Jeremy Block

Donate old handheld electronics for recycling at the zoo's ticket window. Items will be sent to Eco-Cell and funds raised from recycling are donated to support wild gorillas.

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.

I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.

I will use a microfiber catcher in my laundry, or install a microfiber filter for my washing machine.

Throughout its life cycle, polystyrene (styrofoam) can harm people, communities, and the planet. I will refuse styrofoam whenever I can, making sure to kindly let people know why I'm asking for alternative packaging.

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 1 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.

If traveling, I will bring my own snacks and meals in my own containers to avoid the waste of take-out containers.

I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.

I will hang-dry my laundry to use the sun as a natural bleach alternative, or use another natural bleach alternative.

I will participate in at least 1 Clothing Swap event where I bring clothes I no longer wear and trade them with other community members. Any remaining clothes are donated.

I will calculate my ecological footprint, and from the results brainstorm and take action on ways I can reduce my annual footprint.

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

I will spend 25 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

I will spend at least 2 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.

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

I will make my environmental actions visible by sharing about them on my social media networks and the Plastic Free Ecochallenge participant feed.

I will host a watch party with friends and/or colleagues to watch and discuss a movie about plastics.

I will write or sign 1 letters, emails or petitions per day to advocate for plastic-free or planet-friendly policies.

I will make 1 phone call(s) per day to a public official or company to advocate for planet-friendly policies.

I will talk to the owner or manager of a restaurant I frequent to request that they reduce their use of single-use and disposable plastics.

I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.

I will donate 1 zero waste period kits to young people with periods so that they can reduce their waste and the financial burden of menstruation while continuing their education.

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

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 4 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

Come by the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo on Saturday, July 8, 10 am - 1 pm and chat with volunteers from Days for Girls. They will be giving out FREE reusable washable pads (for menstruation and incontinence) and beds for companion animals made by volunteers at the North Florida Sewing Center.