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Welcome to Plastic Free Ecochallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Plastic Free Ecochallenge expert in no time!

Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums
Plastic Free Ecochallenge
July 1 - July 31, 2020
Mark Swingle's avatar

Mark Swingle

The Order of the Sea Turtles

"Avoid Single-Use Plastic ~ Save Sea Turtles"

Points Total

  • 0 Today
  • 0 This Week
  • 1,086 Total

Participant Impact

  • up to
    1
    documentaries
    watched
  • up to
    90
    minutes
    spent learning
  • up to
    356
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • up to
    31
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Mark's Actions

Lifestyle

Watch a Documentary

I will watch a documentary film about waste with family and friends and talk about what we learned.

Completed
One-Time Action

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 4 piece(s) of litter each day while following the CDC’s current guidelines for prevention of disease transfer.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Minimize Packaging

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Start Composting

I will start a compost collection at home, work, or school.

Completed
One-Time Action

Food

Plant a Garden

I will plant a herb or vegetable garden in my home, workplace, dorm room, or community garden.

Completed
One-Time Action

Food

Use Reusable Containers

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Feed

  • Mark Swingle's avatar
    Mark Swingle 7/31/2020 9:10 AM
    The Order of the Sea Turtles!  Way to go Team and thanks Captain Allie!  Thanks for contributing to a great month of sustainable practices and less plastic.    Cheers! 
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    • Allie Hobgood's avatar
      Allie Hobgood 7/31/2020 11:50 AM
      Thanks for being a part of another fantastic plastic free July, Mark!
      Read More
  • Mark Swingle's avatar
    Mark Swingle 7/29/2020 1:53 PM
    Finally watched my plastic documentary and checked off that box!  Plastic China was very depressing, though.  Of course, all documentaries that shine a light on plastic pollution are really tough to watch.  If you have not seen The Story of Plastic, you should definitely check it out.  It has the usual tough images, but equally impactful are the direct links to oil and gas fossil fuels and big money!  Just more incentive to make positive changes and share what we learn with our friends.    Great work Team!  
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    • Allie Hobgood's avatar
      Allie Hobgood 7/30/2020 10:38 AM
      Thanks for sharing these great documentary suggestions with the team, Mark! Maybe save to watch if you need a good cry or something?! 😅
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  • Mark Swingle's avatar
    Mark Swingle 7/24/2020 7:01 AM
    Shout-out to our leadership team, Cynthia and Caryl, for active participation and sharing their experiences!  Cheers from The Order of the Sea Turtles!!
     
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  • Mark Swingle's avatar
    Mark Swingle 7/22/2020 4:26 PM
    Totally agree with Karolyn's shout-out to our captain - or maybe she is a "Knight" of The Order of the Sea Turtles!  She inspires me too - cheers Allie!
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  • Mark Swingle's avatar
    Mark Swingle 7/21/2020 6:24 AM
    I have added trash cleanup to my daily bike ride in First Landing State Park. It is normally a power ride for exercise, but PFJ has given me a good excuse to pause and collect some trash - mostly plastic! It is amazing how people notice when you do things like this and then give you a thumbs-up!  I get to see some nice sunsets, too!
     
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  • Mark Swingle's avatar
    Mark Swingle 7/08/2020 1:21 PM
    Greetings again to The Order of the Sea Turtles!  Great work so far in Plastic Free July!  Just had my new outdoor composting bin delivered today and looking forward to adding it to my sustainability repertoire!  It is sea turtle nesting season now, so in addition to thousands of juveniles, we have some adult females in Virginia waters.  Four sea turtle nests so far in Virginia Beach, so keeping our beaches and waterways free of plastic debris is even more important!  Keep up your amazing work and don't forget to log-in each day - that maximizes your and the Order's points!   Talk with you later - VA Tortuga Man 
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    • Allie Hobgood's avatar
      Allie Hobgood 7/09/2020 8:34 AM
      Excited for your compost bin! Hope it lives up to your expectations and makes waste diversion a dream! 

      So excited to learn about the sea turtle nests we have at the beach so far this nesting season! Yayyyy! What fantastic news <3
      Read More
  • Mark Swingle's avatar
    Mark Swingle 7/01/2020 11:14 AM
    Hey fellow members of the Order!!  Thanks for getting started on Plastic Free July and helping sea turtles and other marine animals - Cheers!!  Hope to see you logging in each day with more news. 
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