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Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar

Katherine Burgueño

Zoo New England

"Do a little bit, every day, to reduce plastic use. When someone says why, when the problem is so big, tell them that by chipping away in small bits, we set an example, help the earth and hope that others join us"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,221 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    0.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    2.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    75
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    491
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    18
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill

Katherine 's actions

Food

Choose Reusable Food Storage

I will only use reusable containers instead of single-use plastic storage items (such as plastic wrap, single-use sandwich bags).

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Lifestyle

Support a Sharing Economy

I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Proper Bioplastic Disposal

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 2 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Complete a Waste Audit

I will conduct a waste audit - including recyclables and compost - to understand how much waste I create and where I can reduce the most.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Learn about Plastic Production

Plastic production, not just disposal, pollutes communities and harms people. I will learn about the impacts of plastic production on humans, animals, communities, and the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Estimate My Plastic Consumption

I will visit the rePurpose website, complete the 3-minute plastic consumption calculator, and explore how I can reBalance my annual plastic footprint.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Dig into Bioplastics

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 2 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Become a Recycling Pro

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 15 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Community

Research Local Waste Sites

I will spend 15 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Natural Fibers

When available, I will purchase clothing made with natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, or wool, rather than synthetic fibers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Say No to Styrofoam

Throughout its life cycle, polystyrene (styrofoam) can harm people, communities, and the planet. I will refuse styrofoam whenever I can, making sure to kindly let people know why I'm asking for alternative packaging.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 27
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Practice Sustainable Fashion

I will spend 15 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 1 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Cook a Plastic Free Meal

I will prepare meals at home each day without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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?


  • Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/31/2022 1:18 PM
    Last day of plastic free July.  Planning to keep up the trash collection on a regular basis when I walk from the garage to work.  

  • Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/30/2022 3:02 PM
    Surprised by how many pieces of trash I found in the neighborhood today.  My newspaper bag was full before I completed less than 25% of my walk

  • Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/26/2022 5:17 PM
    A beautiful day of weather - marred by much more trash in my wirk environment.  I did my daily collection - but kept pondering why folks feel it is alright to just toss stuff on the ground….

  • Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/25/2022 8:21 AM
    During my daily trash/litter pickup I have been dismayed by how many cigarette butts are strewn everywhere.  I will not pass judgement on smokers but wish they would clean up after themselves
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Research Local Waste Sites
    In what neighborhoods or areas of your region are landfills or other waste sites located? Which communities are most affected by these locations?

    Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/24/2022 3:28 PM
    As far as I can tell there is only one transfer station in town and it is tucked in between some parks l, a cemetery, and a community college.  Know from my reading that these are often put in communities of color and/or lower income.  Not sure with us - having a hard time finding something that talks about the demographics of the area

  • Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/24/2022 3:23 PM
    On my way into work each day I take time to collect trash as part of the PFJ challenge.  I meet people while I am doing this and make sure to tell them, as they are talking with me and I am stopping and zig-zagging picking up pieces of trash, that’s it’s a part of my day, every day to pick up at least 10 pieces of trash.   
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Estimate My Plastic Consumption
    What did you find out about your plastic consumption by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you?

    Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/23/2022 6:59 AM
    The biggest plastic consumption in the house is bubbly water bottles.  I am not the person who drinks those - but have been working to convert to cans as much as possible and introduce a seltzer water system that would be accepted by the family members)
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Complete a Waste Audit
    What did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?

    Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/16/2022 2:58 PM
    My family drinks a lot of flavored water that are in plastic bottles.  Will look into a seltzer fountain with flavors or having them buy only cans
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Lifestyle Proper Bioplastic Disposal
    What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

    Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/13/2022 6:29 AM
    So many different ways we are affecting planet - from the food we eat to the waste we make.  So, so many little and big things that have negative effects - feels overwhelming.  That’s why each day I try to go at least one thing that will help the planet - if we all did that maybe it wouldn’t be so overwhelming 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community Learn about Plastic Production
    What did you learn about how plastic production impacts humans, animals, communities, and the environment? Which of these impacts specifically affects your community?

    Katherine  Burgueño 's avatar
    Katherine Burgueño 7/09/2022 2:39 AM
    How many different chemicals and toxins are involved in the extraction of the materials with which to make plastic - and the fact that they leech into our air sand water.  Scary!