Louisa Lubiak
7/17/2023 2:57 PM
I could be composting my vegetable waste instead of throwing it in the trash.
July 1 - July 31, 2023
Louisa Lubiak
"Creating the future by making today's dreams tomorrow's reality"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,300 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO25plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO230minutesspent learning
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
Louisa's actions
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.
Kitchen
Minimize Packaging
I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.
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
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.
Kitchen
Skip Plastic Bags
When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.
Community
Become a Recycling Pro
Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 30 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.
Community
Tour A Waste Management Facility
I will spend at least 30 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.
Participant Feed
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Louisa Lubiak 7/31/2023 5:44 PMThis Ecochallenge has reminded me of the reasons why I opt to choose sustainable habits over simple-minded convenience. Sometimes I need a reminder why I should go thru the trouble of purchasing whole heads of lettuce & bunches of mature greens with soil clinging to the roots & stems, instead of getting the pre-washed baby greens packed in the plastic "clamshell" boxes. -
Louisa Lubiak 7/31/2023 5:27 PMIt was great having 8 Teams at NJDEP participate in this Plastic Free Ecochallenge! -
Louisa Lubiak 7/27/2023 9:38 AMKatie’s virtual tour of a recycling facility today was fascinating!-
David Harris 7/27/2023 11:13 AMYes. And knowing what your local/regional recycling facility can recycle reduces the amount of trash going into our landfills. -
Victoria Hyland 7/27/2023 10:40 AM
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REFLECTION QUESTIONStudyWhat did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?
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Louisa Lubiak 7/16/2023 5:07 PMMy dentist has me doing Invisalign to correct the misalignment of my teeth. Unfortunately, this means I have plastic in my mouth for the duration of the treatment, and the plastic "trays" are not recyclable. Bummer!-
Kathleen Hitchner 7/19/2023 10:25 PMDon't fret, Louisa - many plastics in the medical field are a necessary evil, and even life-saving in some instances. We'll focus on what WE can change.
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Louisa Lubiak 7/15/2023 1:38 PMI learned that TerraCycle accepts contact lenses & blister packs, but I only wear contacts every now & then.-
Kathleen Hitchner 7/19/2023 10:28 PMI'm in the same boat. I found a business on the TerraCycle website near where I live that accepts these. It wasn't until I started collecting them for recycling that I realized how much plastic I had been discarding that I should have been recycling. And I only wear lenses about once a week.
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Louisa Lubiak 7/14/2023 4:53 PMI get these unwanted newspaper-like advertisements & coupons that appear in my mailbox every week. I put them right in the recycle bin but I could do without them showing up in the first place. -
Louisa Lubiak 7/13/2023 5:39 AMMy trusty old fridge is on the fritz! Had to throw out a Zip-Lock bag of mushy slimy banana chunks because the freezer is not cold enough. Repairman is coming today to replace the defrost circuit.-
Kathleen Hitchner 7/19/2023 10:34 PMSorry to hear of your fridge troubles, Louisa. But thanks for sharing that because many folks don't know that household appliances can be repaired. Our society is so steeped in the "toss and buy a new one" mentality, and I think more people would repair things if they knew how or knew they could be.
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Louisa Lubiak 7/11/2023 6:34 PMIt’s day 2 of my weeklong personal waste audit & it looks like much of my waste stream is composed of toilet paper!-
Kathleen Hitchner 7/19/2023 10:42 PM
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Louisa Lubiak 7/10/2023 1:04 PM"Know what sparks the light in you. Then use that light to illuminate the world." ~Oprah Winfrey