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Katherine Martin's avatar

Katherine Martin

Maryland Zoo

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 666 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    121
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    66
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    169
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Katherine's actions

Kitchen

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

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

COMPLETED 13
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 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 10 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 12
DAILY ACTIONS

Bathroom

Homemade or Refillable Cleaners

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

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

Clean Plate Club

When I need to replace my dish soap, I will switch to a bar or refillable option.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Kitchen

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

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).

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Go Strawless

I will keep 6 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Swap the Snacks

I will swap out 10 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Minimize Packaging

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed


  • Katherine Martin's avatar
    Katherine Martin 7/21/2023 12:25 PM
    With minimal plastic pkging at purchase and reuse of those we do get, bread bags, yogurt container plus composting, we generate a very small bag of trash per week.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Bedroom
    Often, single-use and disposable products don't just create more trash - they also contain toxins that are bad for humans. What are some other single-use items that are harmful to humans?

    Katherine Martin's avatar
    Katherine Martin 7/21/2023 12:22 PM
    Haven't used dryer aheets for decades. Never really understood the need.
    I goingvto do more outdoor air drying to conserve energy.

    • Alyssa Miller's avatar
      Alyssa Miller 7/24/2023 6:20 AM
      I've never really used dryer sheets either! They always seemed a little silly to me.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?

    Katherine Martin's avatar
    Katherine Martin 7/21/2023 12:20 PM
    Buy largest container size.
    Most 1 use containers, plastic or paper can be used in gardening, starting & protecting plants, small rain collectors, ...
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    How can you be an advocate for using reusables instead of disposables for the rest of your community? Where are they currently dependent on disposable food packaging or eating utensils, and how can you convince them of the need for change?

    Katherine Martin's avatar
    Katherine Martin 7/21/2023 12:17 PM
    Some samples at Costco use plastic forks/spoons. I will write to corporate and ask they only demo items not needing plastic.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    How does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies benefit your family?

    Katherine Martin's avatar
    Katherine Martin 7/21/2023 12:15 PM
    More nutritious and easier when home. A bit more clean up when on the go.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Kitchen
    With the added mindfulness of reducing your packaging, what have you noticed about the amount and type of single use plastics used for packaging when you shop in the grocery store?

    Katherine Martin's avatar
    Katherine Martin 7/21/2023 12:13 PM
    Each store sells produce in different bagsim seeing more no bag or paper/bix only options; cellophane, plastic or no bags.

  • Katherine Martin's avatar
    Katherine Martin 7/16/2023 5:09 AM
    Too hot to cook, eating more fruits & raw veggies.

  • Katherine Martin's avatar
    Katherine Martin 7/12/2023 12:35 PM
    Grocer shopping trip with only plastic container for yogurt.
    Hmmm, is cellophane plastic based?

    Visit to Orchard that uses paper bags!! Of course, I took reusable

  • Katherine Martin's avatar
    Katherine Martin 7/11/2023 7:38 AM
    Going great. With intent, I go to the store specifically to purchase without plastic wrap. I have also been composting. I have reduced our 'landfill' trash to 1 small bag per week for a 2 person household.