Michael Helme

Beyond BYOBag Warwick

"Aim to broaden my plastic free footprint and to have fun while doing it"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
394 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

20

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

6.0

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted

Michael's actions

Food

Make Your Own

I will try new recipe(s) or food preparation method(s) each day, such as canning, pickling, making yogurt, or baking granola bars or bread.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Personal Care

Lather Up

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, and conditions with either a bar or refillable option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Write Letters or Emails

I will write 1 letter(s) or email(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly policies.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Travel Eating

If traveling, I will bring my own airplane snacks and eat at local restaurants to avoid take-out containers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

I will purchase toothpaste in an aluminum tube or in a glass jar or make my own!

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Watch a Documentary

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Travel Smart

If traveling, I will bring my own plastic free items (water bottle, grocery bags, collapsible food containers, utensils, straws, etc.) with me.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 3 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Estimate Your Plastic Consumption and Go #PlasticNeutral

I will visit rePurpose website, complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Host a House Party

I will host a house party with friends and/or colleagues to watch a movie or present a guest speaker on plastics.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?

Michael Helme 7/31/2019 1:54 PM

As July winds down I note that for the last 10 days I've also been trying to limit my digital exposure, which precluded me from making daily posts. So much to be done!
I made it through the month without using shampoo from a plastic bottle. Mostly I use just plain water, but sometimes if my hair seems oily, I put a pile of baking soda in one palm, rub it onto both palms, then into the scalp. Did anyone get a shampoo in a refillable bottle or find a way to make a home made shampoo?

There were 4 times this month I acquired single-use plastic:
-- purchased a netting (actually made of plastic) to defend my blueberry bushes and strawberry plants from birds, and that came in a plastic wrap
-- visiting family in TX, got a loaf of bread that wasn't wrapped, and the bags they provided had a stripe of see-through plastic on it (shoulda asked around the store for a 100% paper bag)
-- bought a small chunk of drunken goat milk cheese in a small bit of shrink wrap.
-- saw a 3D movie, for which the glasses were put in the bin to be re-used, but they came wrapped in plastic.

Not too bad for a month, eh?

Thanks, everyone!

Read More
- Christy Erfer 8/02/2019 9:03 PM
  
  Wow Michael, that's a mighty short list of minor plastic items that you acquired. Can't say I did as well on that score, but what I brought home for the most part was recycled or repurposed. I went to donate blood, all the tape and tubes and bandages and bags were disappointing, but ultimately... potentially life saving. I am inclined to give most medical plastics a pass. Thanks to all for the inspiration this month!
  
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- Teresa Vela-Hayes 7/31/2019 7:17 PM
  
  Congratulations Michael. What you accomplished is not easy!
  I bought shampoo and conditioner from A Drop In The Ocean. They come in metal bottles which you can return to be refilled. I love them both!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Travel Eating

Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?

Michael Helme 7/24/2019 4:24 PM

I'm not someone who constantly travels, so when I do go on the road it's easy for plastic crap to come my way. This time I was flying Spirit Airline, which basically doesn't give anything out unless you specifically pay for it. Like that, I knew to bring my own water bottle and snacks and basically came out with no more plastic than when I started.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Write Letters or Emails

How might thinking creatively help us address big systems problems - like plastic pollution - differently?

Michael Helme 7/19/2019 2:58 PM

The essential problem with plastic is that the short-term cost is so small while the long-term cost is so big. And, we tend to be very short-term in our thinking processes. When we reach out to public officials, we're basically telling them we have the long-term picture in mind, and the more that message is shared, the more chance we'll make a collective change.

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Michael Helme 7/19/2019 2:26 PM

When I work in NYC on weekends, I like to eat at Dig Inn, which serves Farm-to-Counter food, much of it grown up in Orange County, near my home. I ALWAYS re-use the plastic lid from the compostable bowl, so my current lid probably has well in excess of 100 uses. (The folks behind the counter perhaps suspect I've flipped by lid.... They also sometimes give me a free lunch!)

Inspired by plastic-free July, I finally got around to emailing the management of Dig Inn to suggest they make it a kind of loyalty program for regular customers -- get 25 cents off if you re-use the lid. I'll let everyone know if they get back to me on this.

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- Christy Erfer 7/20/2019 9:43 PM
  
  That is great Michael, hope you get a good response from them! Your "frequent flyer lid" has been an inspiration to me, although I don't eat out in a place like the Dig Inn on a regular basis (I work from home) I try to bring my own reusable container when I am out. I keep a round tin with some foil and waxed paper folded inside it in a bag in my car, to hopefully fit any take out or leftovers situations I may encounter in my day. Many roads to the same plastic free destination!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Estimate Your Plastic Consumption and Go #PlasticNeutral

What did you find out about your plastic consumption by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you?

Michael Helme 7/18/2019 6:17 PM

I did really well on the single-use plastic parts, but using appliances and automobiles and so forth that have plastic really lifted my score. I didn't like that it assumed if I cooked a lot I had lots of plastic waste. We do lots of things to avoid that in our kitchen. Thanks!

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Michael Helme 7/04/2019 5:46 PM

Minty Mint Tea!
Mint grows like a weed in my yard.
Cut it/Dry it/Steep it/Drink it -- or else go to the store and get something that was packaged.
And it doubles as a mouth rinse/mouth wash
I really like Minty Mint Tea!

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- Christy Erfer 7/05/2019 2:27 PM
  
  Nice! I need to plant some mint in my yard, that's a wonderful idea.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Keep My Community Clean

How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

Michael Helme 7/03/2019 5:56 PM

I'm not the person who put the litter there
But everyone benefits when it gets picked up
Feels good to be in that role

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- Christy Erfer 7/03/2019 10:07 PM
  
  I like that attitude Michael. Keeping it positive!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Lather Up

What are the economic and personal benefits of switching to bar soap/shampoo/conditioner or refillable bottle options?

Michael Helme 7/02/2019 7:15 PM

In many cases the plastic-free option is less expensive than the alternative. But you have to get used to the new feel and custom.

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Michael Helme 7/01/2019 6:26 PM

Does anyone have a plastic-free alternative to dishwashing liquid? A couple brands come in recycled plastic, but that's hardly a consolation. I also like to use "homeopathic strength" dish washing liquid (translation = watered down to an extreme degree), as this stretches what is bought that much further. But still. Is there a better alternative? Tx in advance!

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- Payton Swenson 7/02/2019 5:26 AM
  
  Dish washing bar!
  
  https://wellearthgoods.com/products/zero-waste-dish-washing-block-soap-free-shipping
  
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- Christy Erfer 7/01/2019 9:23 PM
  
  I have been trying out some liquid soap products that come in cardboard "milk" cartons. I refill a mason jar that has a pump dispenser. The dish soap is kinda thin, seems watered down, so not as foamy as I am used to. But I love the cartons. I've written to the company and suggested they make it more concentrated. I'd like to have the option to make it "homeopathic strength" when I want it that way. :) I also asked them to consider making shampoo in cartons too. I have plenty of empty plastic bottles that I can refill, so who needs a new one with each purchase?! The company is called Clean Cult, you can only buy it from them online. https://www.cleancult.com/#
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Pearly Whites

Currently most of the packaging for toothpaste is plastic. How can you advocate for more alternatives through your purchasing power and influence in community?

Michael Helme 7/01/2019 6:23 PM

A friend made some homemade toothpaste in a jar for me. If enough of us did this, either make our own or get from friends, eventually the companies would get the idea.

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