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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
Catie Policastro's avatar

Catie Policastro

Lee Richardson Zoo

"To help keep our planet healthy one small step at a time!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 542 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    75
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    80
    pieces of litter
    picked up

Catie'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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

Pet Waste

I will spend 30 minutes learning how to compost pet waste at home or research pet waste composting services available in my area.

UNCOMPLETED
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

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 5 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Create Your Own Action

Eco-flowers

In preparation for my wedding, I will reduce the amount of plastic used by making recycled flowers. This will reduce the number of single-use plastics used in the sale of mass-produced flowers (real or synthetic). I will make 10 flowers a week for the month of July.

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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Brusha Brusha Brusha
    What are the benefits of switching to bamboo toothbrushes? How would you implore others in your community to make this switch as well?
    Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 7/22/2019 6:22 AM
    The biggest benefit of switching to a bamboo toothbrush is that the handle is biodegradable.  Once I'm ready to replace my toothbrush, I know my old one will have less of an impact on our planet!
    Read More
  • Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 7/19/2019 12:54 PM
    Have you considered switching to reusable straws but are afraid that they'll be inconvenient to travel with?  Me too.  When I got my first reusable straw, I bought a travel container to go with it.  This purchase was a game-changer!  The straw is protected in my purse or car.  Plus, when I'm taking the straw home, the container prevents any residual liquid from getting on my stuff.      
    Read More
  • Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 7/17/2019 2:00 PM
    If anyone is looking for plastic-free household items, you can find many options in our local stores.  I've found bamboo handled toothbrushes at the grocery store, and reusable wool dryer balls (instead of using dryer sheets) at big box stores in town.  It's becoming easier to buy eco-friendly items at the stores I shop at!
    Read More
  • Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 7/08/2019 5:43 AM
    Change isn't easy.  It's easier to tell ourselves "I'm too busy.  I don't have the time for....".  If we don't stick with changing our actions, how can we inspire others to change their behavior too?  This weekend was busy, and I almost convinced myself that I didn't have the time to try and make pickles myself instead of purchasing them from the store.  I made myself find the time.  It's not always easy, but each small action we take has a big impact on our planet! 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
    Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 7/05/2019 7:46 AM
    It's not always convenient to pick up trash (lack of disposal sites or ability to clean your hands afterward) and since moving to the midwest it's a daunting task!  It seems like everywhere you turn, there is more litter on the ground or blowing by you.  

    I'm not the best at this action, but it is something I'm working to improve on.  Since taking on this challenge, I feel a stronger connection to Garden City.  I'm investing my time and energy into making our city a better place.    
    Read More
  • Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 7/01/2019 11:33 AM
    It's Plastic Free July!  Remember to log-in and check off what you have accomplished. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Share My Actions
    In what ways is social media an effective tool for sharing your values?
    Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 7/01/2019 11:31 AM
    Most people spend a significant amount of time exploring social media.  It is the current outlet for sharing information in our technology-driven world.  A short sentence about how I'm working to reduce my plastic use on Facebook can spread to hundreds of Facebook friends.  Hopefully, this short message will serve as an inspiration to others to look at how they are using plastic and if they can change their actions to help our planet. 
    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?
    Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 6/27/2019 9:55 AM
    I have selected the action of Make Your Own under the food category.  My first reaction to this challenge is feeling overwhelmed because there are so many things that I know I could make myself and finding time to do so isn't always easy.  I hope that as I start this journey I'll feel empowered to keep trying new recipes.  I'm going to start by having Ethan teach me how to make bread and hopefully, by the end of the month, I will be making my own yogurt each week instead of buying yogurt in plastic containers.  
    Read More
  • Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 6/21/2019 12:26 PM
    I really don't enjoy putting my produce in plastic produce bags at the grocery store, but I also want to keep my produce together.  I just received the best gift to solve this dilemma!  My sister-in-law sent me a set of 12 reusable produce bags!  They're a lightweight mesh that can be washed if needed and used over and over again.     
    Read More
  • Catie Policastro's avatar
    Catie Policastro 5/20/2019 7:59 AM
    Looking for inspiration on where and why to make challenges in your recycling routine?  Check out the Lee Richardson Zoo Pinterest board dedicated to recycling topics!
    https://www.pinterest.com/leerichardsonzo/recycle/
    Read More