “We are looking to you to make a better the plastic bottle bylaw article future for us all.” from its town warrant, PFMV Before the meeting, they’d met with business owners who storms the town hall and would be impacted. When the owner of 7a expressed support at says they will seek a petition the meeting, the room erupted. for a special town meeting One not-so-small step for the Island. if selectmen don’t place the There are other changes we need to make to protect the Island article back on the warrant. we love. They aren’t difficult, but we will need to do them together. With leadership — kids and adults working together, one step at a March 6, 2020 In a rare move, Tisbury time — there are solutions. officials vote to reopen the The Plastic Free MV kids and other student activists I’ve met warrant, and return the bottle recently inspired me to create this magazine to help communities bylaw to the warrant. find solutions to sustainability problems where they live. We hope Martha’s Vineyard Bluedot Living will be the prototype of more June 13, 2020 Voters approve the plastic local magazines we plan to launch around the country. With the bottle ban, making Tisbury the proceeds, we will create an Emerging Leaders Program to support first down-Island town to pass student climate projects. the nonbonding resolution. Guess where that idea came from.
April 5, 2019
West Tisbury bottle ban becomes of the first of its kind in North America. Tod Hardin, of Plastic Oceans International, told The MV Times then that passing the bylaw was “an example of a long-term solution that can serve as an inspirational model for other communities to follow.”
April 22, 2019
PFMV passes plastic bottle bylaw in Chilmark, and the room full of voters stands and cheers.
May 14, 2019
Aquinnah, the final up-Island town, passes PFMV bottle bylaw.
August 7, 2019
PFMV begins selling and distributing reusable water bottles, and partners with the Take Back the Tap initiative to encourage the use of public water bottle refill stations.
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May 15, 2021
Oak Bluffs voters approve the plastic bottle ban, becoming the fifth Island town to do so. –Lucas Thors
–Victoria Riskin
Want to nominate someone — an Islander, a group — as our next “Local Hero”? Write us at editor@bluedotliving.com.
PHOTO LEXI PLINE
Here’s a timeline of their quest:
