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Institute of Environmental Research and Education
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REDUCE SINGLE USE

Faculty from the University of North Florida and Eckerd College received a $340,000 award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program to reduce single-use plastic consumption and foster long-term pro-environmental behaviors among undergraduates in coastal communities. The goal of the research program was to reduce generation of marine debris in those areas over time. Learn more about the research project.

IERE Support

The goal of the reduce single use project at UNF continues to be to educate the campus and broader community about the harmful results of using single-use plastics. IERE’s role in the sponsored research project was to plan and implement single-use plastic reduction outreach and education initiatives and involve students every step of the way . IERE staff and students continue to facilitate single-use plastic reduction workshops and clean-ups for faculty, staff, students, and community members in Northeast Florida. In addition, IERE works to advocate and support the UNF campus community to reduce single use plastic on campus.
Volunteers at the beach

Community Cleanups

As community members we have a responsibility and play a vital role in protecting our environment. We must act responsibly to maintain a healthy and enjoyable environment for everyone. There are organizations around the world focused on protecting the environment from plastic pollution. 

Join other students, faculty and staff in helping remove trash and debris from parks and waterways in Northeast Florida. Visit the homepage for details on upcoming events. 

Speaker at podium

Research

Research conducted through this initiative has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and presentations at regional and national conferences. Findings have advanced understanding of the factors that influence single-use plastic reduction behaviors and informed strategies to promote long-term environmental stewardship. Learn more about the NOAA-funded research project that supported this work. 

Selected Publications and Presentations (^student co-authors)

  • Wilkinson, K.^, Largo-Wight, E., Truelove, H.B., Barrett, S., & Young, A.^ (2026, March). From community values to health actions: Moral norms as the key predictor in reducing single-use plastic [Poster presentation]. American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB), Austin, TX.

  • Wilkinson, K.^, Largo-Wight, E., Truelove, H.B., Barrett, S., & Young, A.^ (2025, November). I think I can so I will: The role of perceived behavioral control in predicting intentions to reduce plastic use [Poster presentation]. Southeastern Social Psychologist (SSSP), St. Petersburg, FL.

  • Largo-Wight, E., & Truelove, H.B. (2024, April). The importance of environmental concern and environmental identity on personal behavior versus support for public policies [Poster presentation]. American Academy of Health Behavior, Savannah, GA.

  • Minichiello, H.^, Hill, J.^, Truelove, H.B., Largo-Wight, E., Sherry, J., Debure, K., Gowans, S., & Siuda, A. (2023). Challenging single-use plastic behavior: A pilot study. Florida Scientist, 86, 99-103.

  • Truelove, H.B., Largo-Wight, E., Siuda, A.N.S., Gowans, S., Minichiello, H.^, & Hill, J.^ (2023). Reducing single-use plastic on college campuses: Theory of Planned Behavior-based brief interventions. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100098  

  • Largo-Wight, E., Minichiello, H.^, Hill, J.^, Truelove, H.B., Siuda, A.N.S., Gowans, S., & Sherry, J. (2022, March). An empirical test of an expanded version of the Theory of Planned Behavior in predicting single-use plastic behavior on campuses [Poster presentation]. American Academy of Health Behavior, Key Largo, FL.

  • Minichiello, H.^ ,Hill, J.^ Largo-Wight, E., Siuda, A., Sherry, J., Gowans, S., Debure, K., & Truelove, H.B. (2022, February). Challenging single-use plastic behavior: A pilot study [Presentation]. Bay Area Scientific Information Symposium & Association of National Estuary Programs (BASIS7-ANEP), St. Petersburg, FL.