Coalition of North American Zoos and Aquariums

Plastic Free Ecochallenge 2023

July 1 - July 31, 2023

Lydia Roe

NJDEP-SAGE EcoLogicals

"Reduce my impact by educating myself and others, advocating for Earth, and adjusting my habits"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,070 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

47

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

28

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

5.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

5.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

25

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

9.0

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

210

minutes

spent learning

Lydia's actions

Bedroom

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 15 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Raise Money For a Nonprofit

I will raise money to support a nonprofit dedicated to plastic pollution reduction.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Write Letters, Emails or Sign Petitions

I will write or sign 2 letters, emails or petitions per day to advocate for plastic-free or planet-friendly policies.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 30 minutes learning the different meanings the symbol can have.

COMPLETED
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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY 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 5 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Study

Plastic History Buff

Single-use plastics are everywhere, but that wasn't always the case. I will spend at least 20 minutes learning about the history of single-use plastics and how it became ubiquitous in our daily lives.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Support a Sharing Economy

I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Become a Recycling Pro

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 15 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

COMPLETED 3
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 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 2 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 14
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 2 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

Bathroom

Pearly Whites

I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn about Environmental Justice

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 15 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

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?
Lydia Roe 7/31/2023 8:51 AM
I think a compelling argument for reusable utensils, other than the environmental perspective, is that they're more effective and stronger than almost all disposable utensils! It's much easier to cut a bite of tomato with a metal fork than a plastic one! Even on the go, carrying a small pouch of utensils is manageable, and you get the benefit of knowing exactly where that utensil has been (as opposed to the large grab bins that plastic utensils are often dispensed). With the effectiveness and germ-control arguments, I think that may invite more people into reducing plastic use regarding utensils.

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- Kathleen Hitchner 7/31/2023 4:24 PM
  Lydia, you do make some great arguments. For all the reasons you point out, I prefer bringing and using my own metal silverware. It's not a hassle at all to bring them along, wash them and reuse them.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community

How might thinking creatively help us address big systems problems - like plastic pollution - differently?
Lydia Roe 7/31/2023 6:10 AM
Scientists have wondered for years, if not decades, how to solve global issues like climate change and plastics. If there was an easy solution, I believe we would have found it by now; usual techniques to communicate aren't creating viable solutions politically and socially. Because of how personal resources and lifestyle choices are, many people are too comfortable to want to change. The issues facing our world are terrifying and not-so-visual. To the non-scientist, these problems are abstract and easy to avoid thinking about. These factors lend themselves to environmental science as a social science/humanity and not just a traditional, "hard" science.

It's difficult to hear about the problem, let alone try to imagine a solution. I think a lot of individuals are hoping for top-down (government) regulations to solve the problem so that they don't have to attempt to solve it themselves. However, many existential threats (slavery, civil rights, etc) or social problems (drunk driving) require bottom-up (grassroots) organization and efforts. Many people are so discouraged by the scale of the problem that we don't believe we can make any impact. I think empowering individuals and educating people can help shift attitudes from scared and disengaged to motivated and confident. We all add up, and the same is true of our actions as they ripple through our social circles.

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- Kathleen Hitchner 7/31/2023 5:03 PM
  What a profound post, Lydia. Thanks for sharing it with us.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community

What have you learned about what is accepted by local haulers for recycling, what you can drop off or ship to certain places, and what is not recyclable in your area? What is the most difficult part of recycling for you?
Lydia Roe 7/31/2023 6:00 AM
The recycling symbols can be misleading for many consumers unless they've specifically looked into the issue. The triangular arrows themselves don't mean recyclable-- only that it's made of plastic... which I think we all could have realized an item is made of plastic. The 1 (bottles, jugs) & 2 plastics are likely accepted by your municipality, and 5 (yogurt containers, take out clamshells) is also commonly accepted. At certain stores, 4's (like grocery bags, thin films) can be dropped off for recycling. Styrofoam can sometimes be dropped off at parcel stores for reuse or recycle.

The most difficult part of recycling for me is the contamination. Food and moisture must be removed from plastics in order for them to properly go through the process. Additionally, any non-recyclable plastics can contaminate a whole batch of recycling which can mess up machinery and decrease efficiency. I think that supporting more recycling education and continuing conversations about how to reduce disposal in general can help the issues with recycling as well.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Study

What did you learn about your ecological footprint by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you? What are some ways you will take action to reduce your footprint?
Lydia Roe 7/28/2023 11:23 AM
I learned that my impact is much higher than I would've expected: 5.2 Earths if we all lived like I do. Not surprisingly, my highest impacting sectors were shelter and transportation. There's not a lot I can do to reduce my transportation emissions since it's at least 80% work commute, but my motivation to invest in renewable electricity is renewed! (pun intended!) I retook the quiz: if I can increase my home's electric source to 60% more renewables, the new Earth calculation is 4.5! I was impressed with how large of an impact that makes, and that fact encouraged me to start a conversation with my landlord (my mom) about switching to a higher percentage of renewable energy!

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Lydia Roe 7/28/2023 7:00 AM
This month has been such a rewarding and eye-opening challenge. I was out of town for 18/31 days, which put this challenge on hard-mode! With the prompts I chose, I was able to take actions most days even when I was visiting remote locations or new cities. I'm proud of my efforts and excited to see how much greener of an impact I can make!

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- Lydia Roe 8/01/2023 5:19 AM
  Thank you Dominique and Kathleen! I try my best! Definitely missed a handful of check-ins, but kept up the actions as best I could :)
  
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- Kathleen Hitchner 7/31/2023 5:13 PM
  You're an inspiration, Lydia! Thanks for considering the environment amidst your fun!
  
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- Dominique Hunt 7/28/2023 7:49 AM
  Nice job for sticking to it even on vacation! 🎊
  
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Lydia Roe 7/28/2023 7:00 AM
This month has been such a rewarding and eye-opening challenge. I was out of town for 18/31 days, which put this challenge on hard-mode! With the prompts I chose, I was able to take actions most days even when I was visiting remote locations or new cities. I'm proud of my efforts and excited to see how much greener of an impact I can make!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Community

How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?
Lydia Roe 7/12/2023 11:17 AM
Picking up litter makes me feel more connected to my community and the land I occupy. I feel more responsible and grateful for outdoor spaces. It reminds me of the concept of becoming native to a place (from Robin Wall-Kimerer's Braiding Sweetgrass). Caring for my environment/surroundings makes me feel like my relationship to the land is reciprocal, rather than a one-way relationship where I seek to gain at the land's expense. I know it's a small step, but a baby step is infinitely more progress than none. Hey, maybe my coworkers will catch on during our daily walks, or my friends/family when we're at parks!

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- Lydia Roe 7/12/2023 12:56 PM
  Tonia, yes! I loved Robin's telling of her/Native American's creation story. Such a beautiful example of interconnectedness and reciprocity! Also, the audiobook is fantastic, esp since it's narrated by Robin. If you ever want to have book-club-type discussions, let me know! It's one of my favorite books.
  
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- Tonia w 7/12/2023 12:32 PM
  I’m listening to Braiding Sweetgrass right now on audiobook; it is wonderful! I especially love the creation story of Sky Woman, how she’s helped and supported by the animals after her fall, and how she in turn helps them by planting the seeds from her sky home on Turtle Island.
  
  I’m really fascinated by the stories and myths our society tells itself, and how they shape our values and the way we see, think about and interact with the world, whether we're aware of it or not.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Study

How has learning about the history of single-use plastic shifted your mindset on plastics and their function within society?
Lydia Roe 7/11/2023 6:23 AM
From my research into plastics, I was surprised how recently and how quickly plastics exploded in popularity. Though they were invented in the mid-late 1800's to reduce the reliance on ivory products and elephant poaching, plastics reached mainstream American culture after WWII. The industry of plastics boomed during the war by making supplies for troops due to its lightweight, waterproof, durable material. When the war ended, a household-based magazine marketed plastics as a disposable product to people (especially housewives) as a way to reduce chores. The fact that it so little marketing to spark decades of demand speaks to the convenience and appeal of plastics, and it demonstrates how difficult it will be to incentivize behavioral and industrial change.

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- Lydia Roe 7/12/2023 12:58 PM
  Rachel, oh smart to connect the issue to landfills! I need to educate myself more on the history of garbage/landfills/disposable culture too.
  
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- Rachel Darley 7/11/2023 10:52 AM
  I've been thinking of something similar to that.. I need to do more reading up on this, regarding the onset of our "throw-away" mentality and when did landfills become such an integral part of our society.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Kitchen

How can you think outside the box (or bag!) when it comes to disposables?
Lydia Roe 7/10/2023 9:50 AM
Avoiding plastic/disposable storage is a creative challenge. Ziplocks are by far the most convenient and familiar, but I've had positive experiences with Bees' Wrap. It's thin cloth coated in bees' wax so it's moldable to different bowls/containers. They're washable and reusable after a bit of dish soap. It's a genius product imo!

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- Kathleen Hitchner 7/19/2023 10:48 PM
  Someone gave me beeswax wraps in different sizes as a gift years ago. It is so ingenious, and before that, I had never heard of it.
  
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- Louisa Lubiak 7/10/2023 1:06 PM
  Bees' Wrap sounds like a great idea. Can I get that at a grocery store?
  
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Lydia Roe 6/30/2023 11:27 AM
Let's go! Tomorrow is the day!

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