Skip to main content
Brittany Rollins's avatar

Brittany Rollins

Zoo New England

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 659 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    75
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    66
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    24
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    waste audit
    conducted

Brittany's actions

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 3 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Brusha Brusha Brusha

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Lather Up

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, and conditions with either a bar or refillable option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Complete a Waste Audit

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy Unpackaged Produce

I will purchase produce items without plastic packaging.

COMPLETED 24
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors. Why not try using hair conditioner instead of shaving foam for that baby smooth feel?

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Just Say No

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl.

COMPLETED 24
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use a Reusable Mug / Collapsible Cup

I will avoid sending 3 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own collapsible cup.

COMPLETED 25
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 24
DAILY ACTIONS

Pets

All Natural Pet Toys

I will give my pets natural alternatives to toys like femur bones and antlers, canvas, natural rubber, hemp, rope or cotton toys. Or I will make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

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?


  • Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/31/2019 7:15 AM
    I can't believe I completed ALL my goals. I didn't expect to manage all of them, but it worked out! I finally bought refillable soaps and bamboo toothbrushes with no time to spare, and can't wait to get them in the mail! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Lather Up
    What are the economic and personal benefits of switching to bar soap/shampoo/conditioner or refillable bottle options?

    Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/31/2019 7:12 AM
    It's cheaper! And there's less waste from throwing away a bunch of small plastic bottles. Having a glass, refillable option allows for buying large stock containers of soap that can be used to refill...and the large bottles are much more useful. Once they're empty I can reuse them for other things around the house! 
  • 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?

    Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/31/2019 7:09 AM
    They're biodegradable! I can get others to potentially switch by talking about my experiences with the toothbrushes. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Complete a Waste Audit
    What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?

    Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/26/2019 2:39 PM
    Certain habits produce a lot more plastic waste than others. Things like buying digital copies of games, music, and entertainment will save from plastic packages (and wrapping over packages) being eventually thrown away. 

    I can reduce the most in the kitchen, by being more selective about food packaging. I can also make some changes in my art to reduce packaging and other waste. I've started to be more aware of the waste that my art creates (acrylic paints harden into plastics even once down the drain) and will take steps to limit it further. 

  • Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/23/2019 8:30 AM
    Still going strong! I've had a couple of slip ups during the month, but I've recouped my loses by reusing or re-purposing any plastics. 

  • Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/20/2019 9:53 AM
    Oof, I was doing great on this challenge until I was hungry and grabbed some fast food before a movie. Instead of throwing out the plastic cup, lid and straw, I cleaned them and will reuse them for artsy things! Plastics like that are great for painting projects, with lids as tiny paint palettes, cup for water and straw for mixing, streaking watercolors or testing colors before applying. Once they start to outlive their use, I can use them as a base for air dry clay or fairyhouses. 

  • Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/17/2019 9:53 AM
    To be honest the iguana hammock idea is being thrown into question as the iguana already has many many soft things to get comfortable on. Not all is lost though- I'll make it into a flexible ramp instead! 

  • Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/17/2019 9:45 AM
    Cutting down on plastics in a household is tricky when my spouse relies on plastics quite a bit. I've started helping him cut back, and have been reusing things like disposable water bottles that he had previously used. Any ideas on what I can use them for once they outlive their reusability? 

    • Brittany Rollins's avatar
      Brittany Rollins 7/20/2019 9:44 AM
      Wooh! Great ideas, and I have a heat gun too so this definitely works out! 

    • Erica Farrell's avatar
      Erica Farrell 7/17/2019 7:02 PM

    • Erica Farrell's avatar
      Erica Farrell 7/17/2019 7:00 PM
      Check out gigadgets on Instagram. They have an interesting post on using plastic bottles to make furniture repair!!  Not totally sold on the idea but it’s interesting !!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Keep My Community Clean
    How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

    Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/13/2019 12:32 PM
    It keeps the zoo (or my neighborhood) cleaner, which is better for everyone. It makes us look good, and sets a good example for people who come to the zoo to learn about animals and conservation! 

  • Brittany Rollins's avatar
    Brittany Rollins 7/13/2019 12:30 PM
    Okay, I think it's time to commit to the bamboo toothbrushes and refillable soaps. A pretty easy step to take and maintain.