Carolyn Shirk
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 930 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO8.0plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0plastic bottlenot sent to the landfill
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UP TO15pieces of plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
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UP TO5.0poundswaste avoided
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
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UP TO144gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO1.0conversationwith a person
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UP TO90minutesspent learning
Carolyn's actions
Bedroom
Ditch Dryer Sheets
Plastic sheets coated in softeners, lubricants, and fragrances, dryer sheets just aren't great for the planet or our bodies. Instead, I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.
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.
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.
Bathroom
Travel Toiletries
Travel-size toiletries aren't just more expensive per ounce, they also have a higher plastic-to-contents ratio, and result in over 980 tonnes (2.2 million pounds) of plastic waste each year. If traveling this month, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me.
Bathroom
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!).
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.
Bedroom
Rethink Returns
While most stores offer lenient return policies, what actually happens to all of those returns? I will spend 15 minutes learning about what happens to returns and how I can make better purchasing decisions to avoid returns in the future.
Study
Complete a Waste Audit
I will conduct a waste audit of my trash and recycling to understand how much waste I create and create a plan for where I can reduce the most.
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.
Study
Greenwashing Pro
Greenwashing can fool even the most experienced eco-advocate. This month, I will spend 45 minutes learning what greenwashing is, how to spot it, and what I can do about it.
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.
Bedroom
Multiple Wears Before Washing
The simple, necessary, daily act of washing our clothes slowly degrades the quality of our clothes due to the friction involved in the process. To extend the life of my clothes, whenever possible, I will wear items multiple times before washing.
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.
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.
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.
Kitchen
Dive Into Expiration Dates
Just because something is past its "expiration date," it might not actually be expired! I will spend 25 minutes learning about the difference between best by, use by, and sell by dates and how to tell if my food is actually expired.
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 1 plastic straws and/or stirrers out of the landfill each day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.
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.
Kitchen
Use Reusable Utensils
Whether I'm at work, on the go, or having food delivered, I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.
Study
Dig into Bioplastics
I will spend at least 45 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 3 friends, family, and/or colleagues.
Kitchen
Use The Dishwasher
Using your dishwasher doesn't just save water! I will use my dishwasher whenever possible to extend the life of my sponges and dish cloths, and shed less microfibers from them.
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?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Use The DishwasherAlthough the dishwasher saves time and water, some people enjoy washing dishes by hand for the mindfulness practice it can provide. What are some other ways you can practice mindfulness in the kitchen?
Carolyn Shirk 7/13/2024 12:11 PMWashing and prepping ingredients for a home cooked meal, emptying the dishwasher and putting the items away, and taking my time to clean and disinfect the surfaces such as the counters, stovetop, and refrigerator doors. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchen Go StrawlessHave you noticed any changes in your community around plastic straws as awareness of plastic pollution has grown over the last few years?
Carolyn Shirk 7/13/2024 12:00 PMMore businesses offer straws made from materials other than plastic, such as paper and bamboo. Hopefully, more fast food places will go this route in the near future.-
Mackenzie Blevins 7/13/2024 12:19 PMMore businesses in coastal towns have begun to offer plastic straw alternatives or refuse straws altogether. I would like to see bars move towards this same change, since I feel that it is often overlooked when served in cocktails.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONStudy Numbers EverywhereWere you surprised by what the different plastic identification numbers mean? How can this information help you become a better recycler?
Carolyn Shirk 7/13/2024 11:56 AMI did not know about the plastic identification numbers. This will help me determine which containers I can put in the recycling bin and which ones I may either need to take somewhere else or repurpose for my own use.-
Mackenzie Blevins 7/13/2024 12:20 PMIt has been insightful to see what different cities allow in terms of types of plastic that can recycled. Things that seem simple to recycle are often not allowed in municipal center recycling.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Proper Clothing CareFast fashion depends on consumers buying into constantly changing trends, only wearing their clothes a handful of times, then tossing and buying more. How can you combat those influences to create a more sustainable wardrobe you'll love, value, and care for long-term?
Carolyn Shirk 7/13/2024 11:44 AMPurchase fewer good quality items, select basic but timeless pieces that can be updated with trendy accessories, or create your own personal style that is not influenced by passing trends.-
Mackenzie Blevins 7/13/2024 12:21 PMRecognizing that trends can be played into in fun ways with things like changing up how you style accessories, colors of makeups you use, and nail colors, instead of overbuying textiles. Creating a wardrobe that you will love for years to come can feel daunting but does seem easier once you start!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Use What You HaveBesides the economic benefits of using the things we already own, how can this practice impact our lives in other ways and influence the way we interact with "things"?
Carolyn Shirk 7/13/2024 11:40 AMIf we learn to not have the mindset of easily replacing items, our "things" will be better cared for and preserved. In addition, we will come to the realization that we can be content without as many "things" as we thought. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBathroom Embrace ImperfectionHow has embracing imperfection impacted your plastic-free journey?
Carolyn Shirk 7/13/2024 11:31 AMIt alleviates the pressure of trying to be perfect, especially realizing it is just not possible. With this challenge, however, I have gained a lot of knowledge that has helped me improve my daily habits. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBedroom Multiple Wears Before WashingIn addition to helping clothes last longer, washing clothes less frequently also saves water by running the washing machine less often. As the climate and water situations change, what are some other ways both your household and our community could become more resilient?
Carolyn Shirk 7/13/2024 11:20 AMReplace lawns with drought resistant plants, run the dishwasher with less frequent larger loads instead of a higher number of small loads, replace old toilets with water saving ones, use a pressure washer or bucket and sponge to wash and rinse my car instead of a garden hose. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBathroom Travel ToiletriesWhat is the benefit of using bar soaps or refilling your travel sized containers? Is this an action you think you will keep in your life?
Carolyn Shirk 7/11/2024 2:54 PMBar soaps do not come in plastic containers like liquid soaps and do not take up as much space when traveling I also refill travel sized shampoo bottles because it saves me money. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONStudy Recycle My TechBesides reusing materials, what are some other environmental, societal, and economical benefits of recycling our old electronics?
Carolyn Shirk 7/10/2024 3:38 PMSome of the benefits of recycling, other than reusing the materials, include keeping items such as computer parts and batteries out of landfills that could add toxins to the soil and air, generating funds for environmental projects and recovery, and helping to conserve the natural resources that are used in the production of new electronics . -
REFLECTION QUESTIONBathroom Say No to "Flushable Wipes"Even though they are marketed as "flushable," disposable wipes do not disintegrate in water or the sewer system, and actually release microplastics into our waterways. How does it feel to learn this information? What do you want to do about it?
Carolyn Shirk 7/10/2024 3:18 PMI wasn't too happy to learn this because if the container says "flushable", it's easy to interpret that as biodegradable as well. I will not be using flushable wipes again.