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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
Connie Merigo's avatar

Connie Merigo

Protectors of the Blue - NEAq Staff & Volunteers

"To protect the Blue Planet and to educate others on the importance of this mission. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,039 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    115
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    24
    petitions
    signed
  • UP TO
    95
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    12
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    public official or leader
    contacted
  • UP TO
    6.0
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Connie's actions

Pets

Pet Waste

I will spend 20 minutes learning how to compost pet waste at home or research pet waste composting services available in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Pick Up the Phone

I will make 1 phone call(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly policies.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Community

Join a Cleanup Effort

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 19
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

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

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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Sign a Petition

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

COMPLETED 24
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Start Composting

I will start a compost collection at home, work, or school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 1 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

Try a Pet Shampoo Bar

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

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?

  • Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/28/2019 12:07 PM
    So nice to see how committed to reducing or eliminating plastic some of the Rescue staff and volunteers are.  We talk about ways to reduce our plastic dependency and share ideas.  We have eight Rescuers in the top ten of this challenge, I am so proud!! 
    Read More
  • 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?
    Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/25/2019 3:25 PM
    This challenge was very difficult, so much more than expected.  Sadly some of the single use plastics in food service do not yet have a replacement option, this needs to change at the manufacturing level.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Start Composting
    Do an inventory of how much food waste you would save from going to the landfill if you start composting all of the time. What are the added benefits of having compost that is readily accessible?
    Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/21/2019 12:18 PM
    I look forward to having the compost available to spread around my outdoor flowers and plants.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Pets Try a Pet Shampoo Bar
    In what ways does your pet make your life happier, more interesting, or more rewarding?
    Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/20/2019 5:56 AM
    My pet makes me happier in every way.  I am also love the pet shampoo bar.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family Swap the Snacks
    How does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies benefit your family?
    Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/18/2019 10:15 AM
    Healthier and no plastic for the WIN!
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Pets Pet Waste
    By composting your pet waste, you are turning waste into nutrients to feed the soil. In what other ways can you turn waste into a resource in your life?
    Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/16/2019 12:40 PM
    Food waste composting also becomes a resource providing nutrient rich soil for gardens, plants and flowers.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Pick Up the Phone
    What do all of us have in common, regardless of politics, race, religion, occupation, or place we live? How can finding common ground help us as a society and as a species?
    Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/16/2019 9:04 AM
    We certainly all have in common the fact that we need water and nutrition.  Seems there could be significant ground made by eliminating plastics in the food and water manufacturing industry.  Easier said than done but pressuring companies may help.
    Read More
  • 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?
    Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/16/2019 6:50 AM
    This survey was eye opening.  I make a strong effort to reduce my plastic usage, however my consumption came out higher than expected.  Makes me think about the consumption of people who don't care and that really concerns me.  This survey made me think about areas where my plastic consumption is high, which will help me focus on finding plastic free products in those areas.
    Read More
  • Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/16/2019 6:33 AM
    Slightly discouraged, I've been picking up trash along my walking route and it was looking good.  Today there was much more plastic trash along the route.  It's a busy street leading away from the restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream parlors and other business in the harbor and people just discard items out the window along their drive .  I did meet another woman picking up trash along her stretch of property so there is hope.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
    Connie Merigo's avatar
    Connie Merigo 7/10/2019 2:08 PM
    Picking up litter in my community is connecting me to my neighbors and even strangers who are noticing my actions.
    Read More