Carolyn Benard

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.

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

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

I will spend at least 60 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 10 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

I will spend 60 minutes learning about the costs of fast fashion and begin trying to practice sustainable fashion in my own life.

Wipes don't break down in sewer systems, but combine with fat to create massive clogs. I will find alternatives to using disposable wipes.

I will teach my little ones about microplastics while we do a craft project together using glitter alternatives.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will spend 30 minutes researching which materials are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community and recycle only those items.

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.

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