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Pamela Spyrs 7/27/2023 12:03 AM
Sonya Kougasian
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,255 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO44disposable cupsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO33plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO43minutesspent learning
Sonya's actions
Kitchen
Use a Reusable Mug
If possible, I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.
Kitchen
Skip Plastic Bags
When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.
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.
Kitchen
Plant a Garden
I will plant an herb or vegetable garden using as little plastic as possible and to save from the plastic used buying herbs and veggies.
Kitchen
Try a New Recipe
I will try new recipe(s) or food preparation method(s) each day, such as canning, pickling, making yogurt, or baking granola bars or bread.
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).
Community
Join a Cleanup Effort
I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.
Community
Host a Watch Party
I will host a watch party with friends and/or colleagues to watch and discuss a movie about plastics.
Bedroom
Eco Detergent
I will use laundry detergent that is packaged in glass or aluminum, or an alternative like soap nuts.
Bedroom
Practice Sustainable Fashion
I will spend 10 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.
Study
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.
Study
Estimate Your Ecological Footprint
I will calculate my ecological footprint, and from the results brainstorm and take action on ways I can reduce my annual footprint.
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.
Study
Follow the Chasing Arrows
The chasing arrows symbol we associate with recycling doesn't always actually mean something is recyclable. I will spend at least 10 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.
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.
Study
Dig into Bioplastics
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.
Study
Plastic History Buff
Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.
Family + Pets
Discover Together
I will spend 10 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.
Family + Pets
Sustainable Suds: Pet Edition
I will replace my pet's shampoo with an eco-friendly shampoo bar or refillable shampoo option.
Family + Pets
Balloons Blow
Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 10 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.
Community
Tour A Waste Management Facility
I will spend at least 10 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.
Community
Research Local Waste Sites
I will spend 5 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.
Participant Feed
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Sonya Kougasian 7/26/2023 4:39 AMI recently purchased oats from the bulk section of my grocery store. I filled a plain brown paper lunch bag rather than using a plastic container, which I can reuse the next time I need to purchase oats. This also avoided the hybrid (mixed-material) packaging that most oat/oatmeal canisters are made of. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchenHow can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?
Sonya Kougasian 7/25/2023 1:22 PMThough I'm sure it would feel a little awkward at first, why not try bringing a reusable container when dining out? I know for myself, I almost always bring home leftovers, and unfortunately many restaurants still only offer polystyrene to-go containers. This is something I would like to try the next time I go out to eat. -
Sonya Kougasian 7/25/2023 1:01 PMToday I watched a video by YouTuber "Shelbizleee" regarding sustainable fashion and the concept of clothing "recycling." Many fast fashion brands will greenwash consumers into thinking the company is sustainable because they offer clothing "recycling;" however, it is estimated that 11.3 million tons of textiles are still landfilled every year. Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVLTwMStbAM.-
Pamela Spyrs 7/27/2023 12:03 AM
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REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchenHow do you feel about being more involved in the food preparation process? Joyful, overwhelmed, engaged, empowered? What are the benefits of choosing to process or produce your own food instead of buying it pre-processed?
Sonya Kougasian 7/17/2023 5:24 AMOn a Sunday afternoon I will often prepare a big batch of black beans and corn or a pasta dish to have for meals throughout the week. It is actually very relaxing to do. I will play some music or have a tv show or YouTube video playing in the background. It is also extremely cost-effective, with one serving costing less than $1. -
Sonya Kougasian 7/12/2023 9:04 AMEven though it can be difficult to entirely avoid plastic when it comes to food packaging, we can still make an impact by transporting individual servings in reusable containers rather than using single-use plastic containers or bags.-
Pamela Spyrs 7/13/2023 2:40 PM
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Sonya Kougasian 7/11/2023 12:26 PMOne of my pet peeves is plastic snack bags. Instead I try my best to stick with reusable storage containers. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchenHow difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?
Sonya Kougasian 7/10/2023 10:10 AMLuckily I live in a place where most plastic shopping bags have been banned. Though it was an adjustment at first, bringing my own reusable bags is now second nature. -
Sonya Kougasian 7/10/2023 3:47 AMThe thing that I struggle with the most is plastic used in food packaging. Though I try to avoid convenience foods as much as possible, plastic is also heavily used to package frozen and shelf-stable meal-prep staples. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONKitchenSince the restrictions that COVID-19 has required of our society, trying to use your own cup might present new barriers, as well as new opportunities for creative problem solving. How were you able to achieve success on this action? How can you make it a long-term habit?
Sonya Kougasian 7/06/2023 1:30 PMRather than purchase my daily coffee ready-made, I take advantage of the coffee machine at work and also make my own coffee at home. This allows me the freedom to continue to use my own reusable mugs and cups.-
Pamela Spyrs 7/13/2023 2:42 PM
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