Renee Clement

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

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

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

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate.

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

I will spend 10 minutes learning about food deserts and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.

I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

I will spend 30 minutes researching environmental justice concerns in my region, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

This challenge is to find a way to repurpose what at first glance is considered waste, or unusable. My goal is to repurpose at least one item a day to help reduce landfill waste.