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Susan Meurlott's avatar

Susan Meurlott

SF Teaching Zoo Zero Wasters

"Think and act in every situation"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 803 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    10
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    14
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    27
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    142
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    24
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill

Susan's actions

Family

Glass Bottle Baby

I will replace 3 plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel alternatives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Discover Together

I will spend 10 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Plastic Free Lunch Boxes

I will only pack reusable cutlery, drinkware and tupperware-like containers in my children's lunches to reduce plastic waste.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Travel Toiletries

If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me in a TSA approved reusable quart sized bag.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Travel Smart

If traveling, I will bring my own plastic free items (water bottle, grocery bags, collapsible food containers, utensils, straws, etc.) with me.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

See the Green

I will properly recycle used contact lenses and packaging.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusable Containers

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Family

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 10 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 10
DAILY ACTIONS

Family

Provide the Alternatives

I will provide daily plastic free alternatives (straws, water bottles, cuttlery, bar soap, bamboo toothbrushes, etc.) for my family to use.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Start Composting

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

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?


  • Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/31/2019 6:29 AM
    This month was definitely harder than it seems.  EVERYTHING seems to have plastic.  I really wanted cauliflower but I couldn't find any that was not wrapped in plastic.  And that was just the beginning!  We have so much work to do!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Use Reusable Containers
    How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

    Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/23/2019 7:10 AM
    I bring my lunch almost everyday in reusable containers.  We also keep containers in our car in case we have leftovers at a dinner out.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family Provide the Alternatives
    What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) does your family regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

    Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/22/2019 1:30 PM
    I live this idea and wish everyone would do this. I want to give gifts of reusable cutlery to all my friends and family!
  • 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?

    Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/18/2019 6:58 AM
    We started composting for a local start up farm.  We met them at our Farmers Market and they are working to get their farm up and going.  It feels good to compost (which we have seen a significant reduction in our trash) and to help someone local.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family Swap the Snacks
    How does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies benefit your family?

    Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/17/2019 11:53 AM
    We're eating whole foods instead of processed food and I love that!

  • Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/12/2019 1:19 PM
    The Challenge is challenging!  There are so many options I am saying no to because of the plastic.  My husband says he misses certain things but that he is committed with me to reduce and change!

  • Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/10/2019 6:12 AM
    Small change - I've tried to use the recyclable k cups but now have gone to the reusable.  I feel much better about this!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family Plastic Free Lunch Boxes
    Most of us know that the "3 R's" are reduce, reuse, recycle. Recycling is most heavily emphasized in modern Western culture. How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle? How does considering implementing these "R's" make you feel?

    Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/10/2019 6:09 AM
    I don't pack lunches for my children anymore but I do take my lunch almost everyday.  I now have a dedicated bag with bamboo cutlery, storage, etc.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Travel Toiletries
    What is the benefit of using bar soaps or refilling your travel sized containers? Is this an action you think you will keep in your life?

    Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/09/2019 10:38 AM
    Absolutely think that bar soap is the way to go and I will continue this action in my life.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family Discover Together
    What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

    Susan Meurlott's avatar
    Susan Meurlott 7/09/2019 8:27 AM
    Sometimes my family doesn't even realizing the wastefulness of their choices.  We are now having a discussion every time we go to the grocery store.