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Katie Greer's avatar

Katie Greer

NJDEP - Planeteers

"My mission is to have fun while I work to reduce my use of single-use plastics."

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,100 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    36
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    400
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    20
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    3.0
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Katie'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

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

Community

Learn about Environmental Justice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 30 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Give Some Green Gratitude

I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Host a Watch Party

I will host a watch party with friends and/or colleagues to watch and discuss a movie about plastics.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Tour A Waste Management Facility

I will spend at least 60 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

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Bedroom

Ditch Dryer Sheets

I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 1 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 3
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 Plastic History Buff
    How has learning about the history of single-use plastic shifted your mindset on plastics and their function within society?

    Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/31/2023 8:45 AM
    I find it very ironic that that plastics, a material meant to last, has become our main single-use product go-to material.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Give Some Green Gratitude
    In what ways is social media an effective tool for sharing your values?

    Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/31/2023 6:39 AM
    Social media is one way that we can display sustainable actions. The more people see that other people are reducing their plastic waste, the more is becomes the social norm.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Learn about Environmental Justice
    What did you and your family learn about environmental justice? What questions came up for you? What feelings?

    Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/31/2023 6:26 AM
    New Jersey's EJMAP is a great tool for finding overburdened communities. You can overlap the map with waste facilities and gain insight on where community stressors are concentrated.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Catch Those Microfibers
    Which microfiber solution did you choose? How has it changed your laundry routine?

    Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/31/2023 6:21 AM
    I am still deciding on a microfiber solution for my washing machine. I looked into the in-machine catchers but I'm a little skeptical of their effectiveness. It seems that an attached filter might be the best choice but there is a larger expense and installation might be difficult.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Ditch Dryer Sheets
    Often, single-use and disposable products don't just create more trash - they also contain toxins that are bad for humans. What are some other single-use items that are harmful to humans?

    Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/28/2023 1:19 PM
    Single use plastics can leach chemicals into your food and drink. Thermal paper receipts contain BPA.

  • Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/28/2023 6:47 AM
    We are in our final few days of the EcoChallenge! It has flown by! I think the litter pickup daily action has become a habit for me - I can't just leave it there!
  • 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?

    Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/28/2023 6:46 AM
    When it comes to health and safety items, I tend to overbuy to be extra prepared. I would probably benefit more by being more organized so I can find the things I need when I need them.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/28/2023 6:44 AM
    I've noticed there is litter everywhere. It also instills in me that I hold responsibility for picking up litter when I see it - not just the person who dropped it there. We all collectively are responsible.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Swap the Snacks
    How does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies benefit your family?

    Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/28/2023 6:43 AM
    Sending my kids with fresh fruit and snacks to school/camp is healthier but also helps me use the fresh food I have in my refrigerator before they go bad!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Host a Watch Party
    How does hosting a watch party help you to get to know your guests, connect them to the cause you are focusing on, and build your community?

    Katie Greer's avatar
    Katie Greer 7/28/2023 6:40 AM
    I hosted a virtual recycling facility tour over lunch yesterday. I think it was a lot more fun to watch the videos as a group then to just send out the links to the videos.