Danielle McCowan
"Reducing my use of plastics because plastics never break down."
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,548 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0donationmade
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UP TO157minutesspent learning
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UP TO127pieces of litterpicked up
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UP TO55pieces of plastic cutlerynot sent to the landfill
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UP TO54plastic bottlesnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO20plastic containersnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO2.0plastic strawsnot sent to the landfill
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UP TO2.0public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO1.0waste auditconducted
Danielle's actions
Lifestyle
Practice Sustainable Fashion
I will spend 10 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.
Community
Give Some Green Gratitude
I will give a shout-out on social media to a local company, coworker, friend or family member for their plastic free or green efforts.
Family
Learn about Environmental Justice
Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 10 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.
Personal Care
That Was a Close Shave
I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.
Community
Raise Money For a Nonprofit
I will raise money to support a nonprofit dedicated to plastic pollution reduction.
Community
Write Letters, Emails or Sign Petitions
I will write or sign 1 letters, emails or petitions per day to advocate for plastic-free or planet-friendly policies.
Personal Care
Donate Zero Waste Period Products
I will donate 1 zero waste period kits to young people with periods so that they can reduce their waste and the financial burden of menstruation while continuing their education.
Community
Share My Actions
I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.
Food
Preserve
Instead of buying something in plastic, buy it in bulk or grow it. Then, preserve it by canning, freezing, or drying.
Lifestyle
Second Hand Shopping
Looking for something you need? Check your local thrift store or second hand store first. You can also check Facebook marketplace, eBay or other online second hand stores. Did you know you can buy used on Amazon?
Community
Trade Based economy
Join your local buy nothing group, swap group, or other local trade based economy group. Don't have one? Make one with friends or family.
Food
Bring your own Container
When eating out, bring your own container for left overs. At the end of the meal, instead of asking for a to-go container that is probably trash, grab for your reusable one! For our family, we store one in our backpack that we take with us when we go out.
Food
Use Reusable Utensils
I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.
Food
Beyond Plastics-Vegan Meals
Cook a vegan meal. Eating less meat and dairy not only has health benefits, but environmental benefits. Meat and Dairy industries are huge contributor to green house gases, water usage, land usage, and deforestation? Also most of agriculture is actually used to feed animals for the meat and dairy industry! Do the research and cook a animal free meal!
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.
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.
Community
Keep My Community Clean
I will pick up 10 piece(s) of litter each day.
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.
Pets
All Natural Pet Toys
I will give my pets natural alternatives to toys like femur bones and antlers, canvas, natural rubber, hemp, rope or cotton toys. Or make our own toys from recycled items found in our home!
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 1 friends, family, and/or colleagues.
Lifestyle
Ditch Dryer Sheets
I will use wool dryer balls or another plastic-free alternative to dryer sheets to keep my clothes static-free.
Lifestyle
Clean Plate Club
When I need to replace my dish soap, I will switch to a bar or refillable option.
Lifestyle
Travel Toiletries
If traveling, I will reuse my old travel tubes to refill with my soaps or only bring bar soaps with me in a TSA-approved reusable quart-sized bag.
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.
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.
Food
Go Strawless
I will keep 1 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own reusable straw.
Food
Use a Reusable Mug
If possible, I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to the landfill per day by using a reusable mug or bringing my own travel cup.
Food
Fill a Water Bottle
I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.
Food
Skip Plastic Bags
When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.
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?
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Danielle McCowan 7/31/2022 7:37 PMI have had a great month and have learned a lot! I've enjoyed looking more into plastic production, the impacts of plastic production, and solutions that companies and individuals are coming up with to help eliminate plastic production. I've enjoyed trying to buy more second-hand items and learning about my waste. I've gotten more into a habit of picking up at least one trash item when I go on a walk. I hope to continue learning, growing, and sharing what I've learned with others.-
Danielle McCowan 7/31/2022 7:38 PMOh and I've enjoyed occasionally reading the feed from everyone to see what others are up to.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Learn about Plastic ProductionWhat did you learn about how plastic production impacts humans, animals, communities, and the environment? Which of these impacts specifically affects your community?
Danielle McCowan 7/31/2022 7:30 PMPlastic production creates pollution which affects the communities that live near these factories. The pollution affects their health while also creating greenhouse gases. Oil spills can also happen which kill hundreds to thousands of marine animals. While I don't believe that I live near an oil refinery and I don't live near an extraction site, my community is being affected by the impacts on the environment, whether the community knows about it or not. The emissions being released in the production of plastics are contributing to climate change, which will in one way or another affect my community. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFamily Learn about Environmental JusticeWhat did you and your family learn about environmental justice? What questions came up for you? What feelings?
Danielle McCowan 7/31/2022 7:10 PMI did not realize that the issue of environmental justice has been around for decades. Since the 1970s have people been fighting for justice and equality in terms of the impact on their lives that environmental injustices were creating. Such as in the video, citizens of Houston rallied against the development of a landfill in a suburban middle-class black community. Also, I learned that environmental justice means having the ability to participate in decisions being made that will affect the environment in which we live life. There should be diversified voices coming from different sides making these decisions. After watching the video, I wanted to know what I can do to make environmental fairness or equality a reality. I would like to look more into how I can help bring an end to environmental injustices. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Go StrawlessHave you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.
Danielle McCowan 7/28/2022 7:09 PMI have noticed that more businesses are slowing transitioning to compostable straws, although many companies still use plastic straws. The only issue is that the straw has to actually be composted for it to be effective. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Travel ToiletriesWhat is the benefit of using bar soaps or refilling your travel sized containers? Is this an action you think you will keep in your life?
Danielle McCowan 7/28/2022 7:06 PMIn terms of traveling through on an airplane, if I bring bar soaps I don't have to worry about the 3-1-1 rule for liquids. In general, with soap I don't have to worry about the liquids spilling if perhaps the lids are not on tightly or become loose. Overall, it is convenient to bring the bar soaps that I already use with me instead of filling a bottle. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Practice Sustainable FashionHow can you express your personality, creativity, and values in ways that don't require fast fashion or buying more clothes and accessories?
Danielle McCowan 7/28/2022 7:00 PMI can express my values by my actions and the words that I say. In terms of fashion, I can also wear what I already have but try to style it in a new way perhaps by mixing and matching. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Become a Recycling ProWhat have you learned about what is accepted by local haulers for recycling, what you can drop off or ship to certain places, and what is not recyclable in your area? What is the most difficult part of recycling for you?
Danielle McCowan 7/27/2022 4:51 PMI was surprised that the recycler listed that they accept plastics #1-7. I've usually only seen #1,2, and 5 accepted. They also list that they don't accept oil containers. So butter, olive oil containers. I've never heard that those being accepted. I might try to call and get some more information. The most difficult part is getting containers clean. Especially aluminum cans. I've noticed it is best to clean out food containers before the remaining food particles have dried out. And knowing what exactly can be recycled. Sometimes I'm not sure if something can be recycled or not.-
Danielle McCowan 7/28/2022 6:52 AMOhh! Could you send a picture of the soaking tub that you are talking about? And yes, it is very annoying when the item can't actually be recycled! -
Katarina Waters 7/27/2022 10:32 PMAgreed! We have a soaking tub thing we drop them in to soak. The. They are easier to clean.
I don't know about you, but it is annoying when they write "please recycle" or have a symbol but it isn't recyclable! 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️
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REFLECTION QUESTIONLifestyle Complete a Waste AuditWhat did you learn about the waste you create? Where can you reduce the most?
Danielle McCowan 7/26/2022 7:54 PMI learned that I can be doing more to reduce my waste and that I need to compost again. I used to compost before I moved to a different state last year. By compost I mean taking my compost bag to a city drop off site and they compost it for me. I'd like to do something similar here, but it would be curbside pickup. The majority of my waste came from the kitchen: from food containers, fruit peels, and food that I neglected to eat (which i need to get better at!). I hope to keep reducing my waste in the kitchen. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Beyond Plastics-Vegan MealsWhat was something you learned when making this vegan meal?
Danielle McCowan 7/25/2022 7:22 PMI leaned how to fry tofu with a lot of oil and butter. Which turned out decent. I think this may be my second time frying tofu like that. Usually I use way less oil. I made "tofu piccata." If you're interested in the meal, you can find it here: https://frommybowl.com/vegan-chicken-piccata/#tasty-recipes-13444.-
Danielle McCowan 7/26/2022 7:47 PMI'm not a complete vegan, I am try my best to eat as little animal products as I can. A "reducetarian" of sorts. (I saw that name on Instagram.) Haha. I've been eating less animal products for about 2 years now. What about you? -
Katarina Waters 7/25/2022 11:22 PMNice job!! I'm assuming you aren't already vegan and this is new terrain?
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Danielle McCowan 7/22/2022 7:49 PMI can't believe the challenge is almost over, less than 10 days! I'm sure that all of our actions, whether small or big has made an impact on the environment.-
Katarina Waters 7/23/2022 10:30 PMI know!! It is cool to look back at the start of the month and see the changes and growth that has been made! Thank you again for joining the team!
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