Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2019

July 1 - July 31, 2019

Sally W

"Conservation is a positive exercise of skill and insight, not merely a negative exercise of abstinence and caution. -Aldo Leopold "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
955 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

5.0

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

community events

hosted or attended
UP TO

220

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

1.0

documentary

watched
UP TO

7.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

45

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1.0

waste audit

conducted

Sally's actions

Create Your Own Action

work place challenge

I will work with a team of employees to create a sustainability policy that includes waste reduction, including plastics. I picked this challenge because, as a municipal government entity, we should be examples for the citizens we serve.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Lifestyle

Support a Sharing Economy

I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Community

Host a House Party

I will host a house party with friends and/or colleagues to watch a movie or present a guest speaker on plastics.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Minimize Packaging

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

COMPLETED 16
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Plant a Garden

I will plant an herb or vegetable garden in my home, workplace, or community garden

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Pets

Thrifty Pets

I will purchase my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes from the thrift store.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Naked Bins

I will either line my trash cans with repurposed newspaper or paper bags, or I will not line my trash cans at all.

COMPLETED 24
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Sally W 7/31/2019 1:58 PM
This was deluxe. Many thanks to Kim for organizing us!

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- Kim Harris 7/31/2019 4:12 PM
  Thanks, Sally, and thanks to Kristen who did at least as much organizing!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community

How does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?
Sally W 7/29/2019 1:40 PM
It was really fun working with campers and co workers to pick up trash around Rattlesnake Creek today. Of course it makes me feel good to help clean up trash- working with the group made it even better.

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Sally W 7/28/2019 4:32 PM
How did the PRCA cleanup go? Sorry I missed it! I did my own University Ave litter pick up Friday evening with the dog :)

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- Kathleen Walston Pagan 7/29/2019 12:47 PM
  Thanks to the 7 dedicated people! Working in the rain is really commitment! Like Sally I regularly pick up litter while walking my dog.
  
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- Kristen Bryant 7/29/2019 5:07 AM
  It was really great! # city Departments were represented and also members of the community came. /we got a little soggy with the rain, but managed to clean up from the Waldo Rd Walmart to 23rd Ave!
  
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- Kim Harris 7/28/2019 4:42 PM
  It was not just PRCA; it was open to all Gainesville teams. There were 7 of us, working out in the rain mostly, but we got 23 blocks of Waldo Road cleaned up and had fun! Kristen posted some photos yesterday; you can scroll down in the feed to see them.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle

What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?
Sally W 7/28/2019 4:29 PM
This was only a week-long audit but paying careful attention to my waste habits just for one week was valuable. Transparency here:

-My recycle bins are full. Only two pieces of plastic mixed with the aluminum and glass (which includes overflow from last week when I had house guests). I only take my bins out when they are full so the paper bin was two weeks in the making
-Pet waste equaled about a twelve pack and six pack of card board box of cans worth (I use the cardboard boxes to house the waste)
-Compost-about a gallon. This is an area I need to work on. There were several items I put in there that were not scraps but food I let go bad. I can be more mindful in this department!
-Plastic trash- one little brown bag worth. See image. Not perfect but not bad. Room for improvement and this was just a tiny snapshot. I will do this again just to keep myself on track. Cheers.

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Sally W 7/27/2019 4:39 PM
Waste audit update- You think you are aware until you really audit. The practice of the audit is beneficial regarding awareness and behavior, essentially promoting mindfulness. My eco challenge "action" ends Sunday but I think I might audit every week to keep myself in check!

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Sally W 7/27/2019 4:29 PM
Hey G'ville doggie friends- Earth Pets offers dog treats in bulk. I bring my own paper or mesh bag to load up when I shop for dog cookies. I know I should be baking treats at home but life is not in that place right now (step by step). Until then...Earth Pets for the win.

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Sally W 7/26/2019 6:45 AM
I started my waste audit this week on Monday- As I designate my waste to trash, recycle, compost, reuse, etc. I can't help but wonder how the accumulation would have been different had I completed an audit before this challenge. I was aware and made efforts before but this challenge has helped me improve quite a bit!

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- Kim Harris 7/27/2019 7:38 AM
  A waste audit is challenging to do, but it will make a real impression on you to see exactly what you're putting in the trash and recycling. Good for you Sally! Knowledge is power!
  
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Sally W 7/25/2019 2:50 PM
Can anyone offer advice based on personal experience with alternative kitty litter concoctions? Dos/Don'ts When I was fostering kittens shredded news paper with shavings was great but the cat that I recently inherited is a super pooper. I have read about options but it is nice to hear from someone who has had success. Thanks in advance!

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- Kim Harris 7/27/2019 7:39 AM
  Thanks for the question, Sally, and the suggestion, Windy. I will need to check that out. I use World's Best currently.
  
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- Windy Wood 7/26/2019 6:44 AM
  I use Game Bird Breeder Crumbles(FRM brand) from the Alachua Feed and Seed. It's a non-medicated corn crumble very similar to "World's Best Cat Litter", but much cheaper and you would be supporting a locally owned and operated business ($20 for 50 lbs). It clumps, but not quite as well as some of the commercially marketed litters. It's much better for kitties than the clay litters.
  
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Sally W 7/24/2019 3:25 PM
I vote an August Water-Wise Ecochallenge to compliment this one-which is pretty great.

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- Kim Harris 7/25/2019 5:22 PM
  Have you been to EcoChallenge.org? They have a challenge coming up in October that has a water component. Or you could start your own challenge! (in your copious free time)
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Pets

How does buying used differ from buying new? How does each purchasing decision make you feel?
Sally W 7/17/2019 2:42 PM
I love buying used. Most of my clothing, furniture, décor, etc have been purchased from thrift and antique stores/estate sales. The art that I do is mostly generated from curbside finds or other trash I gather or accumulate myself (and with the help of some folks who back my crazy ways). I know it's not a plastic creation but the attached image is made from "trash" I had around. It feels good, whether purchasing needs/wants or creating, to find an extended purpose for something...and spend less money than I would have otherwise if I purchased new!

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