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Anna Wheatley's avatar

Anna Wheatley

Maryland Zoo

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 706 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    26
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    71
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    22
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    21
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    117
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    20
    minutes
    spent learning

Anna's 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 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Swap the Snacks

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

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Go Strawless

I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

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

Kitchen

Use a Reusable Mug

If possible, I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Kitchen

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 1 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 21
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 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Bedroom

Natural Fibers

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family + Pets

Balloons Blow

Although a long-standing festive tradition, balloons are harmful for animals and the environment. I will spend 20 learning about the dangers of balloons and find eco-friendly alternatives to use instead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Kitchen

Skip Plastic Bags

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

COMPLETED 20
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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Join a Cleanup Effort

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

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

Participant Feed

  • 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?

    Anna Wheatley's avatar
    Anna Wheatley 7/23/2023 12:44 PM
    I think an area where missives really makes a difference is when deciding what products to buy and what impact they make on our environment.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Family + Pets
    Had you ever considered the environmental impact of balloons before? How can you share this information with your friends and family to encourage them to avoid balloons, too?

    Anna Wheatley's avatar
    Anna Wheatley 7/04/2023 9:38 AM
    Honestly, I never considered the environmental impact of balloons until I did some research. It is the third most harmful plastic pollutant to wildlife after bags and bottles. We enjoy them for at most a week, but then those balloons end up everywhere- they float or fly from landfill into natural habitats where fish and birds ingest them or are strangled by the ribbons tied to them and they die. Even if a balloon doesn't end up killing an animal, it takes 450 years to decompose. There is really no positive impact from the use of balloons.

    Knowing this now, I will share my newfound knowledge with friends and family and discourage the use of balloons whenever possible. I will offer other forms of entertainment when throwing a party.

  • Anna Wheatley's avatar
    Anna Wheatley 7/01/2023 12:06 PM
    Day 1 goals complete! Is this anyone else's first plastic-free challenge?