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Sandra McAllister's avatar

Sandra McAllister

Maryland Zoo

"Save the planet for all!"

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,375 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    9.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    1.0
    community event
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    51
    plastic containers
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    conversation
    with a person
  • UP TO
    5.0
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    29
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    34
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    112
    pieces of litter
    picked up
  • UP TO
    160
    pieces of plastic cutlery
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    34
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill

Sandra'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 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Share My Actions

I will make my environmental actions visible by posting to my social media networks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Keep My Community Clean

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

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Use Reusables at Work

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

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Lifestyle

Buy Only What I Need

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

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Fill a Water Bottle

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 1 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 30
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

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

Food

Use Reusable Utensils

I will keep 3 plastic cutlery out of the landfill per day by using my own reusable cutlery.

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 7
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 29
DAILY ACTIONS

Personal Care

Eco Deodorant

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Lifestyle

Practice Sustainable Fashion

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Pearly Whites

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

UNCOMPLETED
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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Host a Watch Party

I will host a watch party with friends and/or colleagues to watch and discuss a movie about plastics.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Personal Care

Green Beauty

When it's time to buy more, I will replace my beauty products with refillable, sustainable, and/or DIY options.

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?


  • Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/30/2022 7:50 PM
    One day left.  This has been a great month! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Since the restrictions that COVID-19 has required of our society, trying to use your own cup might present new barriers, as well as new opportunities for creative problem solving. How were you able to achieve success on this action? How can you make it a long-term habit?

    Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/30/2022 11:15 AM
    I actually have made the effort to use a reusable mug every day to make it a long term habit. Instead of spending the money at a store, I serve my beverage at home to drink on my way to work.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    How might thinking creatively help us address big systems problems - like plastic pollution - differently?

    Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/30/2022 11:05 AM
    Thinking creatively or outside the box help us address big system problems differently by pushing us to figure out other ways to resolve these problems.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    Have you noticed a difference in how your community, friends, and family members use plastics since you've shared your own actions?

    Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/30/2022 6:02 AM
    Yes, I have.  My husband has found various ways to be eco friendly and my nieces are trying to use reusable items as much as possible.  When we have friends over, we don’t use single use dinnerware or glassware.

  • Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/27/2022 3:49 AM
    This just arrived.  I’m going to give this floss a try.

  • Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/27/2022 3:47 AM
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Have you noticed a shift in your community as more messaging about reusable straws becomes mainstream? Cite some examples.

    Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/21/2022 3:09 PM
    Yes, I have noticed. Few local restaurante don’t offer straws anymore.  Bigger companies like Sonic give you a paper straw with their milkshakes. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Personal Care
    How can you advocate for the importance of reducing packaging to the rest of your friends, family and larger community?

    Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/19/2022 4:33 PM
    I can advocate the importance of reducing packaging to family and friends by showing them the impact of the change, the easiness the change and by posting on social media.

  • Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/19/2022 4:26 PM
    I always learn something new with this challenge! 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Community
    What did you find out about your plastic consumption by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you?

    Sandra McAllister's avatar
    Sandra McAllister 7/15/2022 9:51 AM
    Plastic is everywhere. It’s hard to avoid it but I can do my part to reduce the consumption.  It is less of a burden if you have the resources which is something that needs to change.