Skip to main content
alex lui's avatar

alex lui

NCMNS-Ecochallenge

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 406 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    13
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    5.0
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    8.0
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    15
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    15
    minutes
    spent learning

alex's actions

Study

Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 2 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Research Local Waste Sites

I will spend 30 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn about Environmental Justice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 30 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Advocate for Office Reusables

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Advocate for Plastic-Free Dining

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Catch Those Microfibers

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

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

Bedroom

Sunshine Bleached

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Bedroom

Ditch Dryer Sheets

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 0
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 6
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Go Strawless

I will keep 3 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Bathroom

Homemade or Refillable Cleaners

I will make my own cleaning products or choose plastic-free, refillable options.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 2 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Bathroom

Green Beauty

When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

DIY Cat Litter

I will swap out my cat's litter for sawdust, mulch, or dirt with baking soda.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Thoughtful Toys

I will only buy cloth, wooden or plant-based natural rubber toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Thrifty Pets

I will find secondhand sources for my pet's water/food dishes, collars or leashes.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

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

Kitchen

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Family + Pets

Homemade Pet Treats

I will prepare my own pet treats to avoid plastic packaging.

COMPLETED 0
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 5
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    Besides having access to fresh herbs and vegetables, what benefits will you see from growing your own garden?

    alex lui's avatar
    alex lui 7/04/2023 7:42 PM
    This looks like a good project I have been contemplating for a while just to kill time and keep myself busy. Now with addition of eco-challenge to avoid plastic, this project certainly has higher priority in my todo list.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    Do an inventory of your kitchen to see how many single-use plastics you've used in the past. What are some resuable alternatives to these commonly used products? What would your impact be if you switched all the single-use products from your inventory to reusable?

    alex lui's avatar
    alex lui 7/04/2023 7:33 PM
    This seems quite challenging for preparing my family dinner without using ingredients which are totally free from single use plastic product:
    Some of our main ingredients for our dinner are Tofu, meat, vegs, ... etc which are mostly wrapped in plastic.
    I could go to the butcher shop to get meat wrapped in paper, maybe pick up vegs from store without using plastic wrap.
    Hmm, it involves a change in shopping habit. Will give a try one day.

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom
    The simple act of hang drying your laundry can be an act of mindfulness. Where else in your daily routine can you make mindfulness a practice?

    alex lui's avatar
    alex lui 7/03/2023 12:25 PM
    Besides drying the work out clothing (eg. towels) in the sun, we sometimes place the package of oats/flours out in the sun to prolong its shelf live.

    • Nancy Locquet Absillis's avatar
      Nancy Locquet Absillis 7/08/2023 11:15 AM
      Interesting, I'm not sure if we can do this, given that we have plenty of invertebrates who would like to "taste" it :-). I'll try it, making sure that it's covered. Thanks for the tip!!
  • 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?

    alex lui's avatar
    alex lui 7/01/2023 7:12 PM
    Tried to fix up today's lunch with some left over from last night rather than ordering take out. Aside from reducing plastic waste, having left over seems to save time/effort and less likely for it to be thrown out as trash.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    How does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies benefit your family?

    alex lui's avatar
    alex lui 7/01/2023 6:54 PM
    I try to change my habit to consume fresh fruits (like banana, orange and watermelon) before and after my work out rather than granular bars or Gatorade bottle.