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Peggy Sullivan's avatar

Peggy Sullivan

Maryland Zoo

"Cut back on plastic usage, make my little world a better place while educating others!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,621 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    33
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    245
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    136
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    54
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    66
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    59
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

Peggy's actions

Community

Become a Recycling Pro

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 20 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

COMPLETED 17
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Research Local Waste Sites

I will spend 15 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

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

Kitchen

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

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 5 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

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

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 3 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Go Strawless

I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Skip Plastic Bags

When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 31
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?


  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/31/2023 4:06 PM
    Last day of No Plastic July, but I just ordered more dryer balls and no plastic toilet bowl cleaner from Free the Ocean since 100% of today’s sales will go in support penguins in their native range!! Check them out!

  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/30/2023 5:02 PM
    Can fast food paper bags with just a little grease on them be recycled? One pizza company advertised that their greasy boxes can be!

  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/30/2023 8:21 AM
    Now that I know which plastics are not recyclable, my purchasing habits are changing. Mesh bags are great for produce, and following certain guidelines can keep produce longer at home.

  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/28/2023 4:49 PM
    Contacted my senators and HR rep via Ocean Conservancy to request legislation to eliminate plastic bags, straws, utensils, and foam plates.

  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/27/2023 5:32 PM
    Put out the recycling tonight with fewer items that won’t make the cut - glossy paper for example. I made up for that with lots of cardboard boxes!

  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/26/2023 2:58 PM
    Have you heard about green bags? I didn’t want to believe they would work like they do, but I bought a pack of 3 years ago and clean and reuse them.. They are great for heads of lettuce. If I get plastic bags, I try to reuse them.

  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/25/2023 7:41 PM
    Trash day! Have to use plastic bags to put in my one trash can. Kitchen waste was minimal but had to add bags of litter waste from cats - plastic in plastic! Tough day, but learned a lot from the waste inventory!

  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/24/2023 7:58 PM
    I used to be guilty of “wishcycling”, but reality checks via articles and a tour of the Baltimore County facility have brought me down to earth. Those plastic oyster shell take-out containers have to be thrown out, straws must be cut up before trashing, and plastic bags must be collected and disposed of at local grocery stores. The best we can do is to be more cognizant of what we purchase, use reusable bags, and cut back on all plastic use.

    • Mary Hanks's avatar
      Mary Hanks 7/24/2023 8:28 PM
      Significantly reducing plastic use really does take a lot of effort. Many people I encounter refuse to think it matters, but some see my example and figure it won't hurt much to try...and then the next thing I know, they're reading up on plastic use reduction and spreading the word! I admire that you're working so hard and providing a good role model for others. It makes a difference!

  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/23/2023 6:43 PM
    Emptied some cases of kitty food to recycle boxes, some of which we use at the zoo for enrichments. Also, offered to start recycling at my church.

  • Peggy Sullivan's avatar
    Peggy Sullivan 7/22/2023 6:24 PM
    Lots of paper recycling today as I downsized my wrapping paper stash, getting ready to donate a container with wrapping paper and gift bags to our neighborhood free pickup. Recycled the paper I could after checking out what can and cannot be recycled.