Skip to main content
Jane Cirigliano's avatar

Jane Cirigliano

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,721 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    33
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    195
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    107
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    63
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

Jane's actions

Family + Pets

Balloons Blow

Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 30 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

Say no to plastic toothbrushes at the dentist

Educate dentists on going plastic free by turning down plastic toothbrushes and explaining the benefits of more sustainable options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Study

Plastic History Buff

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

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

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 31
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 30 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

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 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Plant a Garden

I will plant an herb or vegetable garden using as little plastic as possible and to save from the plastic used buying herbs and veggies.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 Plastic History Buff
    How has learning about the history of single-use plastic shifted your mindset on plastics and their function within society?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/31/2023 5:58 PM
    One thing that really stuck out to me was that single use plastic utensils really took off because they saved restaurants on labor and the energy required to clean silverware. With a little more effort, we can make choices that are better for the environment.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study Follow the Chasing Arrows
    Recycling right requires both systemic change and personal and community awareness. How can you expand what you've learned about the chasing arrows symbol to encourage broader changes in your community?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/31/2023 5:54 PM
    I really like the model of reducing, reusing, and then recycling. I have been encouraging family and friends to find additional uses for items (plastic and otherwise) before disposing of them.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family + Pets Balloons Blow
    Had you ever considered the environmental impact of balloons before? How can you share this information with your friends and family to encourage them to avoid balloons, too?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/30/2023 8:44 AM
    I had been hearing that balloons are bad for the environment since I was a kid, but I had never taken the time to learn why. Our family does not use balloons for parties or gifts anymore.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Plant a Garden
    Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/29/2023 9:23 PM
    We got a small indoor herb greenhouse system so we can grow our own herbs year round. Looking forward to cooking with some fresh herbs as they grow!

    • Jane Cirigliano's avatar
      Jane Cirigliano 7/30/2023 5:32 PM
      We got the Hydroponics Growing System. It has 12 pods so you can separate your herbs. Not sure if this is a great tip, but as we got started we decided to space the plants out and just use 6 pods. We’re planning to add more when we feel like pros!

      They have larger systems, but this one fits perfectly on a shelf in our sunroom so we can use natural light too!

    • Kris Hay's avatar
      Kris Hay 7/30/2023 4:06 PM
      Ooh, that sounds awesome! What system did you get? Any pros/cons/tips you can share?
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study Buy Only What I Need
    As you have reduced your spending, what have you noticed about your 'health and safety' purchasing habits? How might this change your longer term purchasing decisions?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/28/2023 10:53 AM
    I’ve noticed that I am buying fewer products in plastic bottles. I am reconsidering things I thought I “needed” and saving money!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study Complete a Waste Audit
    What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/27/2023 6:06 PM
    I can reduce the most on packaging. There is way too much packaging on most of what I buy!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Practice Sustainable Fashion
    How can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/23/2023 9:13 AM
    I can repurpose and repair my favorite clothes, and I can find new and lightly used options on platforms like ThredUP.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Skip Plastic Bags
    How difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/17/2023 5:44 PM
    I’m good at bringing my own bags to the store. The difficult part for me is finding places that deliver groceries that also don’t use plastic bags. Delivery services save me time, but they bring my groceries in plastic bags and I can’t choose products based on their packaging - I’m always looking for the least amount of single use plastics.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/17/2023 5:40 PM
    I feel more pride in my community when I am helping keep it clean.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study Numbers Everywhere
    Were you surprised by what the different plastic identification numbers mean? How can this information help you become a better recycler?

    Jane Cirigliano's avatar
    Jane Cirigliano 7/15/2023 6:52 AM
    One of the most interesting things I learned is that the shape of an item matters more than the number. Weird shaped items often aren’t recyclable!