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Welcome to Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023 expert in no time!

Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums
Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023
July 1 - July 31, 2023
Deb Cook's avatar

Deb Cook

ABQ BioPark

"Continue learning to do better for our planet. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,786 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    67
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    19
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    5.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    589
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    52
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    25
    minutes
    spent learning

Deb's actions

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Travel Eating

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

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

Bathroom

Pearly Whites

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Skip Plastic Bags

When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Plastic Free Lunch Boxes

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

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Advocate For Better Food Packaging

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Advocate for Office Reusables

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Study
    Were you surprised by what the different plastic identification numbers mean? How can this information help you become a better recycler?
    Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/31/2023 1:30 PM
    I've known that different numbers on plastics indicate the type of plastic it is. I will do a better job of identifying which plastics are recycled in my area and make a concerted effort to use those if I must use plastics.
    It's a great thing that I use my own grocery bags 95% of the time (I'm human...) as #4 plastic is not easily recycled and most city waste services do not pick them up curbside.
    Read More
  • Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/31/2023 6:39 AM
    This is it Folks! What are you going to do today to ensure a better tomorrow ?
    I am going to adhere to my No-Drive Sundays. Taking one day a week from driving saves gas, forgoes the temptation of buying anything (especially things I don't need) and it helps me reclaim my sanity/calmness/focus.
    Read More
  • Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/30/2023 9:13 PM
    Tomorrow is it, the last day of the month! I truly hope each of you have had the chance to examine and adjust your plastic consumption a bit. I really like the produce at one particular store however, nearly everything is wrapped in plastic. Just a marketing thing I suppose and I will cut back drastically on purchasing that produce. Bummer.

    I am an individual. Add all the individuals on our team, participating in this challenge, care a little about our planet and that number is an amazing amount of folks that can change the status quo!

    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    What are some of the cases you could make to an employer for why switching to durable dishes and utensils is actually in their best interest as well?
    Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/30/2023 9:06 PM
    The switch to durable utensils and dishes to me is a no brainer: less trash, more ownership of personal behaviors, sets a positive president to prospective investors/employees & stakeholders in general. Ultimately, it will lower overhead costs as well.
    Read More
  • Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/29/2023 4:45 PM
    According to the 2020 National Litter Study by Keep America Beautiful, roadway litter is down 54% from 2009. Yeah! However the study counted 50 BILLION pieces of (roadway & next to waterways) litter. Of that litter, just over 38% was plastic of some sort.
    I am doing my part & I will strive to do better. How about you?
    Read More
    • Laurie Lacey's avatar
      Laurie Lacey 7/30/2023 1:11 PM
      Always working on litter! Insidious problem that it is. The wind here in the spring wreaks havoc with plastic bags, in particular, and when they get stuck in some cholla, it isn’t an easy fix.
      Read More
  • Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/28/2023 8:53 AM
    Happy Friday everyone!
    Home stretch and I will pick up more trash than I already have. The winds of New Mexico make trash pick up possible where ever I am :-)
    Read More
  • Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/27/2023 8:06 AM
    Just a few more days left! I have found myself looking at food packaging with more scrutiny and have come to the conclusion, there's way too much plastic!!!
    I hope to turn this scrutiny into a habit of looking for the least packaging possible.
    Read More
    • Vera Rhee's avatar
      Vera Rhee 7/27/2023 8:20 PM
      I agree with you! I bought at cartoon of juice today instead of plastic.
      Read More
  • Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/25/2023 7:42 AM
    We all do what we can!!!
    Read More
  • Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/23/2023 4:03 PM
    Happy Sunday folks!
    It's the start of a new week with new intentions. I resolve to not to purchase any produce with plastic packaging. What's your main intention this week?
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    Was this action easy or difficult to do? How did it change your travel experience?
    Deb Cook's avatar
    Deb Cook 7/23/2023 4:01 PM
    This action was moderately easy to do as I have done this many times before. I do spend a little more time packing however it's worth it knowing what's in my snacks. Plus eating out is really expensive and generally high in sodium which is one element I do watch.
    Read More