Clean Water Action is proud to announce that our Zero Waste Specialist, Marta Young, has been selected as one of 16 representatives from the U.S. to attend the Break Free From Plastic’s (BFFP) Global Members Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this March.
BFFP is a global movement launched in 2016 that brings people together to demand reductions in single-use plastics and advocates for solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. This year’s Global Members Meeting will convene approximately 150 participants from nearly 50 countries to reflect on progress made over the past decade and chart a bold path forward for the next ten years of systemic plastic reduction.
The plastic crisis is global, but so are the solutions,” said Marta Young. “I’m honored to represent Clean Water Action and New Jersey’s leadership on plastic waste reduction as we work with advocates from around the world to build the next decade of bold, systemic change.
Marta’s invitation to Malaysia builds on her leadership over the past year as a member of BFFP’s Movement Support Team for North America’s Northeast region. It also recognizes her success leading Clean Water Action’s Zero Waste and ReThink Disposable initiatives in New Jersey.
From New Jersey to the Global Stage
Through Clean Water Action’s ReThink Disposable program, Marta has partnered with soup kitchens, Meals on Wheels programs, senior centers, schools, National Parks, and other organizations to help them transition from single-use plastics to reusable food ware. These partnerships are more than symbolic – they deliver measurable impact. Our case studies show:
- Millions of single-use plastic items eliminated annually, and
- More than $400,000 in collective annual savings for participating businesses and institutions.
These real-world results demonstrate that reducing waste is not only environmentally responsible – it's financially smart.
A Model for the Nation: Skip the Stuff
Clean Water Action will also bring one of our most significant recent victories to the global conversation: New Jersey’s “Skip the Stuff” law (P.L.2025, c.298).
With an effective date of August 1, 2026, the law requires that:
- Single-use cutlery and condiments only be provided upon request for takeout orders and
- Full-service restaurants use reusable cutlery and eliminate single-use condiment packets for dine-in customers.
This groundbreaking policy, led by Marta and a statewide coalition, is among the strongest in the country. It represents a game-changing shift – dramatically cutting plastic waste while saving food service businesses money. It’s exactly the kind of systemic solution that advocates are eager to replicate across the nation.
Tackling a Throwaway Culture
Plastic hasn’t always dominated our lives the way it does today. It didn't used to come into contact with everything, from the food we eat to the surfaces where our children play. We now know that plastics and the toxic chemicals associated with them can break down and leach out throughout their lifecycle, harming both human health and the environment.
While large corporations have built powerful marketing strategies that keep us surrounded by disposable products, the responsibility for change cannot fall on individuals alone. Real progress requires collective action, policy reform, and institutional change – the kind of work Clean Water Action is excited to help advance locally and nationwide.
As Marta collaborates with international leaders in Kuala Lumpur, she will share New Jersey’s success stories and help shape strategies to drive plastics reduction over the next decade. Marta will be sharing pictures, videos, and updates on our social media accounts. Be sure to follow along on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn accounts and join our email list to stay up to date!
In the meantime, look around your own home and community for opportunities to reduce single-use plastic trash and support reusable solutions. Contact your elected officials and urge them to support policies that make corporations responsible for the plastic waste they create. Together, we can hold the biggest polluters accountable.
From New Jersey to the world, Clean Water Action is helping lead the fight against plastic pollution. Thanks to supporters like you, our work is reaching the global stage! Make a gift today to fuel the next decade of transformative change.
