Joe Walter

CLEAResult

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
425 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

12

disposable cups

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

85

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

15

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

12

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

17

plastic straws

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

1.7

pounds

food waste prevented
UP TO

3.6

pounds of CO2

have been saved

Joe's actions

Food

Weekly Meal Planning

I will reduce food waste and save money by prepping for 1 meal(s) each day, only buying the ingredients I need.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Support Local Pollinators

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 10 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard.

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 1 plastic straw(s) of out of the ocean each day.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Skip the Straw

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.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Meet My Local Farmers

I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those who produce my food in other regions of the world to make better choices when I shop.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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

Water

Eco-friendly Gardening

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

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?

Joe Walter 10/23/2019 7:49 PM

Another successful EcoChallenge. I have participated for 4 years now, and am very proud to be a part of making a difference in what small way I can. It is the daily little things that can make a big difference.

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Joe Walter 10/23/2019 7:47 PM

So glad to be a part of this EcoChallenge and also part of CLEAResult team who are dedicated people to helping make a difference!! Way to go TEAM!!!!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water Eco-friendly Gardening

What are the most prominent water concerns in your area? Examples include drought, flooding, pollution, access, security, and privatization.

Joe Walter 10/22/2019 10:24 AM

I am in the Mid-Atlantic area. So water issues could be drought, flooding, and pollution for sure. One may take for granted "access" and "security" to water so I am not certain on those issues. I was always raised to conserve. I try to take short showers, not let the sink faucet run while doing things, etc. We also have 1 rain barrel we have used for 6 years and we just got 2 more to put on our exterior downspouts to help conserve runoff water from the house. We have a garden and planted beds to help soak up rainwater and limit runoff. These are important steps in helping limit the impact we have on the environment.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Skip the Straw

How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?

Joe Walter 10/22/2019 10:19 AM

I get kidded by others for washing out and reusing plastic zipper lock baggies for our produce and other items that are not meat. We reuse zipper lock baggies at least 2 or 3 times after first use. I will use one until it gets a hole in it and cannot perform it's function any longer! So while I do buy plastic, I try my best to get every last use out of it until I throw it away. I do it as much for an environmental reason as I do for an economical reason!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Meet My Local Farmers

When you know who produces your food, you are connecting personally to your complex regional food system. What are the advantages of knowing who produces your food and where it comes from? Do you think this might enable someone to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce their food, both near and far?

Joe Walter 10/22/2019 10:15 AM

Buy local has been a catch phrase for a while now. And health conscious people are concerned with what they are putting in their bodies in the form of foods and other items. So knowing who produces your food and where it comes from plays a big part in the health aspect. But how do you know "local" means local to you? The grocery store has a section for local produce when items are in season, so I assume they are being honest. Farmers markets also use local farm products when it is in season. So you can reason that these are supporting local producers.

You would also think that buying local would make costs lower because there is less transporting of goods, etc. Certainly producers need a quality of life and an income for their goods. Fair pricing needs to be set.

I often wonder on the food topic, why is unhealthy junk food more affordable than healthy food options? Society makes it more likely for people to buy junk than healthy options due to the market and profits. No wonder that lower income communities often have obesity issues, because it is expensive to eat healthy and cheaper to eat junk food. Until society is changed to encourage healthy eating and MAKE IT AFFORDABLE, people are in a tough spot on this topic.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Use a Reusable Water Bottle

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?

Joe Walter 10/22/2019 10:02 AM

At special events or conferences, facilities could set up a water dispenser and give out reusable water cups or bottles instead of putting out plastic bottled water for people. I have thought about this many times lately at various events. Some people have an issue with tap water, and I know in some areas it is not good so you may have a health and safety concern there. But in many instances it could be done, I know it.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water Say No to Plastic Straws

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Joe Walter 10/22/2019 9:58 AM

I am guilty of plastic bags at the store, as I frequently forget my reusable bags at home. I know I could keep some in my car, that may be what is needed at this point. I always take the bags back and drop them in the recycle bin at the store, but I do not know if they are truly recyclable? Straws are tough because sometimes you get them before you can ask to not get them.

I think fast food companies could help in a HUGE way by switching to "paper" straws. Just do it, don't ask the general public for their approval or thoughts. Just do it. I saw people post on FB that they tried paper straws and they were turned off, it tasted like paper or some BS. I have tried paper straws and that is not the case. They hold up fine for a drink use and would be such an impact.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Weekly Meal Planning

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Does this surprise you? Where would you rather use this money?

Joe Walter 10/22/2019 9:52 AM

I think about this topic and it boggles my mind. I was always raised that "there are starving children in other poor countries, so be thankful and clean your plate. Do not waste food". It seems just common sense to me, but I see how others discard things in such quantities and I am surprised. Think of those less fortunate who would do anything for what you are tossing in the trash after a meal.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Nature Support Local Pollinators

Why is it important to take care of pollinators?

Joe Walter 10/22/2019 9:49 AM

Because we all want food, right? Literally much of our food relies on pollinators. So, just saying....

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Waste Use a Reusable Mug

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?

Joe Walter 10/22/2019 9:46 AM

Coffee mug and water bottle, I have got them down pat. I may forget a day or so here or there but not often. It is when you are buying other everyday things like a sandwich out or convenience store items, that makes you ponder how to help. It makes me feel like I am trying to do my part but where is the backup! Companies need to step up their game more.

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