Melanie Rodriguez is participating in the 2019 People's Ecochallenge!

Ecochallenge.org

2019 People's Ecochallenge

October 2 - October 23, 2019

Melanie's points

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
181 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

4.0

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

2.0

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

6.0

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill

Melanie's actions

Food

Plant an Herb Garden

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Buy From a Farmers Market

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Try a New Way to Prep

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Water

Say No to Plastic Straws

An estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles have been found with plastics in their stomachs. When they ingest plastic, marine life has a 50% mortality rate. By asking for no straw when placing a drink order, I will keep 2 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

Collect Rain Water

I will create a rain garden or bioswale or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use Reusable Bags

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

COMPLETED 0
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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 2 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste

Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?
Melanie Rodriguez 10/16/2019 6:59 AM

My main issue was going to Dunkin' every morning and getting their hot apple cider so what I have personally done to help get rid of my habit is to buy my own apple cider and heat it myself at home and put it in my thermos. Keeps it warmer longer than styrofoam coffee cups and I have actually also been saving money on gas and overall by not spending $3-$6 a morning at DD.

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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?
Melanie Rodriguez 10/14/2019 6:48 AM

I found myself in this position for a while. So I started leaving bags in my cars trunk that way if I forgot to take some from home or just to take them into the store I could just roll the cart to my car and put everything into bags then and there before heading 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?
Melanie Rodriguez 10/14/2019 6:46 AM

I wouldn't say I have any barriers other than just forgetting to pack my bottle in the morning because I rushed. So I have been prepacking every night to make sure I have my reusable water bottle already in my bag.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?
Melanie Rodriguez 10/09/2019 7:12 AM

Plastic sandwich bags which could easily be washed and reused or replaced with Beeswax reusable wraps. My sister currently uses these and they are amazing because she can use them for her lunch or to cover a bowl during outdoor parties. They also last up to a year with proper care and when its time to replace you can simply throw them into your compost pile. If anyone is interested my sister got hers from amazon. :)

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