Kristin Ruth

I will give my pets natural alternatives to toys like femur bones and antlers, canvas, natural rubber, hemp, rope or cotton toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!

I will swap out my single use plastic bags for a pooper-scooper.

Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 2 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

I will use a rubber glove to remove pet hair from clothes, carpets and furniture.

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.

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

I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 120 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

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

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

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

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

If traveling, I will bring my own snacks and meals in my own containers to avoid the waste of take-out containers.

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

I will pick up 15 piece(s) of litter each day.

I will only pack reusable cutlery, drinkware and containers in my family's lunches to reduce plastic waste.