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Patricia Jonas's avatar

Patricia Jonas

National Aquarium

"To live sustainably. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 2,606 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    3.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    donation
    made
  • UP TO
    630
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    364
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    31
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    plastic bottle
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    21
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

Patricia's actions

Study

Plastic History Buff

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn about Environmental Justice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 60 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Raise Money For a Nonprofit

I will raise money to support a nonprofit dedicated to plastic pollution reduction.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Research Local Waste Sites

I will spend 30 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Tour A Waste Management Facility

I will spend at least 30 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Become a Recycling Pro

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 60 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Family + Pets

Discover Together

I will spend 30 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least 50 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 3 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Numbers Everywhere

The numbers #1-7 on plastics tell us a lot - and can help us be better recyclers. I will learn what these numbers mean and which types of plastics are accepted for recycling in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Follow the Chasing Arrows

The chasing arrows symbol we associate with recycling doesn't always actually mean something is recyclable. I will spend at least 30 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Learn about Plastic Production

Plastic production, not just disposal, pollutes communities and harms people. I will learn about the impacts of plastic production on humans, animals, communities, and the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Buy Only What I Need

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Study

Estimate Your Ecological Footprint

I will calculate my ecological footprint, and from the results brainstorm and take action on ways I can reduce my annual footprint.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Complete a Waste Audit

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Natural Fibers

When available, I will purchase clothing and bedding made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Catch Those Microfibers

I will use a microfiber catcher in my laundry, or install a microfiber filter for my washing machine.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Green Beauty

When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Eco Deodorant

I will switch to a plastic-free deodorant — whether purchased or DIY'd.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Sustainable Suds

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with sustainable, unpackaged, or refillable options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 2 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Choose Reusable Food Storage

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Travel Eating

If traveling, I will bring my own snacks and meals in my own containers to avoid the waste of take-out containers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Minimize Packaging

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?


  • Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/31/2023 5:31 AM
    There are lots of things to consider about the messaging regarding plastic — are some people tuning it out because their first reaction is that it means a loss of choice? And that the loss of choice is a bigger concern than how they perceive the damage to health, justice and the environment? I realize that in our politicized world right now, some people see things in either choice A or choice B. In my view, most of life is about compromise and balance. There has to be a greater or maybe broader communication strategy that recognizes that facts are good but emotion is also necessary.

    • Debra Lee Norton Wear's avatar
      Debra Lee Norton Wear 7/31/2023 7:17 AM
      All we can do is keep raising awareness and leading by example. Focus on changing our little corner of the world. That’s where it starts

  • Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/30/2023 12:06 PM
    Just read that Los Angeles airport (LAX) is banning single use plastic bottles. Liquid for sale in the airport must be in recyclable aluminum or glass. They also are installing additional hydration stations for individuals with their own bottles.

  • Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/30/2023 5:25 AM
    I appreciate that with the recent very hot days that people who are out on errands or visiting from out of town are looking for some hydration so most of their choices in stores are in plastic bottles. And with the lack of public hydration stations in our community, even carrying a water bottle may not be enough. There needs to be more options made available. The weather is not going to get less extreme.

  • Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/29/2023 5:27 AM
    Ocean Conservancy reports that in 2021 the #1 item in their beach cleanups was food wrappers. I’ve seen other organizations report that their #1 was tobacco related products. Around the harbor area where I find my “litter trove” it certainly is snack wrappers. And I am saddened when I find these same snack coverings on the floor at the Aquarium when a trash can is pretty close by.

    • Jaime Webster's avatar
      Jaime Webster 7/29/2023 6:21 PM
      When we do the aquarium Ft McHenry wetland cleanup the top item we collect (at least my wader group in the water in the cove) are snack/candy wrappers. There were an amazingly large # of Cheeto bags the last cleanup....oddly enough?!?

  • Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/28/2023 4:02 AM
    Many of the reflection questions ask “how do you feel about” something after learning something about an issue. Here’s one - I learned that 40% of plastic produced is single use. It is used for a few minutes but lasts in the environment for hundreds of years. This is nuts. I have a lot of feelings about this - angry, naive, manipulated are just a few. Nobody forced me to consume items with single use plastic. I did not know the consequences nor did I ask. I can recite a long list of reasons why business moved to this - hygiene, security, cost, etc but now the consequences are obvious. And still, plastic production is expected to double by 2050.

    • Debra Lee Norton Wear's avatar
      Debra Lee Norton Wear 7/28/2023 4:29 AM
      Exactly. Companies give a lot of lip service to the idea of being eco friendly but when push comes to shove they do very little to really make it happen because the reality is that taking steps to be more sustainable costs money that companies don’t want to spend
      The article I posted on my feed talks about a better alternative that plastic rings around 6 pack suds cans. I didn’t even know this was a thing and I work in s grocery store And have yet to see most companies using the more eco friendly alternative. The one company trying to utilize the alternative is coors This angers me Ans makes me sad.

  • Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/27/2023 3:32 AM
    A report issued in May called "Hidden Hazards: The Chemical Footprint of a Plastic Bottle" by the groups "Defend Our Health" and "Beyond Petrochemicals" looked at the health, environmental and climate threats caused throughout the lifecycle of making a plastic bottle (PET). The press release refers to "the hazardous air emissions released in the petrochemical manufacturing process to the cancer-causing toxic chemicals leaked in the consumption and final waste stages. The report also unveils how chemical manufacturers and beverage companies continue to perpetuate environmental racism to produce PET plastic bottles." They focused their study on the beverage industry (and specifically Coca-Cola) due to the volume of plastic bottles produced.

    Part of the report addresses environmental racism - "...the demand for plastic bottles perpetuates environmental racism and income inequality, largely in the Gulf Coast and Southeast U.S. 57% of PET supply-chain chemical plants in the U.S. are in communities where the proportion of residents of color exceeds the national average and 83% of those plants are located in low-income communities where the proportion of residents who are low-income exceeds the national average. For example, the five worst chemical manufacturers of EtO pollution are located in Texas and Louisiana, including Indorama in Port Neches, Texas, Formosa Plastics in Point Comfort, Texas and Lotte Chemical in Westlake, Louisiana. These disparities are seen throughout the lifecycle of a bottle: 79% of the 73 municipal solid waste incinerators in the U.S. where PET bottles that are not properly recycled end up are located in Black, Brown, and low-income communities."
    https://defendourhealth.org/press-releases/


    • Debra Lee Norton Wear's avatar
      Debra Lee Norton Wear 7/27/2023 5:15 AM
      That was an interesting article with disheartening information. Sadly this occurs more often than we want to admit or talk about
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Join a Cleanup Effort
    How does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?

    Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/26/2023 3:50 PM
    A single individual is not going to be able to solve a problem as big as the plastic crisis. Working together on any issue this big makes me feel more optimistic. There’s the African proverb - “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

  • Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/26/2023 6:52 AM
    My friends know that in July, I am more likely to talk about issues surrounding plastic or sustainability. But what I have noticed recently is that they are the ones initiating the conversation. The fires, smoke, storms, heat, ocean temperatures are worrying to many and instead of gloom and doom conversations, it really is an opportunity to talk about some practical things that people can do that can make a difference. And what I try and stress is that collectively, we all can make a difference - both practically and politically.

    • Debra Lee Norton Wear's avatar
      Debra Lee Norton Wear 7/30/2023 9:34 PM
      As we come to the close of pfj 2023 what is your take away from
      This years challenge?

    • Krystina Jarvis's avatar
      Krystina Jarvis 7/26/2023 12:17 PM
      Such an important message, and that's so great that the people around you are initiating those conversations!

  • Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/25/2023 4:15 AM
    I have lots of thoughts when I see a positive story about corporate responses to plastic pollution. Reports show that Amazon has made significant progress in reducing packaging (both plastic and paper). Great. And Coca Cola says it is recycling more plastic. Another positive. But we also see a lot of greenwashing in Coca Cola’s strategy and they remain the worst plastic polluter (5 years in a row). And Amazon is our society’s sustainability nightmare. So, positive movement is indeed great but the underlying issues remain.

    • Jaime Webster's avatar
      Jaime Webster 7/26/2023 3:12 PM
      Debra Lee you are right - their plastic bottles can never be 'recycled', only downcycled, which over the lifetime of that plastic eventually become nurdles in the waterways and drinking water. We definitely need alternatives, NOT plastic 'recycling'. I guarantee someone at Coca Cola or their environmental reps know this....they're still greenwashing the public


    • Debra Lee Norton Wear's avatar
      Debra Lee Norton Wear 7/26/2023 5:14 AM
      Agreed. They are making positive movement but it’s more of a Bandaid. Fix
      Make it look like they are doing something. Give the illusion tnat they are doing something so they can feel good
      but it really isn’t significant meaningful change.

  • Patricia Jonas's avatar
    Patricia Jonas 7/24/2023 5:57 AM
    Party in the park yesterday and the partygoers apparently enjoyed water balloons and glitter because the sidewalk was very “glittery” last night and the broken balloons were left behind. While we picked up the balloon pieces, there is not much to be done about the glitter. I don’t think people are aware or think about alternatives.

    • Debra Lee Norton Wear's avatar
      Debra Lee Norton Wear 7/25/2023 4:12 AM
      All that glitters is not gold.n everyone likes glitter and balloons but we need to keep finding and promoting alternatives to both

    • Maryah Boozer's avatar
      Maryah Boozer 7/24/2023 8:10 AM
      It always makes me sad seeing all the water balloons! I know they are fun, but at the very least, clean up the mess! There are also some super cool alternatives to them now! And glitter...i just hate glitter.