Join us each month for a mini planet hack. One will be released each month on the first Monday of the month, and is due by the 28th of the same month.

This month’s mini planet hack is on "Reducing Plastic Waste in Local Communities." You are encouraged to design creative and practical solutions to reduce plastic consumption, improve recycling practices, and raise awareness.

Reducing Plastic Waste in Local Communities

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues facing our world today. From clogging our oceans and harming wildlife to contributing to landfills and greenhouse gas emissions, plastic waste is a critical threat to ecosystems and human health. But together, we can make a difference. This week's challenge encourages you to design innovative solutions that help reduce plastic consumption, improve recycling practices, and raise awareness in your local community.

This month, we challenge you to:
Design a creative and practical solution to reduce plastic waste in your local community. You have a hypothetical budget of $10,000 to spend on materials, marketing, and operational costs. Whether it’s reducing single-use plastic or setting up a recycling initiative, we want to see your ideas in action! You can choose to work with a public space, school, or neighbourhood as your focus.

Here is your challenge:

1. Propose methods to reduce single-use plastic: Research and develop strategies for your community to cut down on plastic consumption (e.g., alternatives to plastic bags, reusable packaging).
2. Create a plastic collection/recycling initiative: Think of creative ways to encourage recycling in your area (e.g., community drop-off points, incentive programs for plastic collection).
3. Consider outreach and awareness: Develop an educational component to inform the community about the importance of reducing plastic waste and how they can contribute.
4. Think about budget and logistics: How will you allocate your $10,000 to make the most impact? Consider the costs of materials, logistics, and promotion of your initiative.
5. Make it sustainable: Ensure your solution is practical and sustainable long-term.

What to submit:
Submit a photo of you with your design plan—this could be a drawing, a detailed written plan, or a video explaining your project. Include the specific actions you propose, the expected impact on your community, and a budget breakdown showing how you would spend your $10,000.

Post your photo(s) to Instagram and tag @ScienceANU. Make sure your account is public, or alternatively, you can email your submission to science@anu.edu.au.

The challenge submission closes at 11:59pm on Sunday, 28th October AEDT. Winners will be announced the following week.

Every submission will receive a certificate. Winners will receive a prize pack.

Submissions will be judged based on creativity, practicality, impact on reducing plastic waste, sustainability, and community engagement.