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Welcome to Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019 expert in no time!

Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums
Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019
July 1 - July 31, 2019
Bill Packer's avatar

Bill Packer

New York Aquarium

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 226 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    15
    conversations
    with people

Bill's actions

Food

Takeout Pro

I will use my own containers when ordering takeout.

COMPLETED 0
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

Food

Lobby for Reusables

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

See the Green

I will properly recycle used contact lenses and packaging.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

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?

  • Bill Packer's avatar
    Bill Packer 8/01/2019 5:11 AM
    I think anytime we are thoughtful about these topics, is a win for the planet.  Let's keep the dialogue going!
    Read More
  • 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?
    Bill Packer's avatar
    Bill Packer 8/01/2019 5:07 AM
    I think this is a great opportunity to explain why this is a win / win /win. They reduce their costs since they don't have to stock containers, I win because I don't have to have more to throw away and the planet wins because we "reduce" & "reuse"!  
    Read More
  • Bill Packer's avatar
    Bill Packer 7/24/2019 4:33 AM
    For years I've been throwing my contact lenses in the general trash.  This Bausch & Lomb recycling program seems pretty easy.  Just ordered my labels for both my NJ and Tx residences.  I feel a little dumb that I never thought to look into this before.  Anyone else doing this?  Any issues?  Thanks!  Happy Recycling!! (but especially reducing and re-using).
    Read More
  • Bill Packer's avatar
    Bill Packer 7/14/2019 1:01 PM
    Struggling today with how much travel I do ... especially by airplane.  Can I reduce this travel.  Can I at the very least lighten my luggage?  
    Read More
    • avra cohen's avatar
      avra cohen 7/15/2019 11:40 PM
      Southwest Airlines also has no "First Class" section and offers open seating. Very egalitarian, plus a generous luggage allowance. 
      Read More
    • Joseph Gessert's avatar
      Joseph Gessert 7/15/2019 4:10 AM
      Travel is a hard one--it's so integrated into our lives at this point, necessary for work, for seeing family, etc. Some other suggestions I read for reducing impact are trying to take direct flights, avoiding business and first class (which for most of us isn't an option anyway!), and flying more often on airlines like Jetblue and Spirit that don't have a first class section (denser passenger count = lower CO2 count per person). But yeah, that's a hard one--especially for you. 
      Read More
  • Bill Packer's avatar
    Bill Packer 7/14/2019 1:00 PM
    Knowledge is power ... I guess... anyway, I listened to two part podcast about recycling ... its history (did you know the mafia was involved?) and the current state.  Bottom line, after you factor in transportation costs (aggravated in places without single stream recycling) we are generally better off not recycling plastic and this is also most likely true for glass (especially for things like peanut butter that take a lot of (hot) water, to rinse properly for our current recycling technologies).  So, the challenge is to reduce and re-use!!  Fortunately, tin & aluminum & paper still make sense.  
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  • Bill Packer's avatar
    Bill Packer 6/26/2019 11:14 AM
    Didn't even know that my contact lenses have a special recycling process.  Investigating....
    Read More