Vegetable broth cartons are not easily recycled and often not accepted for recycling at all. To avoid or reduce my use of these cartons, I will save my vegetable scraps and fresh herb stems to make homemade vegetable broth instead.
COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS
Community
Take the pre-survey!
Help us make the Plastic Free Ecochallenge the best it can be! Take the challenge pre-survey (and look out for the post-survey at the end of the challenge!) so we can better understand the impact the challenge has and how we can improve in the future. Plus, you'll earn points for completing it! Thank you!
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community
Give Some Green Gratitude
Don't forget to celebrate the good! This month, I will give shout-outs on social media, my office's internal communication channels, or the Participant Feed to a local company, coworker, friend, or family member for their sustainable efforts.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community
Share my "why"
I will record a 15-20 second video sharing why I am taking action for the planet.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Kitchen
Fill a Water Bottle
Bottled water corporations make plastic bottles, not water. If the tap water in my area is safe for consumption, I will use a reusable bottle instead and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 1 disposable plastic bottles a day.
COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS
Study
Dig into Bioplastics
I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 20 friends, family, and/or colleagues.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Study
Recycle My Tech
There's value in our old electronics! This month, I will properly recycle any old laptops, tablets, cell phones, or other electronics I have lying around so the raw materials can be reused and reduce demand for virgin materials - thereby also protecting critical wildlife habitat for animals such as gorillas and forest elephants.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Bedroom
Proper Clothing Care
All those symbols on our clothes, sheets, and towels actually have meanings! To ensure that I'm caring for my clothes properly, I will spend 30 minutes learning what the care symbols mean and laundry best practices to make all of my textiles last as long as possible.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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
Bedroom
Recycling Textiles
Every single textile ever made will, at some point, become worn out - and dealing with that waste costs millions of tax dollars every year. I will spend 30 minutes learning about the different types of textile recycling and creating a plan for what I'll do with my clothes and other textiles when they are too worn out to use anymore.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Family + Pets
Thrifty Pets
I will find secondhand sources for my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Bedroom
Declutter Sustainably
While it can be tempting to throw away (or drop off at Goodwill) any and everything that no longer brings us joy, there are so many options that are better for the planet! This month, I will declutter my home and properly dispose or re-home the things I no longer want.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Bedroom
Natural Fibers
When available, I will purchase clothing and bedding made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Study
Borrowed Books
The average paperback book has the same carbon footprint of driving about 7 miles (11 km) in an average car. Instead of purchasing new books this month, I will borrow books, e-books, and/or audiobooks from my local library or library-affiliated apps, or host a book swap with my friends.
COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS
Bedroom
Clean the Dryer Vent
Every time we tumble dry our laundry, our clothes' lifespans get a little shorter. The lint trap is evidence of the shedding fibers and our clothes slowly losing their quality. The less time our clothes need to be in the dryer, the longer they'll last. So this month, I will clean my dryer's interior and exterior air vents to help the dryer work more efficiently (and extend the life of the dryer!).
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Bedroom
Rethink Returns
While most stores offer lenient return policies, what actually happens to all of those returns? I will spend 30 minutes learning about what happens to returns and how I can make better purchasing decisions to avoid returns in the future.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Kitchen
Dive Into Expiration Dates
Just because something is past its "expiration date," it might not actually be expired! I will spend 30 minutes learning about the difference between best by, use by, and sell by dates and how to tell if my food is actually expired.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Study
Greenwashing Pro
Greenwashing can fool even the most experienced eco-advocate. This month, I will spend 30 minutes learning what greenwashing is, how to spot it, and what I can do about it.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Study
Buy Only What I Need
I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.
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 30 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
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
Community
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community
Research Local Waste Sites
I will spend 60 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
Family + Pets
Mend and Repair
We've all got it - that thing in the back of our closet we keep saying we'll fix "one day." I will make today that day by learning how to mend or repair ripped or broken items in my home - or by finding a local offering to do it for me.
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
Family + Pets
Thoughtful Toys
I will only buy cloth, wooden or plant-based natural rubber toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Community
Learn about Environmental Justice
Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 60 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Bathroom
Say No to "Flushable Wipes"
Even when advertised as "flushable" these wipes don't break down in sewer systems, but instead combine with fat to create massive clogs. This month, I will find alternatives to using disposable wipes.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Family + Pets
Discover Together
I will spend 30 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Bedroom
Use What You Have
The only thing worse than a single-use item is a zero-use item! I will use (and use up) what I already have in my home before buying something new.
COMPLETED 31
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 24
DAILY ACTIONS
Kitchen
Save Jars for Reuse
Pinterest may want you to think that you need a cupboard full of matching mason jars, but reusing what we already have is one of the best ways to reduce our waste. This month, instead of recycling glass jars (such as pasta sauce, pickles, and salsa jars), I will save them to reuse for food storage.
The challenges I faced during a week without electricity after Hurricane Beryl really brought home to me how much we lean on plastic when there are often alternatives worth considering. I can't begin to guess the amount of bottled water consumed--even though our water supply wasn't interrupted or contaminated. And judging by what I see at the grocery store, many folks prefer to rely on bottled water rather than carrying a reusable container. We have to do better. And that means *I* have to be better. This ecochallenge helps me gain knowledge and practice habits to support a sustainable lifestyle. I've enjoyed this journey with you all!
Add more rain and earthquakes in Texas! Quite a summer so far. Always enjoy seeing you in the variety of Eco-Challenges and am refreshed by your comments/observations - thank you for being here Mary! If you care to send a note to me at POB 228 Cashmere WA 98815, you just might gain yourself a small jar of cherry marmalade. Take good care of yourself along with community/communities - keep collecting the great stories!
Today I attended the retirement party of my favorite library employee. It was a tea party, and they did things right! Paper plates, not styro or plastic. All finger food, served with metal tongs, so no need for plastic. And of course they had china cups for the tea. My compliments to all!
One of the reflection questions asks: "Libraries have immense benefits for society. What are some cool resources your library has that might not be as well-known as book borrowing?" Well, Hurricane Beryl recently increased awareness of a library resource that is literally cool...as in 62 degrees Fahrenheit cool! Houston opened several public libraries as cooling centers for the more than 2 million households that lost power after the storm, some of us for several days (6.5 in my case). Twice I dragged myself and my electronic devices to the state-of-the-art library that just opened three blocks from where I live. Our city councilwoman had a generator brought in to power the venue so we could get some relief from the heat and charge our electronics. I am grateful for libraries!
I recently discovered our library lends "things". They have a whole list of items like crockpots, mixers, tools, etc that you can check out to use. This is a great way to reduce consumer waste on items you really don't need more than once.
SOOOOO much rain in the last three weeks! It's hampered my capacity to walk the neighborhood and pick up litter. There's so much mud that I worry constantly about slipping and falling. However, I'm keeping an eye on the storm drains to make sure they don't get clogged.
There are many pros and cons to social media use in today's society. How can you mindfully use social media as a tool for connection and sharing your values with your community?
I try to emphasize the fun aspects of taking sustainable action and seeing the positive results. Going all gloom & doom just turns people off. And of course, no one wants to feel judged. I want to make them feel excited and included!
Almost three weeks after Hurricane Beryl, Houston is still picking up the pieces. Walking through my neighborhood, I see so many pieces of fencing put out on the curb for trash pickup; I couldn't begin to estimate how many of us in this city of millions are having to handle significant repair or replacement, and it's sad to think about how many trees that will involve. If you're wondering why the old lumber hasn't been picked up, it's because the city has prioritized tree and branch waste, and that's ongoing as professional tree companies strive to meet the demand of households with damage beyond the average person's capacity to mitigate. I keep reminding myself that at least the death toll was low. People in other areas may ignore the evidence that climate change is fueling more and stronger hurricanes--but I'm a believer.
Today I served breakfast on some scavenged plastic plates, pretty little white scalloped squares with gold-toned edging. They'd been used to serve refreshments at an event in a venue where I was volunteering with a different group, and I snagged a few to use when dining outside (so if I dropped them on the concrete patio, they'd be less likely to shatter than glass or pottery--I'm clumsy sometimes!). I couldn't prevent the use of plastic--I had no connection with the event other than I passed their trash can--but at least those items won't be single use. If disposable products must be used at events I'm involved with, I lobby heavily for paper instead of plastic. But convenience comes first for many people, and it's not always my call to make the decision.n
Hi Mary, My daughter got married in December. We used plastic plates and utensils due to the significant cost savings over renting real dishes and utensils. I hated the single use challenge, but we did keep all non-used items and she has been able to use them at her house as needed for guests.
Oh Mary - your post touched home. It astonishes me to see the flagrant use of plastic, earth resources to just try and live the current life in earth school. Horrifying to me the Blue Apron online delivery meals and anything like it. While I'd never - people I love do. Greenpeace calendar every year gifted. When it hits you, and understanding of personal impact choices - what they cost the earth and our global family, you can't go back - so I think people don't look! When to call it out and when not to. Thanks for being here!
So here we are, literally thousands of us across the globe studiously making an effort to learn about and implement strategies for making our planet healthier...and then there's my neighbor's brother, who carelessly poisons two yards, the gutter, and a storm drain. I'm told he's a lawyer, so you'd think he'd have some concept of what correct behavior is! But NOOOOO....
I was told by another neighbor that the brother keeps his old boat and non-operational cars here at his sister's place because he doesn't want them cluttering up his own place. (I'm not sure this is true because the source is notorious for exaggerating, but it does make sense.) Yesterday he decided to work on the boat, and for some reason this involved draining gasoline--but he failed to contain it, and some of it contaminated two yards while some ran down the driveway to the gutter. The fumes were so intense they could be smelled two doors down. The fire department and the constables patrol both came out and determined that there was no immediate threat. The brother said he would clean it up, and the authorities left. As you've doubtless figured out, he did nothing to clean it up.
I was not happy. I went inside, filed a report of an environmental hazard with the city, and informed the brother of what I'd done. He was irritated. And then his sister came home! She'd been gone the whole time and was very surprised to find her brother there, not to mention the gathering of neighbors who'd smelled the fumes. Finally the brother hosed down the driveway and swept the water and leaves in the gutter down the storm drain. This was not an optimal solution, but it was what he'd told the authorities he'd do and they'd agreed to it.
Today an inspector from the city came out to follow up, and he said there was still a faint odor of gasoline from the storm drain.
When will people learn that we have only one planet?
Great sharing and proud you and others didn't turn away saying it isn't my business or risk altercation. Not only realizing there's no Planet B, but the need to share it with all the other living creatures!! Keep up the good work Mary - and the posts!
As you were learning about greenwashing, were there any companies you previously supported that you now think might be greenwashing us? How can you tell?
Now that I know some of the "weasel words" and other misleading tactics greenwashers use, I can call violators out not only on social media but also on the radio. However, the companies I support seem to be serious. Of course, I'm really leery of everyone to begin with. :)