Stephen Vrla
"My mission is to help other people, animals, and the environment and support others in doing the same."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 405 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0conversationwith a person
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UP TO1.0disposable cupnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO60minutesspent learning
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UP TO10pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO1.0pieces plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
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UP TO3.0plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO1.0plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO3.0plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
Stephen's actions
Kitchen
Switch to Loose Leaf Tea
Because many tea bags and most sleeves and sachets contain plastic, I will switch to using loose leaf tea.
Community
Keep My Community Clean
I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.
Community
Learn about Environmental Justice
Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 15 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.
Community
Tour A Waste Management Facility
I will spend at least 15 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.
Community
Research Local Waste Sites
I will spend 15 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
Community
Share My Actions
I will make my environmental actions visible by sharing about them on my social media networks and the Plastic Free Ecochallenge participant feed.
Family + Pets
Balloons Blow
Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 15 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.
Family + Pets
Invest in a Pooper-Scooper
I will swap out my single use plastic bags for a pooper-scooper.
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.
Study
Plastic History Buff
Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 15 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.
Study
Dig into Bioplastics
I will spend at least 15 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.
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
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 15 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.
Study
Complete a Waste Audit
I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.
Kitchen
Use Reusable Utensils
I will keep 1 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.
Kitchen
Fill a Water Bottle
I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Kitchen
Use a Reusable Mug
If possible, I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.
Kitchen
Go Strawless
I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.
Kitchen
Skip Plastic Bags
When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.
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 QUESTIONFamily + Pets Invest in a Pooper-ScooperHow are caring for your pet and caring for the environment connected for you?
Stephen Vrla 7/08/2023 10:05 AMI think of companion animals as ambassadors to us from the more-than-human world. Providing for my dog's needs reminded me that wild animals also have needs, and protecting the environment is a way that I can help wild animals meet their needs. -
Stephen Vrla 7/08/2023 9:56 AMMy Plastic Free EcoChallenge 2023 started well, but I failed to complete my daily actions and check in about them toward the end of the week. Rather than getting down on myself or giving up, I'm choosing to learn from the experience and apply what I learn to the rest of the challenge. One of the main lessons I've learned is how important being prepared is to consistently completing my daily actions. For example, it's very easy to use reusable bottles, mugs, and utensils if they're all clean and easy to find in the morning, but much more difficult if one of them is dirty or missing. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Keep My Community CleanHow does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
Stephen Vrla 7/08/2023 9:44 AMPicking up litter makes me feel a deeper sense of belonging to my community, including its human and non-human inhabitants. -
Stephen Vrla 7/08/2023 9:04 AMHi DZS Team!
Congratulations on completing the first week of the Plastic Free EcoChallenge! It's been great to see how many people have joined the team, checked in, and commented in the team feed.
If you haven't been able to participate as much as you'd intended to, please don't get discouraged! Perfect is the enemy of good, and there is still plenty of time to build some sustainable habits this month :)
Best,
Stephen -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Tour A Waste Management FacilityLandfills and recycling centers tell us a lot about our communities and purchasing habits. What did you glean from your tour?
Stephen Vrla 7/01/2023 1:28 PMI was struck by how much waste we produce on a daily basis and how much potential there is to reduce that amount. For example, as I was watching the virtual tour of a recycling facility, I saw a lot of single-use plastic packaging. It reminded me how important it is to use reusable containers whenever possible. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Learn about Environmental JusticeWhat did you and your family learn about environmental justice? What questions came up for you? What feelings?
Stephen Vrla 7/01/2023 11:27 AMThe resources reminded me that environmental issues are social issues, and vice versa. The main question that came up was, How can I use these and other resources to respond to people who argue that we have to help humans before we help the environment? -
Stephen Vrla 7/01/2023 7:44 AMReady, set, go!We are kicking off our eco-challenge TODAY, July 1. How will you help us achieve our goal of reducing plastic waste this month? Will you ditch plastic straws, wash your laundry with eco detergent or pick up litter around your community? There are so many ways to get involved — browse the challenge actions to learn how you can make a difference. Together, we can protect animal habitats, support our environment and pave the way for a greener future.Thank you for joining us!