Julie Mapes

I will spend 10 minutes educating my family on the basics of living a reduced/no-plastic lifestyle.

I will spend 60 minutes finding out where landfills and/or toxic waste sites are situated in my region and which communities are most impacted by these sites.

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

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.

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

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

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

I will spend at least 30 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.

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.

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

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

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impacts of bioplastics and how to properly dispose of them in my city, and I will share this information with 3 friends, family, and/or colleagues.

I will pick up 1 piece(s) of litter each day.

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

I will swap out 3 prepackaged snacks a day for fresh fruits or veggies.

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

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

I will purchase food items with the least amount of packaging.

Reduce the waste of disposable face masks. My daughter and I make reusable face masks to wear for COVID. This way we just wash them each week and reduce the additional waste that so many others are contributing to.

To reduce the plastic packaging of desserts and eating healthier options, my daughter and I choose to bake our own dessert bread and dessert treats to snack on. This saves the use of plastics and disposable one-time use packaging.

Using the action resource links below, my family will spend 20 minutes learning about environmental justice, causes of environmental injustice, and how plastic waste disproportionately impacts already vulnerable communities.

I will replace my soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions with a sustainable, unpackaged, or refillable option.

I will replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush.

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

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

I will advocate for alternatives to single use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, or work.

I will talk to the owner or manager of a restaurant I frequent to request that they reduce their use of single-use and disposable plastics.

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 1 friends, family, and/or colleagues.