Adam Rinne

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.

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

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.

If possible, I will avoid sending 5 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.

I will pick up 20 piece(s) of litter each day.

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

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

When available, I will purchase clothing and bedding made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

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

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 90 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

I will calculate my ecological footprint, and from the results brainstorm and take action on ways I can reduce my annual footprint.

Throughout its life cycle, polystyrene (styrofoam) can harm people, communities, and the planet. I will refuse styrofoam whenever I can, making sure to kindly let people know why I'm asking for alternative packaging.

I will host or participate in a beach, highway, river, or other cleanup effort in my community.

I will make my environmental actions visible by sharing about them on my social media networks and the Plastic Free Ecochallenge participant feed.

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 120 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.