Deb Cook

ABQ BioPark

"Striving to lessen the environmental footprint in my daily life."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
1,501 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

conversations

with people
UP TO

30

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

136

pieces of litter

picked up
UP TO

28

pieces of plastic cutlery

not sent to the landfill
UP TO

74

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Deb's actions

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

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

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Research Local Waste Sites

I will spend 20 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Family

Get Rid of Glitter

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

I will pick up 3 piece(s) of litter each day.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusables at Work

I will use reusable dishes and silverware when eating at work.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Advocate for Office Reusables

I will lobby my workplace to have reusable dishes and silverware in order to minimize disposables.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Better Gum

I will give up gum or choose gum made from chicle or other plastic-free gum bases.

COMPLETED 30
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Skip Plastic Bags

When possible, I will not use disposable bags when shopping, including produce bags.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

That Was a Close Shave

I will replace my disposable razors with steel razors.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

I will switch to a plastic-free toothpaste — whether purchased or DIY'd.

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?

Deb Cook 7/31/2022 6:38 PM

Thanks everyone!! What a great month it's been and I am really happy to be part of Team BioPark.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Skip Plastic Bags

How difficult was this challenge for you? What made it easy or difficult?

Deb Cook 7/31/2022 6:37 PM

I use reusable shopping bags regularly. I challenged myself to ditch single use bags completely this month. I was about 94% on target. II faltered a few times and found myself loading items into the basket and placing them into the car, nilly-willy style. Canned goods really roll around on the floor boards of the car....a lot. The few times I forgot my bags only fueled me to do better about remembering my bags in the first place.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Advocate for Office Reusables

What are some of the cases you could make to an employer for why switching to durable dishes and utensils is actually in their best interest as well?

Deb Cook 7/31/2022 6:32 PM

Most employers keep the bottom line in the forefront of their daily operational activities. Reusable dishes in the work place can help reduce overhead by minimizing the cost of single use utensils and dishes on a reoccurring basis.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Community Keep My Community Clean

How does the act of picking up litter connect you more to your community?

Deb Cook 7/31/2022 6:20 PM

I look at my action of picking up beyond my property fence as a duty to my neighborhood and as an example. I have been approached by neighbors that have thanked me for picking up trash, saying that they need to do the same. Lead by example and the connection is stronger.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care That Was a Close Shave

What have you noticed about the economic and social impact of switching to steel razors? Was there ever really a need for disposable razors, or do you think it was just a way to sell more things?

Deb Cook 7/31/2022 6:18 PM

I believe the market has created the illusion of need for disposals and the consumers have responded. Steel razors do not take more time from your day nor do they cost more. There are several companies that will mail razors to your door on a schedule for about the same cost as disposables. Marketing is powerful.

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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?

Deb Cook 7/31/2022 8:00 AM

It seems that landfills are present in areas that are less favorable for developers and/or of depressed economic resources. I cannot recall anyone saying that they'd love to have a new landfill l in their neighborhood so planners seek out areas with less resources to legally fight their proposal.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Lifestyle Travel Toiletries

What 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?

Deb Cook 7/30/2022 3:19 PM

Refilling travel toiletries saves money and reduces plastic waste. I have practiced this action for years.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Use Reusables at Work

It is often true that we only have control over our own actions and not the collective community. How can you lead by example when it comes to switching disposables for reusable dishes in your community?

Deb Cook 7/30/2022 3:15 PM

I am a firm believer of lead by example. It's especially true when trying to teach/instill new habits that contradict long standing societal habits such as the overus of disposable products of today.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Family Get Rid of Glitter

How can you and your little one exercise your creativity without creating more plastic waste?

Deb Cook 7/30/2022 3:10 PM

I encourage the summer teachers to use materials we have on hand. I have seen some great crafts come from an array of recycled materials found on a shelf:-)

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Personal Care Pearly Whites

Currently most of the packaging for toothpaste is plastic. How can you advocate for more alternatives through your purchasing power and influence in community?

Deb Cook 7/28/2022 8:08 AM

I can advocate for more alternatives by asking local groceries and other locally owned shops to order toothpaste and other hygiene products that are packaged in reusable/recyclable materials.

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