Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Waste
Use Reusable Bags
I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Waste
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
I will keep 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.
COMPLETED 8
DAILY ACTIONS
Transportation
Use Public Transit
I will use public transit 15 mile(s) each day and avoid sending up to 6.13 lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.
COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS
Waste
Choose Two-Sided Printing
I will save up to .21 lbs (.09 kg) of paper each day by switching from one-sided printing to two-sided.
COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS
Water
Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants
I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Transportation
Work from Home
I will work from home 1 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.
COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION
Participant Feed
Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
REFLECTION
QUESTION
WasteSkip the Straw
How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?
It takes the average worker in the United States 26 minutes to travel to work. One way to fix long commutes would be to make cities more affordable. An even simpler option: promote the use of telework. Are you in an industry that would allow you to work from home? What are some obstacles you might find yourself facing while working from home?
Fortunate to have this option available to me at my work. Tip: set up your workspace so your more likely to stay focused. Save the planet, and enjoy some quiet time too!
The US spends roughly 20% of its federal budget on defense. In contrast, 2% goes to education, 20% goes to social security and 3% goes to transportation infrastructure. Do these numbers surprise you at all? Why or why not?
While water bottles serve an important role in places for health and safety, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. Can you identify the barriers in making this a new habit? How can you set yourself up for success in making this a permanent change?
I have fully embraced the "say no to plastic" approach. The reuseable water bottle is an easy change and a great start...but don't stop there! Say no to straws!
