Beyond Plastics

We collaborate with citizens through local and statewide actions to end plastic pollution in Montana.

Families for a Livable Climate Beyond Plastics is an affiliate of the national organization Beyond Plastics. Beyond Plastics is building a growing grassroots movement to support local action by providing training, resources and support. There are currently 126 Beyond Plastics  local and affiliate groups across the country.

Meet the Working Group Leadership

Liz Ametsbichler

YOUPA STEIN

Youpa Stein was born in Montana. She is grateful to have lived on the Flathead Reservation next to Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Forest Land since 1980. As an artist and concerned citizen, Youpa works to raise awareness about the pollution and climate impacts of plastics and the solutions to address them through giving talks, writing, creating art, and policy actions. Her work is shaped by belief in the rights of nature, the importance of ending the health and environmental justice harm caused by plastics, and the necessity and the creative potential of collaboration. She volunteers for the Beyond Plastics Speakers Bureau and is a volunteer Co-Chair of the Families for a Livable Climate Plastics Working Group. Youpa is one of nine Montana citizen plaintiffs represented by Cottonwood Environmental Law Center who have filed a constitutional lawsuit challenging HB 407 (dubbed the “ban on bans”), a bill passed by the 2021 MT Legislature that banned citizens and local governments from passing ordinances or ballot initiatives that regulate single-use plastics. Youpa agrees with writer, farmer and activist, Wendell Berry, in his belief that the care of the earth is our most ancient and worthiest responsibility. She writes, “We have responsibilities in our kinship with the web of life that makes our lives and all lives possible. Our health depends on a healthy, regenerative, just, diverse, and vibrant earth.”

Liz Ametsbichler was born and raised in Montana. As a young adult, she left Montana to travel abroad and ended up living in Germany for many years. After returning to Montana, she attended the University of Montana and then the University of Maryland, where she earned her PhD in German Language and Literature. She taught at the University of Montana as Professor of German for 27 years. As a Montanan and world citizen, she has always cared about the environment and was instilled with a sense of stewardship and responsibility for the land. Last year (2023), she discovered the Plastic Working Group of Families for a Livable Climate and volunteered to be a Co-Chair of the Working Group. Education has always been an integral part of her life, as has her belief in social and environmental justice. She believes that raising awareness about plastics and the harm that they cause in the health of all living beings on this planet and the planet itself is of utmost urgency. This belief led her to become one of nine Montana citizen plaintiffs, represented by Cottonwood Environmental Law Center (Bozeman), who has filed a constitutional lawsuit challenging HB 401 -- the "ban on bans" bill passed by the Montana legislature in 2021.

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Plastic Working Group is to make every effort to end plastic pollution in Montana. This includes the negative impact on climate, health, and social justice. We are dedicated to working toward this goal in collaboration with diverse groups across the state. We look for common ground and values to ensure a clean and healthful environment. The following points are crucial components of our goal:

• Communication and Education: Communicate to the public what is at stake and what are possible solutions.

• Empowerment: Meet citizens where they are to engage their creativity and skills. 

• Amplify Actions: Work together to amplify positive personal and family, business, local government and statewide actions and policies.

• Encourage individual and community actions to include:

• Raising awareness of problems and solutions;

  1. Supporting access for engagement through do-able actions;

  2. Support for envisioning what is possible. 

•  Build and engage a broad nonpartisan coalition of Montana citizens to work on policies to reduce plastic pollution

While individual daily life actions to reduce plastic pollution can’t solve the problem, individual and community actions are an important component of policy engagement and actions for systemic change. 

Photo: A group of Montana Citizens from Missoula, Bozeman and Billings who testified to repeal HB 407, t(he ban on local governments banning plastics, at the 2023 Montana Legislative Session).

Projects and Collaboration

• Policy and law

• Local government

  1. Legal action (Cottonwood Environmental Law Center)

• Legislative action

• Testimony for bills concerning plastic

  1. Call to citizen engagement on bills 

• Education

• Presentations (in person and on Zoom)

  1. Community events

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Additional Resources