Amanda Austin

Brandywine Zoo

"I look forward to seeing how I can increase my role in protecting the planet!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
581 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

1.0

community event

hosted or attended
UP TO

7.0

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

202

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

18

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

20

minutes

spent learning

Amanda's actions

Bathroom

Pearly Whites

I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Plastic Free Lunch Boxes

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

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Choose Reusable Food Storage

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

COMPLETED 11
DAILY ACTIONS

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 15 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Learn about Plastic Production

Plastic production, not just disposal, pollutes communities and harms people. I will learn about the impacts of plastic production on humans, animals, communities, and the environment.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Numbers Everywhere

The numbers #1-7 on plastics tell us a lot - and can help us be better recyclers. I will learn what these numbers mean and which types of plastics are accepted for recycling in my area.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 9
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

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

Beyond reducing waste, there are many benefits to packing zero waste lunches (for kids or yourself!). What other benefits have you noticed from this practice?
Amanda Austin 7/25/2023 6:47 AM
Overall I've found that I'm more mindful of what I'm packing for my lunch. Not just utensils but food items as well. I find when I pack more reusable containers, it is correlating with me packing fresh vegetables for snacks and leftover meals instead of freezer meals.

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Amanda Austin 7/12/2023 9:00 AM
In the past year I've made a lot of strides in my sustainable practices so I have less daily check-ins compared to last year. I was so happy I was able to participate in the clean up this year! I do wish there were discussion questions or threads about the actions we've taken since last year, as I'd love to chat about it!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Study

Were you surprised by what the different plastic identification numbers mean? How can this information help you become a better recycler?
Amanda Austin 7/12/2023 8:51 AM
It was fascinating to learn more about the #1 PET plastic especially, since it is easy to recycle but products aren't recommended to be reused since the material is porous and can harbor bacteria. I learned that one of my water bottles is a #1 bottle! I'll be keeping it as a backup and look for a metal bottle instead.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?
Amanda Austin 7/12/2023 8:18 AM
Our household has been slowly swapping out food storage for more sustainable options. We keep pasta jars to use for iced beverages on the go (a great thing to literally throw in a bag and not worry about spills!)

We keep any durable food containers if we do order out to reuse for packing lunches. Lastly, we have been getting less plastic bags for produce at the grocery store and opting to have them "loose" when checking out.

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- Jennifer Klotz 7/12/2023 5:25 PM
  Screw top lids like those on pasta jars are definitely helpful when it comes to traveling. I've come across glass containers with plastic screw caps and can say they are NOT as reliable!
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community

How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
Amanda Austin 7/09/2023 10:42 AM
Seeing the more common items that I'm picking up each day connects me to my community since it is like a snapshot into the lives of others. What items are used more frequently (even if they are being discarded improperly) feels like getting to know the people of my community without having met them.

Picking up trash also connects me to the nature around me and gives me an opportunity to slow down and engage with my senses. I'm listening to the birds, the river, feeling the wind, etc. Knowing that I'm helping remove trash from native habitats connects me to the local wildlife.

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- Jennifer Klotz 7/09/2023 11:05 AM
  I love that this helps connect you to nature in those ways Amanda! I never thought of it that way but it totally makes sense. Why not "be one with nature" while helping it by removing trash? Great observation and perspective.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community

How does working with others to clean up your community make you feel?
Amanda Austin 7/09/2023 10:27 AM
It was wonderful working with others to clean up the park. There was teamwork when larger items were found and fun discussion about who could find the most of a certain item or the largest item, etc. It created a sense of community and made me feel accomplished at the end since I was able to fill an entire garbage bag!

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