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Carol Stephens's avatar

Carol Stephens

ABQ BioPark

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 777 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    5.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    19
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    9.0
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    2.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    16
    zero-waste meals
    consumed

Carol's actions

Community

Write Letters or Emails

I will write 1 letter(s) or email(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly policies.

COMPLETED 2
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 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Back in the Bowl

I will purchase refillable beauty products.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Just Say No

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

COMPLETED 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook a Zero-Plastic Waste Meal

I will prepare 2 meal(s) at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Skip the Straw

I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 9
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

Personal Care

Lather Up

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

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?

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Back in the Bowl
    Why is it so difficult to understand the impacts our purchases and waste have on other people, animals, and places? How might your experience with this challenge impact your future consumption and choices?

    Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/19/2019 9:27 AM
    It's such a joy to not have all the plastic bottles in my bathroom that just get thrown away when empty

  • Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/15/2019 12:09 PM
    Just sent the following email to Cracker Barrel.  I would like to ask you to consider making small changes to you table set up that would make a positive impact on the environment.  Would you please replace the plastic disposable creamers with a small creamer pitcher on the table? Also, please replace the plastic syrup bottles with reuseable containers.   As I’m sure you’ve read plastics in the landfill and oceans are causing a real problem, because they don’t break down for hundreds of years if at all.  If Cracker Barrell would make these small changes, it would really help the environment and probably save you money.  I appreciate your consideration of this suggestion.

    Sincerely,
    Carol Stephens

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Just Say No
    Do some research on polystyrene and polyvinyl. How many items in your house already contain these toxins?

    Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/06/2019 3:24 PM
    It's really hard to say, because it seems like this chemicals are in so many things like shower curtains and flip flops.  It is really hard to avoid these chemicals in today's world.

  • Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/03/2019 12:33 PM
    My grocery shopping focused on less plastic.  I bought cream cheese in foil and cardboard not a plastic cup and I didn't buy Eggland's Best eggs because they use plastic packaging.  
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Skip the Straw
    Have you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.

    Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/02/2019 4:04 PM
    Yes, one restaurant switched to paper straws and another one asked if I wanted a straw instead of just giving me one.  

  • Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/02/2019 3:58 PM
    It's going great.  I saved my single use yogurt cups to start plants for my garden.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care Lather Up
    What are the economic and personal benefits of switching to bar soap/shampoo/conditioner or refillable bottle options?

    Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/01/2019 1:58 PM
    I switched a refillable dispenser in my shower.  I save money, use just the right amount of product, don't have messy bottles on the floor, and really reduce plastics.    

  • Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/01/2019 1:53 PM
    I just sent the following email to a popular chain of 14 restaurants in town asking them to replace their plastic disposable creamers with a porcelain creamer for the table.   
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Write Letters or Emails
    How might thinking creatively help us address big systems problems - like plastic pollution - differently?

    Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/01/2019 1:50 PM
    We have to think differently, because as the saying goes if you keep doing the same thing the same way you'll get the same outcome.  Young people have the most creativity, so we need to include them in the solutions. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Use Reusable Containers
    How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

    Carol Stephens's avatar
    Carol Stephens 7/01/2019 1:24 PM
    I use small glass containers to store my cut vegetables and fruit instead of zip lock bags.