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Mary Bronson's avatar

Mary Bronson

The Maryland Zoo

"My goal is to make the world a better place by the actions that I take every day. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 875 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    11
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    28
    food items
    properly stored
  • UP TO
    3.0
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    36
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Mary's actions

Kitchen

Dive Into Expiration Dates

Just because something is past its "expiration date," it might not actually be expired! I will spend 15 minutes learning about the difference between best by, use by, and sell by dates and how to tell if my food is actually expired.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Choose Unpackaged Produce

I will purchase unpackaged produce at the grocery store or at the farmer's market.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Kitchen

Is it trash...or a trash bag?

The plastic industry has convinced us that some plastic bags are "trash bags," while others are just "trash." Instead of throwing empty bags away (such as bread bags, pet food bags, etc.), I will reuse them as trash bags.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Start Composting

Composting isn't just good for soil! Composting your food scraps and other organic materials decreases your overall trash output, so you don't have to take the trash out as often and extend the life of your trash bags (i.e. use less plastic!). This month, I will start a compost collection at home, work, or school and avoid sending 1 pounds of food waste to landfill each day.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Shop the Bulk Bins

I will purchase dry goods from the bulk section of my grocery store, and I will use my own containers whenever possible (cloth bags, mason jars, even reused Ziploc bags will do!). When it's not possible to use my own containers, I will wash and reuse the containers offered by the store.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Bathroom

Sustainable Suds

In the UK, the average person creates 512kg (1,129lbs) of waste in the bathroom over the course of their lifetime - 50% of which ends up in a landfill. As they run out, I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with sustainable, unpackaged, or refillable options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Embrace Imperfection

Eliminating 100% of all plastic from our lives simply isn't possible. Throughout this month, I will embrace imperfection in my plastic-free journey while exploring and testing new ways to reduce my plastic footprint.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Bathroom

Homemade or Refillable Cleaners

Surface cleaners, glass cleaners, floor cleaners, oven cleaners, toilet cleaners...there's a whole lot of plastic waste involved in cleaning our homes - plus ingredients that can be harmful to aquatic ecosystems and our health. This month, I will make my own cleaning products or choose plastic-free, refillable options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Plastic Free TP

Most toilet paper is wrapped in plastic #4, or low-density polyethylene - a thin plastic film that cannot be recycled back into more plastic film. To avoid this plastic wrapping, I will purchase toilet paper wrapped in paper instead, or use a reusable toilet paper option.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Skip Plastic Bags

Whenever possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags. I will either use my own reusable bags, or keep my items loose.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Get Scrappy

Get creative in the kitchen (or the garden)! Before tossing food scraps, I'll explore other ways to utilize the scraps and give them another life.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Kitchen

Plastic-Free Produce Storage

Produce doesn't need to be stored in plastic bags to stay fresh! I will learn how to properly store my produce to extend its freshness without single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 11
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
    Kitchen Choose Unpackaged Produce
    Why do you think these produce products started amassing so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?

    Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/31/2024 7:26 AM
    My thoughts are that it is cheaper or easier for the producer to package this way.

    The consumer is so used to buying this way and when I ask at the checkout to not use plastic bags, they still use them instead of my cloth bags that I give them. I am busy unloading groceries so I don't notice it until it's too late. So frustrating! They look at me like I'm crazy when I mention it.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bathroom Sustainable Suds
    What are the economic and personal benefits of switching to bar soap/shampoo/conditioner or refillable bottle options?

    Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/30/2024 8:58 PM
    I used to buy shampoo in big bottles and keep filling smaller containers. I used up the shampoo and now use shampoo bars. I still have conditioner and keep refilling my smaller containers. I no longer buy body wash, just use bar soap.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Is it trash...or a trash bag?
    It's only "single-use" if it's only used once! What are some other creative ways to reuse unavoidable "single-use" items?

    Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/30/2024 8:54 PM
    I reused my big paper towel container by using it to store dirty clothed before I wash again. It keeps plastic out of the landfill. Will use it later for garbage.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bathroom Homemade or Refillable Cleaners
    What did you learn by making your own cleaning products? What is the biggest difference in making vs buying?

    Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/27/2024 8:17 PM
    I have saved more plastic from multiple containers by making my own or buying some in large containers. I then keep refilling a container instead of using more plastic. Every little bit helps our planet!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bathroom Embrace Imperfection
    How has embracing imperfection impacted your plastic-free journey?

    Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/22/2024 2:31 PM
    I really enjoyed reading thus article on embracing perfectionism. I used to think if I used any plastic, I was a failure. Now I think more on what I am doing to save the planet rather than feeling bad if I use one piece of plastic.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Get Scrappy
    How difficult was this action for you? Is this something you'll be continuing after this challenge ends?

    Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/19/2024 8:47 PM
    I read the article about using your food scraps in creative ways so many are not put in the landfill. I already use my chicken bones to make broth but it gave me ideas about many other ways to use food scraps.

  • Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/17/2024 9:34 PM
    I talked to my hairdresser today about using shampoo bars instead of buying shampoo in bottles. We talked about the impact of plastic waste.

  • Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/17/2024 9:31 PM
    I talked to my hairdresser about using shampoo bars instead of all of the shampoo sold in plastic bottles.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Shop the Bulk Bins
    How has buying bulk impacted the quality of the food you receive? Why do you think Western society relies more on prepackaged foods rather than buying in bulk?

    Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/15/2024 5:49 PM
    I buy my oatmeal in bulk from a person at the farmer's market. I buy 25#'s at a time so there is only one big plastic bag used instead of many plastic bags. I do the same with raisins. I buy them in bulk so less packaging is used. Also I am helping a farmer.

    Most people buy prepackaged foods as they are more convenient to use and store.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Skip Plastic Bags
    It can be easy to forget to bring your reusable bags to the store with you - especially if you're going somewhere besides the grocery store. What are your favorite ways to remember your reusable bags?

    Mary Bronson's avatar
    Mary Bronson 7/11/2024 7:57 PM
    I keep my cotton bags in my car so they are always available when I shop. If I don't have enough bags, I will take the items without a bag.