Join the movement to refuse single-use plastics with Plastic Free Ecochallenge!

Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2024

July 1 - July 31, 2024

MTM Green Team Feed

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Bedroom

Compared to your previous experiences with decluttering, how was this experience with sustainable decluttering different?
Kelsey Helms 7/31/2024 2:12 PM
Beforehand I was definitely guilty of just dropping off bags at Goodwill. These days I try to swap with friends and family, will post to facebook marketplace, or find some way to repurpose and only donate as a last resort.

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Britt Singer 7/31/2024 12:41 PM
My son and I took all our plastic bags to the recyling bin at our grocery store but going forward I'm going to think of ways to always use cloth when grocery shopping.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Bathroom

Besides 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"?
Britt Singer 7/31/2024 12:39 PM
I think it's important to reduce, reuse, and recyle every day. I also instill this in my children as well.

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Britt Singer 7/31/2024 12:33 PM
I joined the challenge to learn more about plastic pollution and how to avoid single use plastics. My goal is to use glace and cloth bags 98% of the time when preparing food and shopping.

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Britt Singer 7/31/2024 12:23 PM
I think it is going well. I’m thinking of ways to reduce plastic and refuse plastic as much as possible.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Bathroom

How can you advocate for the importance of reducing packaging to the rest of your friends, family and larger community?
Shannan Smith 7/31/2024 10:39 AM
I think knowledge is power; giving family and friends knowledge is the way to go. If I can explain it to them and make them see the importance it could create a huge change.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Study

What did you think of this action? Is this something you think you can turn into a long-term habit to avoid plastic highlighters?
Kelsey Helms 7/30/2024 7:20 AM
Yes this one was a very easy swap. I tend to have colored pencils around anyway, so I didn't even have to make an additional purchase.

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Shannan Smith 7/24/2024 4:55 PM
I think it's going well - my actions are at least. I'm not the best at checking in on here, but I do practice trying to live plastic free in my life!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Study

Recycling right requires both systemic change and personal and community awareness. How can you expand what you've learned about the chasing arrows symbol to encourage broader changes in your community?
Shannan Smith 7/23/2024 9:53 AM
I've started with our kids; showing them the numbers and how they relate to what we can recycle here on Kauai. My hope is that by teaching them, they will teach someone else and recycle when they move out on their own.

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- Christine Kitch 7/23/2024 9:57 AM
  I haven’t thought to teach the kids the numbers because I suspect by the time they’re adults the numbers will be obsolete? Maybe it’s naive to think there could be such a systemic change away from 1-7 plastic numbering where only 1 and 2 are almost universally accepted.
  
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- Mackenzie Blevins 7/23/2024 10:33 AM
  I love talking to kids about recycling. In a previous job I was able to start a recycling program and talk about what goes into making recycling work and what some of the numbers mean. When I connected it back to animals that they love, I was able to tell that it started to make a lot more sense.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

How difficult was this action for you? Is this something you'll be continuing after this challenge ends?
Kelsey Helms 7/23/2024 7:30 AM
Yes! I bought reusable freezer "Ziploc" type bags (plastic free) and have began to save my veggie scraps to make my own veggie broth. Super easy to do. I also have friends with rabbits and chickens so some of them are saved to feed the animals as well!

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