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Colleen MacDonald's avatar

Colleen MacDonald

Protectors of the Blue - NEAq Staff & Volunteers

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 955 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    95
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    14
    petitions
    signed
  • UP TO
    190
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    21
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    21
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    15
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Colleen's actions

Lifestyle

Natural Fibers

When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Sign a Petition

I will sign a petition in support of a plastic-related initiative in my state/province.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Homemade Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products at home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook a Zero-Plastic Waste Meal

I will prepare 1 meal(s) at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 15
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Lather Up

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Pets

Try a Pet Shampoo Bar

I will replace my pet's shampoo with an eco-friendly shampoo bar.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Community

Share My Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.

COMPLETED
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?


  • Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/31/2019 6:18 PM
    Yay. It's been a great month and I'm very pleased with the progress I've made. I look forward to spreading the word with my family and friends. If everyone I know did just half of what I've done this month, that would be fabulous!

  • Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/31/2019 6:16 PM
    This has been a great challenge. I've spent the month figuring out ways for me, and my family, to reduce our daily plastic use. I'm happy to report that our use of zip lock plastic bags is almost at zero, my take-out plastic consumption is almost zero, and there are a few more areas I have to work on but I'm getting there!


  • Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/31/2019 6:13 PM
    It's been a great month. Committed to keeping my plastic use low!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Lather Up
    What are the economic and personal benefits of switching to bar soap/shampoo/conditioner or refillable bottle options?

    Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/30/2019 12:18 PM
    I'm not sure of the economic benefits, but I will be able to eliminate plastic shampoo bottles from my life!!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Travel Eating
    Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?

    Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/30/2019 11:58 AM
    This one isn't too difficult for me to do. I usually get to the airport with plenty of time to spare so I sit down to grab a bite to eat. Also, I often travel shorter distances for work so I don't need to eat out much. Breakfast and lunch are easier to find/make using no plastic. Dinner I find more challenging.

  • Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/30/2019 11:56 AM
    And now for some good news. State of Maine bans styrofoam. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2019-05-02/maine-becomes-first-state-to-ban-styrofoam-food-containers 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Cook a Zero-Plastic Waste Meal
    Do an inventory of your kitchen to see how many single-use plastics you've used in the past. What are some resuable alternatives to these commonly used products? What would your impact be if you switched all the single-use products from your inventory to reusable?

    Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/28/2019 6:59 AM
    I've been reflecting on this for a while. I don't see many single-use plastic stuff in my kitchen. We don't drink bottled water or any bottled drinks. My cupboards have olive oil, vinegar (mostly in glass),, canned goods, rice. I feel like I'm missing something obvious here, but I can't find any single-use. We used to have applesauce in single plastic cups but not anymore.

  • Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/28/2019 6:47 AM
    Planning on spending a significant amount of time this afternoon at low tide cleaning up the beach. TONS of debris in Hull on the non-beach parts of the shoreline.

  • Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/27/2019 12:10 PM
    Lots of plastic picked up today with NEAQ peeps!! three buckets!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Pets Try a Pet Shampoo Bar
    In what ways does your pet make your life happier, more interesting, or more rewarding?

    Colleen MacDonald's avatar
    Colleen MacDonald 7/26/2019 3:03 PM
    My pup is what gets me through days worrying about plastic and global warming and racism and sexism and Donald f#$(&$#in Trump. She's pure love!