Skip to main content
Ellon Ruschell's avatar

Ellon Ruschell

Maryland Zoo

"Trying to get better, sustainable habits to limit the destruction of our world "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 710 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    19
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    40
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    30
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    22
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    38
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Ellon's actions

Study

Say No to Styrofoam

Throughout its life cycle, polystyrene (styrofoam) can harm people, communities, and the planet. I will refuse styrofoam whenever I can, making sure to kindly let people know why I'm asking for alternative packaging.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Family + Pets

Rubber Glove Pet Hair Removal

I will use a rubber glove to remove pet hair from clothes, carpets and furniture.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Advocate for Office Reusables

I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Share My Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible by sharing about them on my social media networks and the Plastic Free Ecochallenge participant feed.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 1 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

UNCOMPLETED
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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 19
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.

UNCOMPLETED
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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 19
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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study Estimate Your Ecological Footprint
    What did you learn about your ecological footprint by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you? What are some ways you will take action to reduce your footprint?

    Ellon Ruschell's avatar
    Ellon Ruschell 7/17/2023 6:16 PM
    Yikes! I suck. If everyone was like me, we'd need 7 Earths! I think a lot of it is the fact that I live far away from things and have to drive everywhere (no public transportation) but I am trying to be better by doing things like Plastic Free July!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Advocate for Office Reusables
    What are some of the cases you could make to an employer for why switching to durable dishes and utensils is actually in their best interest as well?

    Ellon Ruschell's avatar
    Ellon Ruschell 7/17/2023 6:07 PM
    My employer does not provide these materials but our "social club" does. Each employee has to pay for the social club and I see so many coworkers use a paper plate every day or plastic spoon. I try to bring my own utensils from home and hope to encourage others more when school starts back up.

  • Ellon Ruschell's avatar
    Ellon Ruschell 7/17/2023 6:00 PM
    Did anyone else see that in Baltimore County there is a plastic bag ban that starts Nov 1?

    • Ellon Ruschell's avatar
      Ellon Ruschell 7/17/2023 6:01 PM
      https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/pai/code-enforcement/bring-your-own-bag#:~:text=Starting%20November%201%2C%202023%2C%20Baltimore,the%20County's%20recycling%20processing%20plant.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Share My Actions
    Have you noticed a difference in how your community, friends, and family members use plastics since you've shared your own actions?

    Ellon Ruschell's avatar
    Ellon Ruschell 7/17/2023 5:57 PM
    I haven't really been out much this year but I noticed in years past that people wouldn't want to use straws around me because they knew I was doing this challenge.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Ellon Ruschell's avatar
    Ellon Ruschell 7/17/2023 5:56 PM
    Picking up litter helps to make you have more pride in your community!

  • Ellon Ruschell's avatar
    Ellon Ruschell 7/17/2023 5:55 PM
    Having a hard time remembering to check in daily :(

  • Ellon Ruschell's avatar
    Ellon Ruschell 7/10/2023 6:44 AM
    These reflection questions are deep! I click them meaning to respond to how I’m doing with the action item but they seem to require a lot more
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Minimize Packaging
    With the added mindfulness of reducing your packaging, what have you noticed about the amount and type of single use plastics used for packaging when you shop in the grocery store?

    Ellon Ruschell's avatar
    Ellon Ruschell 7/05/2023 6:27 PM
    There’s a lot of single use plastic in grocery stores!!!
    I said no when I could today (like not putting peaches in a produce bag) but some things you can’t help (blueberries, strawberries)

  • Ellon Ruschell's avatar
    Ellon Ruschell 7/04/2023 12:16 PM
    Since I’ve done this challenge so many years, it’s hard to find new things to commit to! I’ve definitely formed some great habits through this challenge.