Robert Merrill

Lucky's Market

"To reduce my impact on the environment"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
391 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

20

conversations

with people
UP TO

30

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

1.0

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

9.0

zero-waste meals

consumed

Robert's 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 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Lobby for Reusables

I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Visit the Butcher

I will purchase meats and cheeses from the deli counter or a butcher shop, and use my own containers to do so.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Minimize Packaging

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

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Takeout Pro

I will use my own containers when ordering takeout.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

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 3
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

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?

Robert Merrill 7/23/2019 11:42 AM

I am frustrated by the amount of waste I see. Seeing something recyclable in a trash can is also frustrating and I pick some out every day. Those are small thing and i wanted to learn more ways to reduce my impact on waste in the world.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Takeout Pro

How could you mitigate issues that may arise if the restaurant does not want to let you use your own containers at first?

Robert Merrill 7/23/2019 11:37 AM

Their issues seem to be about the cleanliness of my container and about making sure the portions are controlled properly. I assured them that my container was clean and that I didn't mind if the amount they gave was a bit less than what they estimate to be correct. This was at a Chinese to go restaurant.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Visit the Butcher

How has using your own containers impacted the quality of the food you receive? Does this give you more awareness of where your food comes from as opposed to just grabbing a package of mystery origin cheese/meat?

Robert Merrill 7/23/2019 11:32 AM

Since I had to get an employee to cut a wedge of cheese from a block, we had time to discuss the origin and taste of the various cheeses available.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Lobby for Reusables

What are some of the cases you could make to an employer for why switching to durable dishes and utensils is actually in their best interest as well?

Robert Merrill 7/22/2019 8:19 AM

Cost savings by not having to spend labor hours ordering and stocking plasticware as well as the cost of the items themselves. Although there will be cost associated with cleaning the durable items, it is easily offset.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

Single use plastics have become normalized in our society to the point that most people don't see them as a problem. What would you say to a friend, colleague, or family member who may not understand why these disposables are an issue?

Robert Merrill 7/22/2019 8:16 AM

First, I would want to be sure they want to hear anything I say so that I don't come across as preachy. I would mention how easily they can find images of plastic filling our landfills and oceans. Those pictures say so much more than I could.

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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?

Robert Merrill 7/18/2019 6:43 AM

Even switching to glass storage containers rather than plastic wrap can make a difference.

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- Maggie Godsil 7/18/2019 1:56 PM
  
  I grew up using Ziplocs for everything - it's a hard habbit to break. We do wash and reuse them (although my husband detests the chore) but I am transitioning to using glass storage containers instead. It's a process!
  
  Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Make Your Own

How do you feel about being more involved in the food preparation process? Joyful, overwhelmed, engaged, empowered? What are the benefits of choosing to process or produce your own food instead of buying it pre-processed?

Robert Merrill 7/18/2019 6:42 AM

Clearly controlling my own ingredients makes for food that appeals to me more and is presumably healthier.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Minimize Packaging

With the added mindfulness of reducing your packaging, what have you noticed about the amount and type of single use plastics used for packaging when you shop in the grocery store?

Robert Merrill 7/18/2019 6:40 AM

Unfortunately too much of store packaging is even beyond the store's control. Regulations make it difficult to reduce plastic use.

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