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Melissa Morrow's avatar

Melissa Morrow

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 500 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3.0
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    20
    minutes
    spent learning

Melissa's actions

Study

Plastic History Buff

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bathroom

See the Green

An estimated 50,000lbs (23,000kg) of contact lenses end up in sewage sludge in the US each year. This month, I will learn how to recycle used contact lenses and packaging or switch to wearing glasses instead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

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

Bedroom

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

Kitchen

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 1
DAILY ACTION

Kitchen

Go Strawless

Each year, the International Coastal Cleanup reports that plastic straws and stirrers are one of the Top 10 most-collected items from their cleanups (top 5 in the US!). I will keep 3 plastic straws and/or stirrers out of the landfill each day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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 1
DAILY ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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

Kitchen

Dive Into Expiration Dates

Just because something is past its "expiration date," it might not actually be expired! I will spend 10 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

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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Choose Reusable Food Storage

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

COMPLETED 0
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?

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/11/2024 12:51 PM
    I think back in the day they didn't realize that this was not actually going to be a good thing. They didn't have the big picture or world view in mind, they were just excited about making something that makes life more convenient, especially for the housewives. I don't blame them for that mindset, because they didn't have the education that we do now. I just hope society learns that with education must come positive change.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Dive Into Expiration Dates
    Were you surprised by anything you learned about expiration dates in the US? Has it changed the way you make decisions around purchasing or discarding food?

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/11/2024 12:49 PM
    I was surprised that one of the main reasons there are expiration dates is from a money making standpoint and not from a safety aspect. Especially in the dairy industry and cosmetic industry.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Natural Fibers
    What are the benefits (to people, animals, and the environment) of purchasing clothes made with natural fibers?

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/11/2024 12:31 PM
    The simple answer is that natural fibers are biodegradable, most synthetic ones are not. I would also assume that the process to make clothes with natural fibers is safer and better for the environment because there are less chemicals involved.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom Mend and Repair
    Time to brag! Show us a photo of what you repaired and tell us about the experience!

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/11/2024 12:29 PM
    I don't have a photo to share, but I have broke several beaded bracelets over the years, and instead of throwing away the beads I reuse them and create picture frames, or make another piece of jewelry out of them.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bathroom See the Green
    Take a moment to estimate how many disposable daily contacts you may have used over the years. What would be your impact now of switching to a contact brand with a longer lifespan?

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/11/2024 12:27 PM
    Unfortunately my eyes have a condition to where I can only use single use or 2 week use contact lenses. I used to wear contacts all the time, but now I wear my glasses 99% of the time. I also requested a prescription dive mask at work so that I would not have to wear contacts.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Embrace Imperfection
    How has embracing imperfection impacted your plastic-free journey?

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/11/2024 12:25 PM
    Makes me understand that it is ok to not be perfect, but that I should be more conscientious.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Go Strawless
    Have you noticed any changes in your community around plastic straws as awareness of plastic pollution has grown over the last few years?

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/11/2024 9:28 AM
    I have. I have seen t-shirts of the Jaws shark emblem made out of straws and instead of it saying "Jaws" under the shark it says "Straws". I have t-shirts that also have "Plastic is the real killer" on them etc. So there are company's advocating for the banning of straws. Some fast food restaurants have switched to paper straws, and there has been a huge push for the metal or bamboo reusable straws.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study Borrowed Books
    Libraries have immense benefits for society. What are some cool resources your library has that might not be as well-known as book borrowing? What are some ways you advocate for libraries and share these resources with your community?

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/11/2024 9:24 AM
    I am unsure about all the resources my library does that is not well known, but most libraries will have large book exchanges or book sales where people can trade or buy used instead of new. Most libraries also offer computer labs so that you don't have to have hard copies at all.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen Save Jars for Reuse
    What's the most creative way you've reused a jar in your home?

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/11/2024 7:30 AM
    I don't save jars for reuse of food item storage, but I do keep them and use them to store my crafting items or seashell collection.
  • 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?

    Melissa Morrow's avatar
    Melissa Morrow 7/01/2024 12:19 PM
    I reuse single use items, like trash bags and other packing materials in my arts and crafts. I create bracelets and necklaces and ornaments using items that were meant to be single use. I also always use the single use plastic bags from take out as trash bags. And I primarily use my reusable shopping bags when grocery shopping.