RADHIKA AWASTHI is participating in the 2019 People's Ecochallenge!

Ecochallenge.org

2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

"Create a better tomorrow!"

RADHIKA's points

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
507 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.1

pounds

food waste prevented
UP TO

6.0

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1.0

advocacy action

completed
UP TO

12

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

1.0

tree

planted
UP TO

45

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

8.0

hours

volunteered
UP TO

465

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

18

zero-waste meals

consumed
UP TO

6.4

pounds of CO2

have been saved

RADHIKA's actions

High Impact Action Track

Zero-Waste Cooking

Food

I will cook 3 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Advocate For More Food Packaging Options

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Recycle Everything I Can

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

I will enjoy 1 meatless meal(s) and/or 1 vegan meal(s) each day this week.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

I will plant native species, landscape with water-efficient plants, and use eco-friendly fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Take Control

Both systemic and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Fix Leaky Faucets

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day by installing a low-flow showerhead.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

High Impact Action Track

Plant Trees

Nature

I will plant 1 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

High Impact Action Track

Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns

Health

I will spend 5 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Audit Toxic Cleaning Products in my Home

I will spend 5 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health

Support Pollution Reduction

I will spend at least 5 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Volunteer in my Community

I will volunteer 8 hour(s) in my community during the challenge.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

What do you do if you find yourself in the situation of needing a bag for items but don't have a reusable one with you? Carry things out in your hands? In a cart? Accept a disposable one? If you find yourself in this position often, what system could you put in place to try to create a successful habit of not using plastic bags?
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/22/2019 10:09 PM

I would try to carry those items in my hand if I am not carrying a resuable bag, however, I always make sure I carry my own bag when I go to a store to pick up stuff. Also, in the worst case, I wouldnt mind leaving back few items and coming back again with a resuable bag to carry my stuff home.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

While water bottles are needed for health and safety in certain places, we can do more to reduce the unnecessary use of them. What are the barriers to you using reusable bottles and tap water instead of bottled water? How could you make this a permanent habit?
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/22/2019 10:08 PM

I carry a bottle wherever I go and with this I make sure I dont end up buying bottled water and accumulating to the waste that gets into the environment.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

Fixing leaky faucets is one of the tasks that we can easily put off until later. Good job on completing this action! How will you use the momentum from completing this action to increase your water efficiency in other ways?
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/22/2019 10:07 PM

I always practice to keep the water tap closed when not in use. I have reduced the overall water speed throughout my house so that it is spent judiciously. I try to educate the maids about water conservation as well.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

How can your region/household prepare for changing water situations in order to become more resilient?
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/22/2019 10:05 PM

Re-usage of water, say the water that the water filter removes in order to filter fresh water, could be used for the usual mopping of houses and other cleaning purposes, could be used for watering plants, cleaning your vehicles etc.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/16/2019 9:59 PM

irresponsible disposal of garbage, use of plastics, heavily polluting vehicles, release of toxic substances into rivers and lakes thereby damaging the ecosystem, are few of the many concerns that affect the planet according to me.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
High Impact Action Track

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/16/2019 9:57 PM

This morning, I went to my balcony to take a walk and have a look at the plants around, and I was happy to see saplings coming around every big plant, which I am thinking of transferring into separate pots after they grow an extent and share it among my neighbors. It is such a happy feeling when you see your plants blooming and it is better feeling when you share it. Most importantly, the plants that I am talking about need very less water, probably about a liter per week and can survive in decent climatic conditions. Mentally this gives me happiness, so eventually, I gain good physical health as well.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
High Impact Action Track

In North America, up to 65% of food waste happens at the consumer level. Chef Steven Satterfield advocates for utilizing every part of a vegetable. How can you incorporate using an entire vegetable, including the skins, tops, and stalks during your next meal prep?
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/16/2019 9:52 PM

Use skin tops and peels as a manure for plants and trees in your garden, you will be happy to see them flourishing healthy! Use stalks for making delicious soups and discard the remains to make a manure out of it.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health

To what extent do you believe that environmental factors contribute to your own health or issues with health?
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/14/2019 10:51 PM

I get to inhale what I give to the society. So everything starts from me (us). I give plastics to the land, it gives me back a depleting ecosystem and an unhealthy planet to live in. I cut down plants or trees, I get less oxygen to survive.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health

What environmental factors affect human health in your region, and how do they affect it?
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/14/2019 10:49 PM

Air pollution due to the burgeoning traffic and garbage dumping all around is something that affects health and hygiene in my region. unhealthy waste segregation, burning of plastics or other garbage, unattended heavily polluting vehicles are few of the many factors that contribute to pollution in the city.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our planet and other people?
RADHIKA AWASTHI 10/14/2019 10:46 PM

Eating meat is a luxury - which clearly says, richer countries eat more meat due to their rising incomes. Eating meat is understood to affect the thriving ecosystem of our land, hence affecting the planet.

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